How do you kick-start awareness or drive momentum when it comes to participation of underrepresented students with disabilities in education abroad? How can these efforts also build capacity and give voice to diverse students? This Forum on Education Abroad annual conference session looked at best practices and partnerships to show the collaborative potential at the intersection of campus and community, program provider and national non-profits, and the international education and disability fields.
Increasing participation of underrepresented students in education abroad has been a long-time focus of international education.
San Diego State University (SDSU) has a decentralized environment that encourages creating complementary campus and community partnerships to diversify study abroad participation. The involvement of Student Disability Services on their International Education Committee has been one strategy that has facilitated their success.
Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) and Mobility International USA (MIUSA) have worked together in a number of ways but in 2015 brought their cooperation to a new level with the offering of 25 scholarships for students with disabilities to celebrate 25 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act and their Generation Study Abroad campaign pledge.
Tapping into the enthusiasm of education abroad alumni with disabilities can also expand outreach. Session attendees will view short clips from a new video series “Passport to Possibilities,” featuring alumni with disabilities, and reflect on what is needed for their offices to advance in disability inclusion practices.
Download the presentation in PDF or Word format and the handouts below.