Assistive Technology and Portable Tools for Exchange Participants with Disabilities

Are you an international student coming to the United States and not sure what assistive technology or tools you will need to learn and use?

Are you an American with a disability thinking about how to get your assistive technology or tools to, and how it will work in, the country where you are going?

The following links share information by disability and include portable or remote options for people with disabilities who travel internationally.

General Considerations:

• What assistive technology, adaptive software and portable tools do you currently use to independently access information, activities and places in your daily life?
• Is this something that you can bring with you abroad? If so, how will you pack or send it? Do you need insurance for it? What will you do if it needs repairs? If it needs electricity or frequencies, is it reliable and do you have appropriate adapters in the destination?
  
• Can you access assistive technology or tools you need in the host country? If so, will it be what you need? If new to you, will you need time to be trained on how to use it? Will you have access to this for free or will you need to find funding to cover it? Will knowing a foreign language be a factor?

Adaptive Software and Applications for People with Disabilities

• This tipsheet provides examples of adaptive software and applications available, some of which are free, to people with disabilities. They provides a range of solutions to support writing, reading and planning for people with sensory, cognitive, learning and physical disabilities.
  

Assistive Technology Information for Blind and Low Vision People

"I was referred to a center specifically for visual impairments in another school. This center supplied equipment to students in all the different colleges across Taiwan, and they loaned me the magnification equipment for free." Vicky Chen, U.S. study abroad student to Taiwan

• There are many types of assistive technology that blind and low vision students can use to read books, complete homework, conduct research, take tests, and participate more fully in the classroom. This includes screen-reading, magnification or dictation software for computers, or equipment such as refreshable braille displays, video magnifiers, portable notetakers, and more.
  

Assistive Technology for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People

• This tipsheet provides answers about remote sign language interpreting or real-time captioning via videophones or the Internet, use of portable assistive listening devices, such as FM listening systems or infra-red broadcast systems, and options for instant text messaging to provide communication access to people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
  

Assistive Technology for People with Learning Disabilities

• This section of a tipsheet provides detailed examples of tools that support people with learning disabilities such as portable word processors, proofreading programs, speech-recognition programs, screen readers, talking calculators, and more.
  

Packing for Easier Travel with a Mobility Disability

•  This tipsheet provides suggestions for and by people with mobility disabilities about types of luggage, portable ramps, shower equipment, walkers, reachers and other products to bring along when traveling internationally.
  

Although efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, MIUSA/NCDE cannot be held liable for inaccuracy, misinterpretation or complaints arising from these listings. Mention of an organization, company, service or resource should not be construed as an endorsement by MIUSA/NCDE. Please advise NCDE of any inaccuracies you may find.