Starting Early: Youth Exchange Programs

International exchange experiences are extremely valuable for cultivating educational interests. Many benefits are gained from participating in an international exchange experience, such as, a more open and accepting attitude toward cultural and diversity issues; an increased investment in developing second language skills; an increased interest in active community involvement; the development of leadership skills; an increase in self-confidence; an increase in independent-thinking skills; and a greater understanding of oneself and other cultures. For youth with disabilities to learn about these benefits, information about international exchange programs need to reach them.

"I have a mobility impairment and use a wheelchair for my community mobility.  In 1990, I was accepted as a Rotary Youth Exchange Student and spent my senior year of high school in Tasmania, Australia.  It was the experience of my life, and was more enabling than a 'typical' year at home would have been prior to heading off to college," says Denise DiNoto, current Coordinator of a New York Disability and Health Program. "I received much attention because of my disability that year, both home and down under, and always had an underlying hope that future potential exchangees would hear of my successful year and apply to go somewhere themselves.  I think it's great that [the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange] is providing information for those who are ready to be bit by the travel bug."

Youth with disabilities, early in their academic careers, need to learn about possibilities for study abroad and international careers, and to develop self-concepts as participatory global citizens. Physical and attitudinal barriers do exist all over the world, sometimes making international exchange a challenging but growth experience for youth with disabilities. It is vital to individual development that people with disabilities have the right to choose adventure and reasonable risk and work with others to make the best conditions when abroad. By opening these opportunities youth with disabilities can reap the many benefits that can be obtained in the cross-cultural process.

Parents, educators and people who work with youth are in the most direct positions to give youth with disabilities the information and encouragement that they need to pursue international opportunities. These same families and professionals can assist exchange organizations in finding homestay families or understanding disability resources in communities where youth with disabilities from other countries are placed. These youth exchange organizations are often also recruiting U.S. students to consider going on their programs to other countries. To find an exchange program that places or recruits high school students in your area:

• Look in your local paper for advertisements by these organizations and contact them directly to express your interest.
• Ask local schools in your area if they will be accepting any international students in the coming year, and express that you'd like to be put in touch with the program coordinators they work with because of your interest in hosting a participant or gathering information for a teen that would like to go abroad.
• Begin contacting some of the headquarters of the high school exchange programs and ask that you be put on their homestay contact list or recruitment presentation schedule. These organizations are listed at www.csiet.org in the online advisory guide or in the NCDE database. Some of the largest programs include: AFS, ASPECT, ASSE, AYUSA, ERDT SHARE, Nacel Open Door, PAX and Youth for Understanding.