INDIVIDUALIZED AND UNIVERSAL APPROACHES TO INCLUSIVE STUDY ABROAD

Equal OpportunitiesUnique Experiences

Ashley HolbenProject Coordinator

Mobility International USA

Joanna BovalDirector

Office for Students with Disabilities, UC San

Diego

Jake RobinsonStudent

UC San Diego

What’s the Buzz?

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)International treaty establishing a baseline standard of disability rights. 147 countries have ratified.

Impact on Education Abroad“Joining [the CRPD] will also expand opportunities for American students with disabilities, who need to be able to study abroad to prepare themselves to compete in the global economy.” – John Kerry, U.S. Secretary of State

What’s the Buzz?

National Association on College and University Attorneys (NACUA) Report on Disability in International ExchangeU.S. colleges and universities “should strongly consider designing and administering study abroad programs as if the ADA and Section 504 apply to them.”

#GenerationStudyAbroadCampus internationalization initiativesRequired experiences abroadDiversity commitments

Individualized Advising:Balancing Goals and Needs

Individualized Advising: Balancing Goals and Needs

Individualized Advising: Balancing Goals and Needs

Planting Seeds How to Get SWD Thinking About Study

Abroad

Individualized Advising: Balancing Goals and Needs

Planting Seeds How to Get SWD Thinking About Study

Abroad

Creating Partnerships UC Education Abroad Program

Individualized Advising: Balancing Goals and Needs

Planting Seeds How to Get SWD Thinking About Study

Abroad

Creating Partnerships UC Education Abroad Program

Planning in Advance Attitude Can Conquer Many Obstacles

Individualized Advising: Balancing Goals and Needs

Planting Seeds How to Get SWD Thinking About Study

Abroad

Creating Partnerships UC Education Abroad Program

Planning in Advance Attitude Can Conquer Many Obstacles

Learning for the Future Reflecting on Individual Experiences to

Create Best Practices

Student Voice:Jake’s Semester at Sea

Oworabong, Ghana

Accessibility was… limited

Keys to Success

Flexibility is keyThe “why not?”

approachAdventure-

driven motivation

Inclusive Exchange: Making the World within Reach

10 Steps to a UD Exchange Program

1. Train staff

2. Share lists of accepted participants

3. Create essential program requirements

10 Steps to a UD Exchange Program

4. Expand housing options

5. Allow early arrival options

6. Offer group insurance coverage

7. Connect to local resources/community

10 Steps to a UD Exchange Program

8. Program and course flexibility

9. Built-in funding supports

10. Arrange for communication

Resources

Mobility International USA – www.miusa.org

Resources for students & professionals, stories, tip sheets, outreach materials, videos, social media

NACUA Notes - counsel.cua.edu/fedlaw/nacuanotesdisabilityabroad.cfm

“Federal Disability Laws: Do They Translate to Study Abroad Programs?”

Beyond the Americans with Disabilities Act

Publication by NASPA (2014) with chapter on “Study Abroad – Inclusive Opportunities”

Thank You!

Questions for us?Ashley Holben

Project CoordinatorMobility International

USAaholben@miusa.org

Joanna BovalDirector

Office for Students with Disabilities, UC San

Diegojboval@ucsd.edu

Jake RobinsonStudent

UC San Diegojrob8188@gmail.co

m