The Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL) has made a reputation for itself as a leader engaging youth with disabilities. For this reason, the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange (NCDE) chose to attend in order to connect with more youth about access to international exchange.
During the conference, the NCDE connected with young adults with disabilities and the professionals who seek them out at the grassroots level, to share about the many opportunities to study or volunteer abroad with entities like Peace Corps, Fulbright, Boren and beyond.
There was a great deal of positive energy as over 80 young adults and 300 professionals involved in youth outreach strategized ways to mentor the next generation toward a brighter future. Participants expressed their appreciation to learn about opportunities in the international exchange world that they hadn’t learned about before.
The NCDE also hosted a workshop on how to volunteer or study abroad in collaboration with staff from The University Of Colorado Boulder. Attendees brought their curiosity and enthusiasm, and a couple of them walked up to the panelists at the end to ask more questions as they made their own plans.
It was an excellent and productive conference for all, and the NCDE looks forward to future collaborations with APRIL, and the larger disability community.