Disabilities & Neurodiversity
Useful Resources to Begin Your Exploration
"Admittedly, I did not know if it would be possible to go abroad as someone with a disability at first, but I advocated for myself and asked questions despite the beliefs of others thinking that I could not go abroad I participated in excursions that I never thought of doing before and saw the power of language and culture”
— Juanita Lillie, ISA Costa Rica
- CU Boulder's Office of Disability Services: a CU resource for services and information
- 10 Accessible Cities for Studying Abroad with Disabilities and Chronic Conditions by Go Overseas
- Disability Rights and Education Defense Fund: This website, advocating disability civil rights, provides a list of international disability laws by country.
- Mobility International USA: Mobility International USA (MIUSA) aspires to empower people with disabilities through international exchange, information, technical assistance and training, to ensure the inclusion of people with disabilities in international exchange and development programs.
- National Clearing House on Disability & Exchange: a comprehensive one-stop resource for people with disabilities, exchange and disability staff interested in study, work, intern, volunteer, research or teach abroad programs.
- Diversity Abroad
- U.S. Department of State tips.
- UK's Guidance on Disability and travel abroad
- UN Enable: This is the United Nations' disabilities branch, focusing on promoting the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities.
- Guide to studying abroad with a disability in Australia
- Guide to studying abroad with a disability in Germany
Scholarships & Fellowships
- The Amandla Project Fellowship program: (Amandla means ‘empowerment’ in the tribal languages of both Zulu and Xhosa) A fully funded leadership and exchange experience in South Africa for disabled students. Watch The Amandla Project
- IES Abroad Disability Grant Application - Available for students with disability-related expenses (IES programs only).
Student Stories and Advice
- Can I volunteer abroad with my chronic condition? by Nikki Kraska
- My disability: Before going abroad. Maiya Schroeder reflects on how to prepare for her physical disability before going abroad.
- Disability and Study Abroad YouTube video by Hannah Hinze
- 7 Tips for Studying Abroad with Disabilities and Chronic Conditions by Elisabet Raquel García
- How to Travel the World in a Wheelchair by Matthew Kepnes
Acknowledgments
We gratefully acknowledge Diversity Abroad and MIUSA, whose materials we refer to on this site.
New Zealand by Alida Kress
Disclaimer: This page is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement by the University of Colorado Boulder or Education Abroad. CU Boulder Education Abroad is not an agent for these organizations.