Over 1,000 students with disabilities from 116 U.S. post-secondary institutions studied abroad for credit in 2006/07, according to baseline figures from the Institute of International Education (IIE)’s annual Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange.  This represents 2.6% of the total number of study abroad students.

Half of the students with disclosed disabilities reported a learning disability, while one quarter reported mental disabilities.  Students with physical, sensory or other disabilities comprised the remaining 25 percent.  Students with disabilities typically represent 9% of the student population on U.S. campuses, according to U.S. Department of Education, National Postsecondary Student Aid Studies.

IIE collected the disability data for the first time this year. Due to the low response rate for this question in its introductory year, Open Doors data on students with disabilities studying abroad should not be interpreted as a national-level finding.

Purdue University, San Diego State University and Linfield College reported the largest numbers of disabled students. Approaches vary in how to gather accurate data. While Linfield College's International Programs Assistant collected data from post-acceptance student health information forms, Purdue University's disability resource center used a study abroad list to tally numbers from their database of registered students with disabilities. Information on how to collect disability data for next year's survey can be found on the NAFSA's International Educator website.

This press release is from the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange (NCDE), which is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State and administered by Mobility International USA. The NCDE provides free information and referral services to increase the participation of people with disabilities in international exchange programs at: http://www.miusa.org/ncde.