Study or Research Abroad

Embracing Italy and Going with the Flow in Florence

Amanda had an amazing summer studying in Florence, Italy. She shares how her anxieties faded away or were talked through with others once overseas.

Illinois Alum Aims to ‘Enable Abroad’

After returning from his overseas studies in Australia, Robert Kozarek spearheaded an initiative at his university at home to motivate other students with disabilities to explore options to go abroad. Robert is a wheelchair user.

Al Subir: Soaring to New Heights in Mexico

A university staff person who works with students with disabilities reflects on his own time studying abroad in Mexico and the impact of blindness on his experience.

Fulbright Scholar Teaches the Power of Language

As a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Guam, Yevgeniy Tetyukhin of Kazakhstan has been able to research disability as an aspect of diversity within international communities.

Chronic Adventures at Sea

For Semester at Sea students like Emily Block, time is measured in countries visited. Emily, who has a chronic health disability, hopes her blog will encourage others to travel the world.

A Passion for Music

Japanese native Nozomi Iwai, motivated by her passion for music, moved to Texas to study piano. Iwai, who is blind, will perform in an international piano competition.

Assia Hazzi: Disability Advocacy through English Learning

Assia, a professional from Algeria with a physical disability, took intensive English courses in the United States to advance her career in disability advocacy.

Rachel in Tanzania: "Some Experiences are Universal"

Where others saw impossibility, Rachel Garaghty saw (and accepted) a challenge to conduct independent research in Tanzania. Rachel has a form of muscular dystrophy and uses a wheelchair.

At the Temple of Heaven: Studying Abroad in China

Hannah Mann, a deaf student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, spent a semester studying Mandarin at Peking University in Beijing, China.

Expressing Herself Through Stories

Adriana Pulido, a Colombian woman who is blind, is studying for her Master's Degree in Mass Communications at the University of Florida through a Fulbright student grant.

There's Always a Way in Brazil

Guida Leicester, a graduate student with a physical disability, uses her blog to track the progress of her school work in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Bring Me That Horizon

Destiny Yarbro, a Hard of Hearing student, blogs from 11 countries over the course of the semester.

Egyptian Teen Embraces Learning Abroad

Through AFS Egypt and the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program, Somaia Mahmoud came to the United States for one year and learned new ways to live independently without sight.

YES Student with a Disability Joins Track Team

Benay Gozkaman, a YES student from Turkey who is blind, researched YouTube videos of blind runners before joining her host school's track team.

La Hora Antonia

For Antonia DeMichiel, a student who has cerebral palsy and uses crutches, catching her next dream meant catching the next flight to Argentina.

Blind Turkish Exchange Student Overcomes Challenges

Abidin Karademir, an 18-year-old exchange student from Turkey who is blind, spent his YES high school year in Michigan, USA, with host parents who are also blind. In his reflection, Abidin discusses how his family and technology helped him adjust to American life.

Dear Future Exchange Student

Following an eventful year at a U.S. high school, Dzenana "Jenny" Brkic wrote an open letter to other exchange students with disabilities all over the world that are coming to the U.S. in the following years. Jenny, who is blind, came to Indiana from Bosnia as a YES student.

IFP Fellow Attends Commission on Status of Women

International Fellowships Program Fellow Sefakor Komabu-Pomeyie will attend the 56th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in New York. Currently studying for her master’s in Policy Analysis and Advocacy at SIT, Sefakor is passionate about disability rights.

Featured Person: Godson Ahortor

Meet Godson, a PhD student from Ghana who earned an ISEP scholarship to complete research in the United States...twice! Godson has low vision.

Featured Person: Shuhei Onishi

Meet Shuhei from Japan. While a student at Kapiolani Community College in Hawaii, Shuhei committed himself to meeting and helping people from all over the world. Shuhei has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and uses a power wheelchair.