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Armenia ratified the UNCRPD in 2010 and the government took on its obligation to harmonize national legislation with the Convention and the human rights model of disability. Since 2013 the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MOLSA) has developed and revised the draft law “On the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities and their social inclusion” but the law has failed to be adopted.
Loans can help cover U.S. study costs for those who don’t receive enough funding from scholarships or savings. Could a student loan be right for you?
This was a time for reuniting with friends and making new contacts, all while taking a moment to celebrate International Women's Day and plan more activism for the future!
Sixteen women with disabilities from China, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka were selected to participate in an eight-day Women's Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD) in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Delegates exchanged experiences, explored strategies, strengthened a regional network of support, and created collaborative plans to promote inclusion of women with disabilities in community development efforts. The training was provided in English, Chinese and sign language (using Certified Deaf Interpreters).
We are thrilled to announce the publication of Promoting Inclusion in Education Abroad: A Handbook of Research and Practice, co-published by Stylus Publishing and NAFSA: Association of International Educators. The first of its kind in the field of international education, this book offers ways to increase the diversity of U.S. students engaged in international education, including students of color, first-generation college students, and students with disabilities.
“The spirit of the symposium was so affirmative and life-reinforcing - we all felt welcome and included and engaged.”
“I felt like for the first time I was in the room with all the people I needed to talk to. PLEASE do this event again!”
“The event was a great mix of practical, informative resources/knowledge and personal narratives/experiences -- to me, it struck the perfect balance.”
You want to study abroad, but you are not sure how to go about it as someone with a disability. Check out our latest webinar recording!
Studying abroad in college can be a great way to build one's confidence, gain valuable experience for a career and build friendships that will last a lifetime. People with disabilities are increasingly making up a larger fraction of those going abroad in college, and there is no better time than the present to study abroad.
Apply for a program that will cover your expenses to the U.S. as you advance your professional or academic goals.
Many people can think that simply because some laws require software to be accessible, that accessibility will automatically happen. Linda Stuart of AFS Intercultural Programs warns that this is not always true, and that there are many software providers that do not develop products that follow accessibility guidelines without prompting from their clients.
When Kurtis Klein first arrived in Heidelberg, Germany, he quickly found that the German language he had learned in the classrooms of San Diego State University was going to need some fine-tuning in order to settle in to the host university and community where he would be spending the next twelve months.
“It was a struggle, at first, to communicate effectively, because I did not have the specialized vocabulary needed to navigate all of the technical paperwork needed to register with the city, pay rent, set up a German bank account, etc.”
Mobility International USA is working with Armenian partner organization, “AGATE Rights Defense Center for Women with Disabilities” to support disability rights advocates and allies to influence the content and passage of disability legislation in Armenia.
The Armenian National Assembly has begun review of a newly drafted “Law of the Republic of Armenia on Protection of Rights and Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities” and there are indications that it will be adopted in 2018.
Recognizing that disabled women have historically had few role models when it comes to international careers, Susan Sygall hopes that sharing her own global experiences - from studying and hitch-hiking in her wheelchair to co-founding a non-profit advancing global disability leadership - will show what's possible. In an interview with the website Women in Foreign Policy, Ms. Sygall described her vision for how engaging in international dialogue can help further disabled women's leadership and agency:
This post was originally contributed to the American Foundation for the Blind's (AFB) Family Connect publication. NCDE Project Coordinator Justin Harford discusses why parents should encourage their blind or disabled children to do an exchange overseas:
MIUSA conducted a one-day arrival orientation for a high-school exchange student from Malaysia, who is participating in the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. The student has a disability, and joined a cohort of 10 other YES students with disabilities already living and studying in host communities across the United States.
The MIUSA orientation included:
The National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange (NCDE), a project sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and administered by MIUSA, launches an initiative focused on local outreach to disability and exchange communities to increase the number of people with disabilities participating in international exchange more broadly!
International exchange is an excellent opportunity for people with and without disabilities, and can provide incredible professional and personal growth.