Applying for a Dream

“I will never forget that April day when I picked up the phone and heard that I was selected to go to the United States. I jumped for joy!” says Ludmila Kurochkina, a secondary school student from Russia with a visual impairment. Leading up to this moment, she had encountered disbelief from friends and family that she could succeed in being selected. “There was nothing to lose,” says Ludmila. “If I won, it would be the greatest thing in my life. If I did not, well, at least I had tried.”

“There are many opportunities to learn and grow. Don’t worry about your needs being met; just because you have a disability doesn’t mean you can’t participate fully,”says Mahmoud Ghanem, a blind student from Egypt.

Getting past discouraging advice or personal doubts can be the first step to a dream of studying in another country. “I know that there are many students out there in the world that are also in the same kind of condition just like me that do not have that boldness or courage to go forth and take a chance,” says Jaziel Tan, who has a vision impairment. “Just because we have these disabilities, we know we may have difficulties adapting to new environments and we have fear of it.”

However, with encouragement from his teachers, Jaziel, who was studying English in secondary school, applied for the Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program. This program is fully funded by the U.S. Department of State to create a closer relationship between the United States and predominately Muslim countries. Months later, Jaziel was selected to participate on the YES program. “We were sent there as ambassadors to introduce and promote our very own country and that also goes the other way around,” explains Jaziel, who is from Malaysia.
_{Photo Caption: Find someone in your community to support you in sticking with the application process and calm your doubts.}

Mahmoud Ghanem, a blind student from Egypt who also won a place in the YES program says, “There are many opportunities to learn and grow. Don’t worry about your needs being met; just because you have a disability doesn’t mean you can’t participate fully.”

Students with disabilities can ask for disability adaptations during the selection process.

As a secondary student, you can come to the United States to study with a cultural exchange program. The selection process is different for each country and program. Many require a written essay, English language test and completed application form.

"I took six years of English," says Natalie Nussbaum, a German student that wears a prosthetic arm and was placed for a year in Washington state. "I had to fill out several forms, write a letter about myself, and my parents had to write a letter about me as well. I also had to make a picture book with a lot of photos. Then I had to wait for a call from ASPECT, the exchange organization, that they found a host family." ^{Photo Caption: Natalie with her host mother.}

For organizations that provide scholarships, you will often be interviewed too. Students with disabilities can ask for disability-related adaptations during the selection process. For example, exams can be taken in a different location if the testing area is not wheelchair accessible.

“I looked at the test with questions and realized that I could not see anything. The letters were so small and I had forgotten my magnifying glass at home,” remembers Ludmila who was applying for the Future Leaders Exchange Program (FLEX) a program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State for high school students from Eurasian countries. “I was going to leave when I heard a very nice and gentle voice behind me: ‘Do you want me to read the questions for you?’ this woman asked. ‘Is it allowed?’ I asked. ‘Yes,’ she responded. ‘It is called reasonable accommodations.’” To learn more about these disability accommodations, contact the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange.

"You cannot know everything about your possibilities until you really try to see what you can do!” says Vladmir Tereshchenko, a former exchange student who is partially blind.

As long as you have close to intermediate English skills, don’t let language requirements discourage you from giving the application process a try.  The FLEX program, for example, provides opportunities for otherwise qualified students with disabilities to improve their English skills to qualify. Once in the United States, your English will quickly improve.  Don’t be discouraged from applying by the fact that you have a disability, either.  Once in America, your host family, school and exchange organization will assist you with disability-related support and services if you need them.  The National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange staff can also work with you and program coordinators to make your experience a success.

But first you need to apply. “Do not listen to what others say you cannot do,” says Vladmir Tereshchenko, a former exchange student. “To improve your life you must start doing things for your own purpose. It’s like a small snowball that you roll down the snowy mountain. You cannot know everything about your possibilities until you really try to see what you can do!” _{Photo Caption: Once on the exchange program you will find many other students experiencing the same unfamiliar terriority but you will get through challenges together.}