Plan Your Expenses

General Fees

• Tuition (if study abroad)
• Program fees
• Airfare
• Housing
• Ground transportation (buses, taxis, cars)
• Meals
• Passport, visa, and airport fees
• Materials and supplies (travel gear, textbooks, guidebooks, etc.)
• Entertainment/cultural experiences
• Communication needs (temporary cell phone, international calling/internet plans)
• Travel/medical insurance if not covered by program

Potential Disability-Related Expenses

• Cost of renting/purchasing adaptive equipment or technology (shower chairs, canes, CCTVs, batteries, repair parts, etc.)
• Medicine or other medical equipment
• Travel/wages for personal assistant
• Private housing versus a roommate
• Accessible ground transportation
• Sign language interpreter

These expenses might be paid for in a number of ways, including through your own resources, a school, an exchange program, vocational rehabilitation funding, scholarships, and more. Though some expenses are not typically paid for in the U.S. (such as a personal assistant or equipment repairs), many program providers are willing to work with you to pay for all or a portion of these costs because they recognize that these are significant barriers to your participation that are not there for other non-disabled participants. Advocate for yourself and negotiate what you need early on in the process.