Since many students receive credit at their home school for study abroad programs they attend overseas, it is important for them to be able to access the same level of learning as at home. When making preparations to participate in an overseas program, the following are suggested questions to ask your U.S. and overseas study abroad program staff and faculty, as well as your U.S. disability service provider, vocational rehabilitation counselor, and/or clinical specialists.

The questions below are grouped according to who to ask first about the questions. If possible, it would be beneficial to ask all these questions in a joint meeting with the study abroad and disability-related staff. While the study abroad staff may know more about the overseas situation, the disability-related staff may have more ideas about alternative accommodation possibilities and explanations of the U.S. system of providing accommodations that could add insight into the discussions. The solutions to the questions may be different for different study abroad programs as determined by such factors as:

a) the binding relationship between the staff in the host country and staff in the United States

b) the cultural value differences, educational systems and environment of the host country

Therefore, the following questions may not be relevant to all types of study abroad programs or all types of learning disabilities. Please use these as suggested guides to help in planning for a successful experience overseas.

Study Abroad and Disability-Related Staff Joint Questions:

I use the following disability-related accommodations and services at my home university:

Can the same accommodations and services be provided for me overseas? If not, what similar accommodations and services can be provided that still fulfill my needs?

Is the same state-of-the-art technology (e.g. computers with spell checkers) available in the host country as in the United States?

If not, what alternative accommodations and services can be provided that still fulfill my needs?

If so, will I be able to access the technology? Are there any fees or time limits on my use of it?

Is the electricity reliable, voltage similar and buildings secure if I bring my own?

What documentation is needed to get these accommodation or services?

How far in advance do I need to notify the overseas program staff in order to request accommodations?

If I go to a non-English speaking country, how will this affect the availability of services I can access?

If necessary, who will pay for my accommodations, tutors or other services?

What would be a good strategy in explaining my disability to professors, homestay families or others in the host community when they might have a different definition or no awareness of my disability?

If I am going to a non-English speaking country, what vocabulary do I need to know in the foreign language to explain about my disability and accommodation needs?

Who can I rely upon if I have questions about my accommodations or services? Who will be my contact person overseas?

Will there be a contact person for me to work with who is familiar with the US legislation regarding the provision of accommodations and services to students with disabilities?

What grievance-related systems can I make use of if I run into resistance regarding the provision of appropriate accommodations?

Does the host university or community have professional disability service specialists or are there sources of informal support available to international students?

When will the accommodations and services I requested be available?

Will at least one English-speaking staff person be available who is qualified to read and interpret my testing report [for Learning Disabilities] / clinical history [for ADD/ADHD]?

How will the appropriate faculty or staff be informed of my accommodation needs? Will my contact person act as my liaison in explaining any necessary concepts to faculty and staff abroad or will this be my responsibility?

What is the policy for the overseas staff regarding confidentiality about my disability? Will specific information regarding my disability be shared only on a "need to know" basis?

What materials should I collect overseas about my course work to show my advisor? If I have questions about my grades, whom should I ask?

Ask the Study Abroad Program Staff:

How is the classroom setting and physical environment in the host country different from my home university? (For example, some countries have more activity in their streets and less insulated walls, so the classrooms may be louder and more distracting than what is expected in U.S. classrooms).

Will there be quiet spaces on campus or in my living situation for me to study and do my homework?

How is the instruction/assignments different from the U.S. educational system? (For example, some classes require little reading or a lot of notetaking. Others may provide suggested reading lists for self-study instead of assigned readings to focus on for tests).

If it's a group program, how many students will be participating? Will the faculty be available to answer questions I have outside of class or after a field trip?

Will tutors be available? If so, will they be English-speaking? How do I arrange for a tutor?

What are the hours of the classes, and will there be time for breaks?

How much of the program will be experiential vs. classroom learning? Will the educational style be student-focused learning or teacher-centered lecturing? What methods do the foreign langauge teachers use?

Ask the Disability-Related Staff:

If my classes are taught in a foreign language, how might this affect my accommodation needs?

Can I use Vocational Rehabilitation dollars in a similar way abroad? For example, if VR pays for my textbooks at home, will they pay for my textbooks overseas? What reimbursement procedures should I be familiar with?

Resources

This is only a partial listing of learning disability organizations, which focuses on those that can provide international contacts. For additional resources in a specific country, please contact these organizations or ask NCDE.