Image courtesy of Carlos Navas on Unsplash.
For the past year, I’ve been working for the Office of International Study researching the accessibility of different study abroad programs, as part of my work as a Study Abroad Ambassador. During Fall 2021 I made a guide about studying abroad with a disability, which includes general questions to consider, as well as detailed information about Wellesley Study Abroad Programs. These programs are administered by Wellesley, and include options such as PRESCHO and Wellesley in Aix. They generally have more structure, and more interaction with fellow Wellesley students. In Spring 2022, I worked on summarizing the responses I received to a Google Form that OIS sent out to the programs it works with. The form asked the programs to answer questions about topics such as housing, academics and the accessibility of the program’s locations. For each question, I rated the programs based on their accessibility by color coding them. The programs are also sorted by world region as well.
Can I study abroad if I'm disabled?
Yes! You can absolutely study abroad if you have a disability, although it might require some advanced planning. Some countries might be even more accessible than the United States.
What factors should I consider?
You’ll need to consider all of the factors that non-disabled people consider when studying abroad, and how your accessibility needs will or won’t be met. Some general categories to research are the physical location of where you’re studying abroad (both the country and the city/town); the housing options you’ll have; the academic program and healthcare.
What are some questions should I ask myself?
What types of accommodations do I need in the US? Which of them can I receive in the program I’m interested in?
How will studying abroad impact my mental health??
Will I have access to the medications I need while abroad?
Can I bring my medical devices to this country? What steps do I need to take to ensure they’re transported safely?
Is the country physically accessible in the ways that I need it to be?
Will I be able to access necessary healthcare?
What are the cultural views around disability in the country I’m traveling to? What are the views around mental health?
Will I feel comfortable disclosing my disability/disabilities in my study abroad program?
What legal protections will I have while studying abroad?
Do I have a plan in case my disability gets worse over the course of the program?
Some General Advice:
My biggest advice is to research. Since different countries have different laws surrounding accessibility and accommodations, not all locations will be an option to go to. The more you know in advance, the more informed choices you’ll be able to make. I’d also encourage you to disclose your disability as soon as you feel comfortable. Several programs expressed that the more notice they had, the better they were able to accommodate students. Finally, I would encourage you to reach out to OIS with any questions. That being said, accessibility varies country by country and region by region, so looking for local resources or reaching out to programs you’re interested in will give you the most accurate information.
Resources:
Wellesley Specific (You need to be logged into a Wellesley email):
This spreadsheet contains information about over 60 study abroad programs around the world, and all are color codes based on their accessibility in different categories.
This spreadsheet contains just the contact information of the person or people in charge of accessibility and accommodations at each program.
This guide provides general information about factors to consider when studying abroad with a disability, and provides detailed information about Wellesley Study Abroad Programs.
This is a transcript of a panel that I held with three other students in Fall 2021 about their (and my) experiences studying abroad with a disability.
For more resources about studying abroad with a disability (as well as other identity-specific resources) go to this page on the OIS website.
General Resources:
This source ranks the 8 countries (and the city in each) that the author’s have found to be the most physically accessible.
The site links to a pdf from Lonely Planet that details resources for Accessible Travel around the world.
This links to the homepage of a website for a nonprofit organization dedicated to disability rights globally.
This website has resources specifically for disabled students studying abroad.
This website also has resources and suggestions for every step of studying abroad with a disability.
This website is the U.S. State Department’s website’s section on going to another country with a disability.
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