Reaching Yes! with Overseas Partners
Exchange providers often tell us that they are eager to accept people with disabilities on their program, but overseas partners have said that they will not accept a participant with a disability. Although U.S. program providers cannot discriminate against applicants with disabilities, programs often face cultural barriers and readily accept "no" for an answer.
“As everyday challenges pop up, related to my disability or not, I often think ‘If I adapted in Russia I can here.” Shanda Grubb an exchange participant with cerebral palsy.
Consider if the same program would allow a partner to discriminate against a participant who is male, female, of a certain religion, age, race, sexual orientation? No, of course not! Then why should a participant with a disability be any different?
To help partners understand this issue of equity:
- Relate disability to other previously established standards.
For example, Partners are already expected not to discriminate against program participants on the basis of race, gender, religion or sexual orientation. - Make it clear that you actively recruit and include people with disabilities in your programs.
- Expect partners to be informed about disability related laws and resources in their countries.
- Help them establish relevant policy if none exist currently.
Activity:
This activity focuses on defining what staff know regarding overseas partners and how this knowledge affects how participants with disabilities are advised when choosing a program. The information provided in the answers to the following questions may assist in building better and stronger partnerships in the coming years.
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To which overseas partners are you and your staff most comfortable sending participants with disabilities? Why?
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To which partners of your program are you least comfortable sending participants with disabilities? Why?
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What strategies could you use to approach this second group of partners about participant with disabilities coming on their programs?