The National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange (NCDE), a project sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and administered by MIUSA, launches an initiative focused on local outreach to disability and exchange communities to increase the number of people with disabilities participating in international exchange more broadly!
International exchange is an excellent opportunity for people with and without disabilities, and can provide incredible professional and personal growth.
We want disability organizations to always include information on international exchange opportunities, resources, and scholarships in their services and for international exchange professionals to ensure a culture of inclusion from recruitment to re-entry.
A large part of the strategy that we will use to get more people with disabilities to access international exchange will be to bring those opportunities to people with disabilities and exchange professionals in the communities where they are based. By partnering with champions around the USA, we hope to offer a series of webinars, face-to-face workshops and a conference, so that we can literally meet people where they are.
Access Ambassadors
We will recruit ambassadors who will promote international exchange in their communities in a variety of ways. Ambassadors will be individuals with disabilities who have participated in an international exchange program. Some outreach strategies will include:
- Share experience and tools through webinars or in-person meetings.
- Contribute articles to publications on disability, exchange or social justice.
- Write a blog to be featured on the MIUSA website.
- Table at study abroad fairs.
- Promote international exchange through social media.
To be an ambassador, contact Ashley Holben for details.
Webinars for Disability Communities
We will offer a series of webinars in which we will educate disability professionals, people with disabilities, and allies about:
- Resources to study abroad.
- Funding opportunities, including those with the US Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
- Understanding your rights and responsibilities.
- Talking about international exchange with friends, teachers and prospective employers
- Check here for Upcoming Webinars and Previously Recorded Webinars
E-mail the Clearinghouse to sign up now for notifications of future dates and times for the webinars.
Trainings for International Exchange Professionals
- Coordinate a training or presentation on disability inclusion in study abroad and let NCDE help! Contact the NCDE team to get template presentations, resources, and/or invite NCDE staff to a virtual or in-person training!
- Contact NCDE to connect you with disability professionals and alumni with disabilities to participate in a training with your office!
- Contact the NCDE to get materials mailed to your office, such as brochures and posters, to show your institution's commitment to inclusion.
E-mail the Clearinghouse for further information.
Podcast: Ripple Effects Season 4
We will come to you with a fourth season of our iconic podcast, Ripple Effects: Travelers with Disabilities Abroad, in which we will reach out to a variety of leaders in the field of international exchange, disability, and U.S Department of State to cover everything that you need to know about how to study, volunteer or intern abroad as a person with disabilities.
The local initiative is not local, without your help. There are a variety of ways that you can promote international exchange to the disability community, so we can get more people with disabilities to infiltrate international exchange programs. Contact the NCDE to share your outreach strategy with us!
