Professional or Internship Exchanges

Expanding the Meaning of Home

Annie Keenon traveled to Accra, Ghana with 14 fellow University of Oregon Journalism students to fulfill internships with various media outlets and non-profit organizations. Annie, who is hard of hearing, visited several disability rights organizations and uses her blog to share her added knowledge on the state of disability rights within Ghana.

Pursuing a New Overseas Adventure in England

In England, MIUSA exchange alumnus Mickey Kay landed an internship with Motivation, an international disability and development organization. Mick has a mobility disability and uses a wheelchair to explore the sites of Bristol.

It Comes With its Own Territory

Samson Ngutwa is a Hubert Humphrey Fellow at the University of California Davis, where he develops skills that will apply to serving the public sector in his home country of Malawi. Samson has an amputated leg and uses a prosthetic.

Effecting Change Through Film

Through documentary film, Mitch St. Pierre aims to raise public awareness of conflicts around the world. The Canada native, who has osteogenesis imperfecta and uses a wheelchair, has traveled to over forty countries.

Featured Person: Sefakor Komabu-Pomeyrie

Meet Sefakor, a woman from Ghana whose proactive character helped her earn a Ford Foundation Fellowship for U.S. study. As a person with a mobility disability, Sefakor is using her fellowship to continue her advocacy work.

U.S. Embassy Supports Study Trip on Disability Issues for Members of a Mongolian DPO

A four day program in Washington DC provided an overview of the rights of people with disabilities and the roles of government and civil society organizations in advocating the rights of people with physical disabilities.

Featured Person: Lindsey Newland

Meet Lindsey, whose work with disabled children in Romania supplemented her progress towards a Master's in Family and Community Social Work. Lindsey has a physical disability.

Featured Person: Zachary Grove

Meet Zachary. As someone who represents diversity through disability, socioeconomic background and academic focus, Zachary was awarded a Gilman Scholarship to fund his studies in Cyprus.

Graduate Student Recognized for Work with Disabled Communities Abroad

Dan Erchick, an American graduate of Rice University who uses a prosthesis, received the Linda Faye Williams Prize in Social Justice, which rewarded his contribution and commitment to projects that economically empower people with disabilities in developing countries. Read the full article, "Rice Alum Takes a Stand" (Rice News, May 2010), to learn about his role as an advocate for disabled communities in Haiti and Sierra Leone, and how these communities' perception of Dan differed from his self-identity.

Engaging Youth with Disabilities from Africa and the Middle East in Sport and Leadership Programs

Ben Johnson, a professor and dean at Kennesaw State University, Georgia, USA, traveled to multiple countries to conduct projects supported under the International Sports Programming Initiative.

Internships with the U.S. Department of State

Josh Pila, who is hard of hearing, was an intern at the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and helped conduct programming for international students with and without disabilities.

Internship with Youth for Understanding USA

Rachel Berkson is from Florida and an International Relations graduate of Syracuse University. She interned with Youth for Understanding USA headquarters (www.yfu.org). Rachel participated in an international exchange program to Israel as a teenager and studied abroad in the Czech Republic while in college.

The Pearl of Africa: Sharing Expertise and Learning from Others in Uganda

Dr. Salam, who is blind, quietly challenged many preconceptions about disability during his time in Uganda, as a volunteer specialist.

A Summer of Service in the United States

Alice Chen, who uses an orthotic device, flew to the United States from China to join other international students for a summer disability exchange program.

Featured Person: Well Zhao

Meet Well Zhao, who traveled all over the United States on a disability exchange program.

Reality Education: Comedian Josh Blue On Interning in Senegal

Josh Blue, the winner of Last Comic Standing Season Four and a person living with a disability, shares his humor, art, and unique views on life with people around the world.

Reflections from my International Visitor Leadership Program to the U.S.

Well Zhao participated in a whirlwind tour of the United States to learn how American organizations and institutions are including people with disabilities in educational, recreational and leadership opportunities. Mr. Zhao is from China and is an amputee who uses a prosthetic.

Internship with a National Council for International Visitors Member

Allison LePage, who has a learning disability, interned at Colleagues International in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Allison studied abroad in Europe for a summer while in college.

Welcoming International Visitors to the United States: Perspectives on Disability

Marek Sikora, from Poland, came to the United States as part of the International Visitor Program. Mr. Sikora came to Eugene, Oregon and other cities to learn about the inclusion of people with disabilities in American civic and educational systems.

Working in the Intercultural Field in Japan

Jessica Voigts, who has a mobility disability, was a Michigan State University student at the time she was offered an internship position in Japan, where she promoted international exchange and conducted cross-cultural counseling.