Disabilities and Neurodiversity

“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 encourages all students to consider studying abroad. Whether you have a physical, learning, sensory, mental health, or chronic health condition, we believe in your right to explore the world - with the support and preparation you need to succeed.

The Disability Services Office at CU is your first stop. They’ll collaborate with you and Education Abroad to determine what accommodations are possible based on your program and destination. For more information or to schedule a consultation, please visit the Disability Services website. 

Planning Ahead:

The earlier you begin planning, the better. Together, we can help ensure a smooth, informed, and empowering experience abroad:

• Talk with your Program Manager and Disability Services about your needs

• Share any accommodation requests as soon as possible, ideally right after program acceptance

• Explore how disability access looks in your host country - services and norms may differ

• Be flexible, open to alternatives, and ask questions early and often

• Prepare to get enough medications you may be taking well ahead of time and have enough for the entirety of your time abroad. 
• Learn key phrases about your condition in the host country’s language, especially if you might need medical or emotional support.

Useful Resources to Begin Your Exploration

• 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. It includes personal stories from education abroad participants sorted by region or by disability type.
• 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? Video Here
• IES Abroad Disability Grant Application - Available for students with disability-related expenses (IES programs only). 

 

Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge Diversity Abroad and MIUSA, whose materials we refer to on this site.

Photo, South Africa by Sealy McMurrey
Last Updated June 2025