Tipsheets
Answers to common disability questions when planning for or looking for an international exchange experience and also information about international exchange programs designed for athletes, community college students and/or the deaf community.
Disability Tipsheets
Answers to common disability questions when planning for an international exchange experience - from necessary electrical conversions to air travel advice to disability specific overseas strategies.
- Adaptive Software and Applications for People with Disabilities
- Examples of free computer applications and tools used to access software and websites by people with disabilities. Also organizations to contact to learn more.
- Air Travel Tips for People with Disabilities
- Adapted from Mobility International USA’s Building Bridges: A Manual on Including People with Disabilities in International Exchange
- Alcohol-Related Disabilities and International Exchange
- Information on the ADA and alcoholism, the role of alcohol in other cultures, and accommodating exchange participants who are recovering alcoholics.
- Assessing the Disability-Related Needs of Exchange Participants
- Not sure what specific disability information factors into preparing for the exchange destination? Use these easy to follow forms to help in planning ahead for program accommodations.
- Assistive Technology and Portable Tools for Exchange Participants with Disabilities
- Find out the assistive technology, adaptive software and portable tools common in the United States.
- Autism Spectrum / Asperger and International Exchange
- Learn the benefits of going abroad for people with Asperger and on the autism spectrum, and the steps and questions to ask when planning an inclusive group exchange.
- Blind or Low Vision Visitors to the United States: What You Need to Know
- Information and resources for international visitors to the United States who are blind or have low vision. Specific tips for navigating professional, community or academic environments.
- Cultural Differences Related to Disability
- Do you have questions about cultural differences related to disabilities and how disability-related accommodations differ between cultures?
- Deaf and Hard of Hearing Exchange Participants Going Abroad
- Suggestions for finding, funding, contracting and advocating for sign language interpreters or other communication services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing exchange participants.
- Diabetes and International Exchange
- Recommendations for travel in other countries for people with diabetes.
- Disability-Related Vocabulary to Learn and Take Abroad
- This tip sheet includes many phrases and more than 60 vocabulary words vital to clearly communicate disability related needs and concerns while abroad.
- English Proficiency Test Arrangements for People with Disabilities
- Want to attend a school in the United States? Get the Who, What and Where on arranging disability-related accommodations for the TOEFL, TSE and other tests of English.
- Foreign Language Learning and Students with Disabilities
- Learn strategies for optimizing foreign language learning and links to in-depth research articles related to learning disabilities, blindness, deafness and other disabilities.
- Guide Dogs and Service Animals While on International Exchange
- Traveling internationally with a Guide Dog, Service Dog, or Service Animal? Consider these tips, suggestions, and practical advice from experienced travelers. Ask NCDE for information about specific countries.
- HIV/AIDS and International Exchange Planning
- Learn more about policies, medication and accommodations planning, and personal and professional resources useful to international exchange travelers living with HIV/AIDS.
- Insurance Considerations for Exchange Participants with Disabilities
- Learn questions to investigate and what to consider as it relates to travel and health insurance, disability issues and people with pre-existing conditions.
- International Students with Disabilities Accessing Community Resources
- A guide to finding off-campus disability-related resources in the U.S. for everything from support groups to equipment repair.
- Learning Disability and ADD/ADHD Questions
- Questions for students with learning disabilities and ADD/ADHD to consider when planning for study abroad
- Medications and International Travel
- What to consider when traveling internationally with medications
- Mental Health-Related Disabilities: Considerations for Exchange Participants
- In this document, the term mental health-related disability refers to a broad range of conditions such as depression, anxiety, panic attacks, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (or obsessions and compulsions), post traumatic stress, borderline personality disorder, schizophrenia, and disordered eating.
- Mobility Disabilities and International Exchange
- Tips and strategies for providing accommodations to individuals with mobility disabilities and planning ahead for inclusive programs.
- Oxygen and International Travel
- Tips and suggestions for traveling with oxygen
- Packing for Easier Travel with a Mobility Disability
- Experienced travelers with physical disabilities know there are a lot of tools that can make international travel easier.
- Personal Assistants on International Exchange Programs
- This tip sheet explains the ins and outs of going abroad with a personal assistant.
- Power Wheelchairs and Other Electrical Devices for International Travel
- Tips for international travelers using power wheelchair battery chargers, electrical adapters, converters and transformers.
- Pressure Sore Prevention and Management Abroad
- Don't let a pressure sore end your time abroad. Learn steps to prevent pressure sores from happening while on an international exchange program, and how to recognize and treat a sore overseas if it does develop.
- Social Security or Vocational Rehabilitation and Going Abroad
- Social Security Administration (SSA) and MIUSA have joined together to ensure that people with disabilities and the professionals who work with people with disabilities understand the importance of international exchange and options for including it as part of employment preparation.
- Tips for International Travelers with Disabilities
- 20 travelers with disabilities share tips in the book, "Survival Strategies for Going Abroad: A Guide for People with Disabilities."
- Ventilators and International Travel
- More people with disabilities who travel with a ventilator are discovering the joys of travel and international experiences. These tips and resources are designed to help with advance planning and success.
Types of Exchange Programs Tipsheets
Explore different types of international opportunities from community college programs to sports exchanges.
- Community College Exchanges
- Resources for students with disabilities from the United States and abroad on community college international study opportunities.
- Creating Short-Term International Exchanges between Disability Groups
- How to fund a program, identify partner organizations and templates and plan an exchange program.
- Deaf and Disability-Related Exchanges
- A compilation of international exchange programs that are designed for or with Deaf/ Hard of Hearing and disability communities.
- English Language Learning in the United States
- There is no better way to learn English than to learn from and live among native speakers. Learn how in this guide for students with disabilities studying English in America.
- Fellowships in the United States
- Information about fellowships and where to find them.
- Fulbright Programs
- Promoting and providing equal access for people with disabilities to U.S. Department of State's Fulbright scholarships to study, teach, conduct research or participate in other professional, cultural and educational activities internationally.
- Links to International Exchange, Travel and Disability Resources
- Various international exchange resources that provide disability, accessibility or general exchange travel information.
- Search Exchange Programs
- Study? Intern? Volunteer? Teach? What would you like to do abroad? Search these directories for exciting international opportunities around the world! Please note that mention of an organization does not imply endorsement by MIUSA/NCDE, and does not reflect familiarity with disability issues.
- Sports and Outdoor Adventure International Exchanges
- For many athletes or active people with disabilities, sports and adventure programs serve as entry points into international travel and allow participants to compete, network, and promote good citizenship.
- Study Abroad in the United States
- Information and links to help people with disabilities from all over the world participate in a study program at a U.S. college or university.
- Volunteer in the United States
- Read on to learn about the many ways you can make a difference in the U.S.
- Youth Exchange Programs
- Parents, teachers and youth can learn about the benefits, types, and experiences of youth with disabilities on international exchange programs.
