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What Students With Disabilities Should Know

Students with disabilities can and do study abroad, and are encouraged to explore their options with their Campus EAP Office. EAP can provide information about the availability of accommodations and accessible facilities at various study sites and host institutions and their approximate cost. Although EAP cannot guarantee the accessibility of study sites, EAP can advise students if a given site appears to be inaccessible and recommend an alternate site. Students who anticipate special needs should also contact their campus Disabled Students Office as soon as possible for assistance and advice about participation on EAP.

Funding

  • Students should be aware that federal and state laws do not require the University to provide funding for accommodations and/or facilities beyond US borders.
  • It is the student’s responsibility to assure that any funding required for special services abroad is arranged well in advance.
  • If funding is not available, students are responsible for all costs associated with special services abroad.
  • Students who disclose needs at the last minute, or who require accommodations that cannot be made available in the host country, may be advised to postpone participation.

What are the Essential Steps?

In order to determine what modifications might be possible, the interested student, the campus disability office specialist, the Campus EAP Office, the Operations Specialist at the Universitywide Office of EAP, and the host institution abroad will need to work together to assess the student’s needs and the modification possibilities. It is best for students to identify several programs that meet their academic interests, since many EAP locations will have different types of accessibility. Financial responsibilities for accommodations abroad will default to the student, if not met by other sources. If you receive funding from the Department of Rehabilitation, have your Rehabilitation Representative contact your EAP Student Finance Analyst in order to process your payments.

Early Disclosure

Inform Campus EAP Office and the Disabled Student’s Office of your disability and possible accommodation needs immediately. It is important to let both of these offices know early in the process. Your Campus EAP Office will need time to work with the Universitywide Office of EAP to determine whether a particular program can meet your accommodation needs. Some accommodations require three to six months advance notice. If you are not sure you will use accommodations abroad, it is still important to make potential needs known so that a plan is in place should an unexpected problem arise. Also, early disclosure will help you plan for the funding that you must secure.

Plan Ahead

Research the accessibility of each site to determine which destinations best suit your academic endeavors and accommodation needs (see the disability sections below for questions to think about when planning). It is not possible to anticipate all concerns, but pre-departure planning will help. Note that EAP cannot guarantee that facilities and/or support services will be available at each location abroad in the same range and quality as on the UC campus. Among the resources available are EAP returnees who can outline potential challenges and adventures of a host country. Also, visit Mobility International.

EAP is part of the University of California and is bound by all laws that affect the University of California. The Office of Civil Rights has opined that Section 504 and Title II do not apply extra-territorially. In addition, the State of California does not mandate that the University of California fund accommodations for students with disabilities who study outside the US.

Be Flexible

Study abroad requires adaptability for people with and without disabilities. Living in a new culture will bring new challenges, including disability services and accessibility standards that might differ significantly from what you are used to in the US.

Documentation

The Disabled Student’s Office, at your request, will write a letter documenting your disability and accommodation needs; this is sent to your host university via the Universitywide Office of EAP. Note that special accommodations cannot be researched or obtained without this letter. Ask for a copy of this letter for your records. In addition, it is important to bring a copy of your medical documentation abroad, including prescription information. A copy should be left with your parent or guardian in the event that your copy is lost or damaged.

Questions to Ask as You Prepare to Study Abroad

Processing Disabilities (LD, ADHD, Psychological, Brain injuries)

  • Will you need note takers for class?
  • What are your host university’s policies on extended exam time?
  • Is the host university willing to authorize your usual test accommodations based on American medical documentation?
  • What tutoring services might be available and at what cost?
  • If you need to see a doctor or therapist for psychological concerns while abroad, have you established this contact prior to departure?
  • Have you considered bringing a personal recording device for lectures? Do you have permission to record lectures?
  • Are books available on tape or CD?
  • Who will fund any special accommodations?

Chronic Systemic Disorders

  • If you have respiratory problems or severe allergies, what is the air and environmental quality in the city you are considering?
  • If your condition is affected by temperatures, what is the climate in your prospective host city?
  • What prior notification has been given to the instructors regarding potential absences should your condition flare up unexpectedly?
  • Will you need extended time on assignments?
  • If you normally receive test accommodations, do you have authorization through the host university to receive the same accommodations there?
  • What special dietary considerations might you have?
  • If there are extra expenses associated with special accommodations, who will fund these?

Deaf or Hard of Hearing

  • Will you need an interpreter or Realtime Captioning? Who will fund this accommodation?
  • Where/how will the interpreter be hired?
  • What is the hourly rate for interpreters in the host country? (Note that interpreter costs vary widely from country to country and within the same country.)
  • Does the interpreter know American Sign Language? Sign language is not universal and may differ between countries that have the same spoken language. Students should find out the differences before leaving. It may be possible to depart early to learn the new sign language.
  • If you are taking a personal FM system, can you obtain batteries in your host country that work for your device?
  • Who will notify your instructor of the need to wear the FM microphone?
  • Will you need a note taker?
  • Are captioned videos available?
  • Who will fund other special accommodations?

Mobility/Orthopedic Disabilities

  • Will you take one or two wheelchairs? Electric or manual?
  • Do you need a transformer? Is the voltage in your host country compatible with your transformer?
  • How will you ship your chairs abroad?
  • Where can your chair be repaired abroad?
  • Do you need to make additional arrangements to get from the airport to the orientation site or to your host university?
  • Are the streets and/or sidewalks paved or cobblestone? Are there curb cuts for wheelchair access?
  • What is the accessibility of the host university and city (elevators, bathrooms, classrooms, housing, transportation, etc.)?
  • Is voice recognition software available?
  • Will you need note takers, scribes or transcribers?
  • What kind of field trips might your program go on? Are they accessible?
  • Are lab or library assistants available in your host country?
  • Do you need extended time on assignments or exams?
  • Who will fund any special accommodations?

Visual Impairments

  • Have you contacted the consulate of your host country to determine if you will need to put your guide dog in quarantine?
  • Will special housing or food arrangements be necessary for your dog? Is your dog allowed into the classroom?
  • Are alternate formats available? (books on tape, Braille, e-text, scanning, CCTV, etc.).
  • Will you need a mobility assistant to help you?
  • Have you obtained maps of your host city and enlarged them to become familiar with directions before departure?
  • What kind of test accommodations will you need?
  • Is there Braille signage on buildings, elevators, classroom, ATMs, etc.?
  • Will you have access to computer software in order to write papers or read assignments?
  • Who will fund any special accommodations?

Medication and Medical Care Abroad

Before departure, students should consult and have a plan in place with a physician or the travel clinic at their campus Student Health Services about medication management and medical care needs while abroad. If you take medication, you should inquire if your prescription is legal and available in the host country, or if you will be able to take an extra supply of medication that will last during your stay. Contact the nearest consulate or embassy for your host country to inquire about whether your medication is considered a controlled substance and to determine procedures for bringing your medication into the host country. For assistance locating the nearest consulate, try the Worldwide Embassies and Consulates Search Engine at www.embassyworld.com. Also, if you may need to see a doctor or psychologist while abroad, discuss this with your Campus EAP Advisor so you understand what physicians or medical facilities are available in your host city. Establish contact with these medical providers before departure to clarify eligibility for services and payment issues.

Customs Restrictions

Personal Attendants

Students bringing a personal attendant with them must make sure the attendant has the necessary passport, visa, documentation, insurance, and immunizations for traveling and living abroad. Where will he or she live? (Some programs can only accommodate students.) What kind of funding will he or she need? If students will need to hire an attendant abroad they should find out before departure what steps to follow and what funding will support this cost.

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