Students with disabilities participate in the full range of Global Learning program types, from shorter-term Faculty-led Global Seminar and Global Internship programs, to longer-term University of California Education Abroad Program (UCEAP) and exchange programs lasting up to an academic year in length.
It is important to begin your search for the right program early to allow enough time to be able to assess the accessibility of the program and location. Because program structures and partner campuses can vary, some accommodations require additional coordination time. Starting early with both your Global Learning advisor and the Disability Resource Center helps ensure that the appropriate arrangements can be made before you depart.
For students who are affiliated with the DRC, your Accommodations Specialist can help you prepare to study abroad and arrange accommodations with the Global Learning office. If you are not yet affiliated with the DRC but are interested in receiving accommodations while studying abroad or away, we encourage you to begin the process of affiliation before your program starts to ensure the best chance of securing support during your experience.
There are several factors to take into consideration when thinking about the type of program you might go on and the program’s location, such as the accessibility of housing, classrooms, and transportation; availability of health or disability-related services; and how accommodations are implemented in your host community.
Additional Resources
- Mobility International USA
- US Department of State: Accessibility Needs
- U.S. Department of Transportation: Traveling with a Disability
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Traveling with a Disability
- UCSC Disability Resource Center Forms and Resources
- My World Has Expanded: a UCSC student’s experience as a deaf person abroad