Sending & Receiving Americans Abroad

Considerations and practical how-to suggestions designed to make your exchange program inclusive to all participants.

Steps to Take

1. Gain general knowledge.

2. Ask the exchange participant.

3. Consider funding.

4. Find disability-specific answers & resources.

5. Consider non-apparent disabilities.

6. Review your forms and materials.

7. Review your admissions process.

8. Review your policies.

9. Train staff.

10. Read about success of others.

11. Research the current situation.

12. Plan for access.

13. Connect with disability organizations.

14. Evaluate the process.

1. Gain general knowledge.

Learn about different types of disabilities and the typical accommodations exchange participants with those disabilities may need.

2. Ask the exchange participant.

Learn from past participants and use the form to discuss needs with current participants.

3. Consider funding.

If funding is needed, budget in advance, tap existing options and/or find new sources like vocational rehabilitation funding.

4. Find disability-specific answers & resources.

Learn necessary electrical conversions, air travel advice, finding a sign language interpreter, disability specific overseas strategies for travel with a guide dog, wheelchair, medications, personal assistant, ventilator, assistive technology and more.

Disability Tipsheets

5. Consider non-apparent disabilities.

A majority of people with disabilities on education abroad programs have non-apparent disabilities.

6. Review your forms and materials.

Although it is best done before you have a participant with a disability, it is never too late to work out the kinks in your forms and class materials from a disability perspective.

Foreign Language Learning and Students with Disabilities
Providing Information in Alternative Formats (e.g. large print, electronic text, audio or Braille)

7. Review your admissions process.

Encouraging early disclosure of a participant’s disability can better assist in pre-departure planning, but you must first understand the issues.

Disability Disclosure and Study Abroad: Understanding the Issues

Screening: Implications for Students with Disabilities in Education Abroad

8. Review your policies.

Ensure your policies are inclusive before an exchange participant with a disability applies to or participates in your program.

Insurance Considerations for Exchange Participants with Disabilities

9. Train staff.

This may be the first experience the program staff have with exchange participants with disabilities, so begin discussions with the right mindset.

10. Read about success of others.

Learn about the experiences of other colleagues’ to envision the possibilities

Best Inclusive and Collaborative Practices by Professionals in International Exchange

11. Research the current situation.

Search through surveys that have been conducted on access abroad or contact our staff for free assistance and referrals.

Accessibility Survey of Overseas Universities

12. Plan for access.

Refer to these checklists and guides for how-to suggestions.

Homestays: Finding Host Families for Participants with Disabilities

Universal Design/Accessibility Standards Resources

13. Connect with disability organizations.

Collaborate with disability service staff at home and national disability organizations in the destination country to find resources.

Campus Collaboration Campaign Booklet

Links to Online Directories of Disability Organizations Worldwide

14. Evaluate the process.

Check in for feedback from the participant during and after the program and gather together lessons learned from the staff during the process - then share successes with others.