Education Abroad Advising to Students with Disabilities

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U.S. colleges and education departments are frequently incorporating education abroad opportunities into their major and minor requirements for students, and this brings new and interested groups of students to the education abroad office for advising on appropriate overseas options. And among those groups, advisers are seeing greater numbers of students with disabilities who are investigating education abroad opportunities as part of their undergraduate educational experience. It is important to remember that a student's disability may be visible or invisible. Students' needs vary, even with the same disability, and the specific needs may be easy to make arrangements for or may require advanced planning. For education abroad, a particular accommodation may not be possible, but other low- or no-cost accommodations may equally reduce the barrier that the individual experiences.

The primary focus of this guide is to provide education abroad advisers with valuable procedures and resources to assist them in supporting students with disabilities who are planning to study abroad and in guiding those students through the advising and predeparture preparation process for a smooth and successful overseas experience. It also provides Web links to additional resources and in-depth information about particular areas.

Topics covered include:

• Ways to foster disclosure of student needs before the student leaves home
• Coordinating with the disabilities services office on campus
• Definitions of various disabilities
• Advising models
• Extensive list of tips and tools for the adviser
• How to assess overseas site capacity to accommodate disabilities
• How to develop predeparture materials
• Examples of how overseas accommodation can be provided
• How to maintain confidentiality and respect for student's privacy regarding their disability

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