Students with Disabilities and Chronic Health Issues

If you have a history of a physical disability (i.e., asthma, chronic disease, diabetes, eating disorder, epilepsy, hearing loss, mobility issues) or psychological disability (i.e., anxiety attacks, depression, drug or alcohol dependency), you should seriously consider the impact studying abroad might have on this portion of your life.

We strongly recommend you:

• Consult with your doctor or therapist about the advisability of studying abroad and its impact on your disability;

• Assess the accommodations you may need including preventative, day-to-day and emergency;

• Discuss your desired accommodations with your study-abroad coordinator and program director. This will give them the opportunity to research options and determine which ones are feasible given the circumstances abroad;

• Take any necessary medications or equipment with you and make sure to have originals of all prescriptions and doctors’ orders. You should also travel with a copy of your medical history.

Learning Disabilities

If you have a learning disability, you are strongly encouraged to discuss your needs with your program director. Do not wait until after classes have begun or, worse yet, until finals to mention you may need special accommodations. The program director will be willing to work with you if you give him/her advanced notice.

Laws, resources and circumstances vary from country to country. Not all accommodations, even those to which you have become accustomed in the United States, will be available in all programs. You may want to investigate the available options before deciding on a particular country or program.