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
Joanna BovalDirector
Office for Students with Disabilities, UC San
Jake RobinsonStudent
UC San [email protected]
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