Today marks the 28th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and we at MIUSA want to thank and celebrate the many disability activists, allies and organizations who took action to make it possible.
Their dedication and perseverance has enhanced the lives of millions of people with disabilities, both in the United States and globally. Many principles that were the basis for the ADA have been utilized when drafting and implementing disability laws and policies in countries around the world.
07/26/2018 - 11:26pm
The next GDDI will take place July 22-25, 2019. To request an invitation and to be notified when registration to GDDI 2019 opens, please fill out this short online form.
About GDDI
GDDI brings together international development actors and disabled women leaders from around the world to engage in direct dialogue about strategies for including women and girls with disabilities in development projects throughout the world.
MIUSA hosted an arrival orientation in July 2018, for students participating in the Year of Exchange in America for Russians (YEAR) program. The students traveled to Eugene, Oregon, before embarking on a year of study at universities across the country.
The YEAR program provides an opportunity for students to live in the U.S. for a year while learning about American society, educating Americans about Russian history and culture, improving English speaking skills, strengthening knowledge in an academic field, and experiencing immersion in a local community.
A warm MIUSA welcome to international exchange students from the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) and Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) programs!
Twenty-eight high school exchange students with diverse disabilities traveled to Eugene, Oregon, in August. There, they experienced an orientation to help prepare them for their academic year in host communities across the United States.
The students represent 19 countries accross the world, and are all recipients of prestigious scholarships from the U.S. Department of State.
From going abroad to hosting international visitors to working in international careers and more, participating in international exchange and citizen diplomacy opportunities can have a positive impact on a person’s employability, independent living skills, confidence, leadership, and other personal qualities.
By Ashley Holben, Program Specialist
How do you get people with disabilities to the table? And is simply getting them to that proverbial table enough? What's the next step?
These are some of the questions we were thinking about when, for the first time (hopefully the first of many!), MIUSA had the opportunity to attend the Gender 360 Summit hosted by FHI 360, a member of MIUSA's EDDI initiative.
07/02/2018 - 11:23pm
Abroad With Disabilities (AWD) and the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange (NCDE) answered your questions about the many ways that you can travel with a purpose and make your mark on the world. Learn about finding a program, paying for it, and self-advocacy!
"Can I go on a MIUSA exchange program?" "Which U.S. exchange program is right for me?" See if we answered your question about finding exchange opportunities in the U.S.
The RightsNow! Consortium worked with partner organization MADIJAL in Guadalajara, Jalisco, México to bring together disability rights advocates, local government and the public sector to promote the rights of people with disabilities by increasing their access to legal resources and the justice system. The visit in April aimed to develop and strengthen cross-disability, cross-sector networks to address disability discrimination through implementation of the law.
You're interested in studying abroad, but you have so many questions.
How do I get my supplies in another country? What if I need to see a doctor there but don't speak the language? This webinar that we co-hosted with our friends at the College Diabetes Network. addressed these questions and more.
Listen on SoundCloud and download the transcript under Documents.
International exchange is one of those experiences that can have high stakes for someone with a disability.
A disabled exchange participant might invest so much energy convincing others that nothing bad will happen if they go abroad, that it stings that much worse if an accident does occur. Worse still, even a minor incident might result in a program to question the participant’s abilities or to project doubts on future participants with disabilities.
03/13/2018 - 4:54pm
In the summer of 2015 I left the creature comforts of Ohio behind for a study-abroad/volunteer program in one of the developing nations in the Caribbean. Having never traveled outside the United States before, I had only a vague idea what to expect. A few things weighed heavily on my mind as I took off from the airport in Cincinnati. I knew I was the first blind student to gain acceptance into my program. Before I applied, another had been denied entry because the administrators didn't believe her orientation and mobility skills were strong enough for her to handle the trip.
The next Gender, Disability and Development Institute (GDDI) will bring together senior-level development professionals with disabled women leaders from China, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, all delegates of MIUSA's first Regional WILD-Asia program. Join us for this unique opportunity to engage in direct dialogue about strategies for including women with disabilities in development projects throughout the region.
Ask Brooklyn Hortenstine why she adores foreign languages so much and she will evoke the unique sensation that each language stirs in her. Of them all, German is her favorite: “It feels like cozy fall nights drinking hot chocolate in my sweaters. It feels like coming in from the cold and sitting in front of a fire. It feels like home.”
Brooklyn's definition of "home" has expanded in the last year. Although the 18-year-old hails from Clarksville, Tennessee, she has since embraced Germany as her second home.
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