Many exchange organizations seeking to increase their diversity ask staff at the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange (NCDE) "Where can we find youth with disabilities?" Or disability organizations inquire, "We want to encourage youth that we serve to take advantage of international opportunities. What works best?" As part of the Starting Early initiative, NCDE began an innovative outreach program to summer camps that serve youth with disabilities. The goals, activities and results of this pilot program are shared here so that readers in the exchange and disability fields might be able to replicate the project.

The goals of NCDE's Starting Early initiative are as follows:

• To widely publicize the broad array of international educational exchange opportunities to youth with disabilities, their parents and to professionals who work with disabled youth.
• To create a fun and informative presentation to be given at camps serving youth with disabilities. Through this presentation, campers and staff learn about international opportunities, hear the personal experiences of presenters with disabilities and participate in thought provoking cross-cultural activities.

NCDE's Starting Early activities were designed to encourage young people with disabilities to think internationally and to foster excitement and confidence in pursuing exchange opportunities. See also Encouraging Youth with Disabilities.

What NCDE Did

As a pilot project, NCDE staff, accompanied by disabled alumni and/or NCDE trainers, conducted workshops with youth with disabilities and staff at summer camps during the summer. The project team was diverse in international experience and in disability type. The NCDE staff member, a woman with cerebral palsy, has international volunteer experience in two different countries. Participating MIUSA alumni had diverse disabilities and various international exchange and internship experience between them. The NCDE trainer, an internationally experienced American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter, helped Deaf youth to imagine themselves participating in all kinds of international programs.

Presenters shared their personal experiences studying, volunteering and staying with host families abroad. They talked of how important these experiences have been in their lives and about practical disability-related accommodations. They also gave numerous examples of other types of programs. Participants watched and discussed NCDE's informational video, All Abroad! and played a cross-cultural simulation game.

The cross-cultural game was adapted from a well-known activity called Bafa Bafa (distributed through Intercultural Press – www.interculturalpress.com). In this activity, participants are able to experience some of the excitement and challenge of spending time in another culture. The audience is divided into two groups. Each group is assigned a unique culture with certain behaviors, values and ways of interacting. As is turns out, the cultures are quite opposite. Small delegations from each culture are sent to visit the other culture. They have tasks to complete that require interacting with each other. After experiencing these simulated cross-cultural exchanges several times, the group comes back together for discussion. Each time, this activity generated thoughtful and lively discussion.

The game was easily adapted so that participants with differing disabilities were able to participate fully. For example, when Deaf youth are present in the group, spoken words can be replaced by gestures or actions. Jumping up and flapping one's arms became "yes." Touching one's knees and looking down became "no." Alternatively, when youth with visual impairments were involved, visual cues were changed to tactile or auditory cues. In the past, presenters have found that disabled youth themselves and youth workers are very creative at making workable adaptations.

Following the camp workshops, NCDE sent a letter and brochure to the parents of campers explaining the purpose and content of the workshop and the benefits of international experience. The letter detailed the services of NCDE and encouraged parents to talk with their sons and daughters about their international interests. Staff also included a story about a young woman with a disability who had studied abroad written from her parents' perspective.

What Exchange Organizations Can Do

Here are some tips to consider in planning recruitment/outreach for programs:

• Be sure to include camps and organizations that serve youth with disabilities. Camps serving youth with disabilities can be located on most major summer camp websites.
• Search NCDE's online database of disability organizations worldwide for contacts in countries where you have programs or in the US. These organizations can be great places through which to do outreach and to learn about disability resources. Outreach in the United States can include contacting the state chapters of:

National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities

National Center on Secondary Education and Transition

The Technical Assistance Alliance for Parent Centers

National Youth Leadership Network

Information on U.S. Disability-Specific Organizations

• Organizations can send brochures or press releases about their international programs to camps and youth organizations. 
• For those interested in doing presentations at camps for youth with disabilities this summer, contact NCDE for possible presenters, videos, information sheets and other resources.
• Advertise your youth exchange programs on youth with disabilities websites such as:

American Diabetes Association Youth Zone

Disability Central and Active Teen

Exceptional Parent (Children's Page)

Kids as Self Advocates

National Youth Leadership Network

Novita Teens (Australia)

Social Security Youth with Disabilities Page

Winners on Wheels

Y Connection (Australia)

Youthhood

You can make a difference in encouraging youth with disabilities to think internationally!

What Disability Organizations Can Do

Disability organizations can play a crucial role in encouraging disabled youth to consider international opportunities. Here are some ideas:

• Contact NCDE for information about the benefits of international exchange and the various types of opportunities available to youth.
• Invite exchange organizations to present at or send materials to a meeting, camp or event hosted by your organization.
• Show All Abroad!, a video showcasing the major benefits of international exchange and the wide range of opportunities available. It answers frequently asked questions about funding, accommodations abroad, and how to be involved hosting international exchange participants from other countries.
• Encourage disabled young people to attend international camps in the US.
• Learn about exchange organizations that organize homestays for international visitors/students in your area. Encourage families with disabled youth to become hosts. See Encouraging Youth with Disabilities.
• Explore NCDE's online searchable database to learn about these opportunities and exchange programs to share with youth.

Be a part of opening new worlds to youth with disabilities!