Accessibility

Adapted from the Education Abroad Program page, "What Students with Disabilities Should Know."

Information for Summer Abroad Students with Disabilities

Students with disabilities can and do study abroad, and are encouraged to explore their options with a Summer Abroad program coordinator. Summer Abroad staff can assist students in identifying the availability of academic accommodations and accessible facilities at various study sites and their approximate cost. Although Summer Abroad cannot guarantee the accessibility of all study sites, specific services may be arranged at a given site, depending on when the student requests accommodation and clarifies her or his specific needs.

Considerations

Students who anticipate specific accommodation requests (such as note taking or wheelchair access) should consider the following topics.

Funding
The Interactive Process
Questions to Ask as You Prepare to Study Abroad
Medication and Medical Care Abroad
Customs Restrictions
Resources

Funding

Students should be aware that federal and state laws do not require the University to provide funding for accommodations and/or facilities beyond U.S. borders. It is the student’s responsibility to pay for all costs associated with special services abroad.

The Interactive Process

After students enroll in a Summer Abroad program, they should provide their Summer Abroad Program Coordinator with a letter documenting their accommodation needs from the Student Disability Center on their home campus. (UC Davis students should work with the Student Disability Center in 160 South Silo.) This step will initiate an interactive conversation between the student, Student Disability Specialists, the Summer Abroad Program Coordinator, and the program instructor about securing accommodations for their needs. The earlier this process begins, the more effective it can be.

Sharing accommodation requirements with UC Davis Summer Abroad does not affect a student’s enrollment in the program. However, Summer Abroad cannot guarantee that facilities and/or support services will be available at each location abroad in the same range and quality as on a UC campus. Summer Abroad programs are each unique. They are generally not associated with a host university and often involve travel to multiple sites. Most Summer Abroad programs are not affiliated with a host university and may house students in hotels or hostels and use meeting rooms in those facilities as a classroom. In the event that accessible facilities are not available at the destination and it is not possible to provide alternative reasonable accommodations, Summer Abroad will refund any fees charged to the student’s account, including the $300 deposit. However, the student is responsible for all other trip-related expenses.

Summer Abroad 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 U.S.

Find more information and resources on the Education Abroad Center Accessibility page.

Questions to Ask as You Prepare to Study Abroad

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

Will you need note takers for class?
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?
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 your accommodations?
Are the streets and/or sidewalks paved or cobblestone? Are there curb cuts for wheelchair access?
What is the accessibility of the housing 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?
If field trips are not accessible and are required for the course, will alternative access (video footage, online resources) be available?
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 whether 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?

Medical Care Abroad

Taking Medication Abroad

Students who will need to take medication abroad, should:

Consult the embassy pages of the countries they will visit before departing the U.S. to see which medications are permitted. A list of foreign embassies and consulates in the U.S. is available on the Department of State’s website at http://www.state.gov/s/cpr/rls/dpl/32122.htm.
Bring an adequate supply for the duration of the trip (provided it is permitted and not perishable).
Carry a letter from the attending physician, describing the medical condition and any prescription medications, including the generic names of prescribed drugs. Any medications being carried overseas should be left in their original containers and be clearly labeled.
Bring a copy of the prescription—including the brand name and generic name of the drug—in case a refill is needed.
Be cautious when purchasing prescription drugs abroad. It cannot be guaranteed that the same pharmaceutical standards have been used in preparation and/or storage of the prescription, and the medicine may not be up to the standards of the highly regulated U.S. pharmaceutical industry. Poor storage in high heat and/or humidity, for example, could alter the effectiveness of some drugs.
Keep in mind that many prescription drugs do not work as effectively when mixed with alcohol (and can be harmful).

UC Davis Summer Abroad can assist students in locating English-speaking doctors, psychiatrists and counselors abroad—for many program locations. The cost of these visits will be covered by the HTH Travel Health Insurance policy purchased for all students. (More information about the policy is available in the Summer Abroad Student Handbook.)

In addition, students who may need medical assistance while abroad, should:

Talk with their doctor about managing medical care needs while abroad. Summer Abroad programs are just four weeks long – and advance planning will be helpful in securing any special services.
Talk with their doctor about his or her availability for consultations from abroad. Past students have found that checking in with their regular physician or counselor has helped them navigate any challenges related to adjusting to a new environment.
Be aware that the UC Davis Counseling and Psychiatric Services Center provides a 24-hour emergency hotline. While toll-free calls are not accepted from abroad, students in UC Davis Summer Abroad programs may use this service by calling: 01 (from most countries) + 530 752-0871 then 0.
Follow any other advice or instructions from their medical care provider, particularly those related to prescription medications.
Talk with their instructor about any needs before they arise.

Customs Restrictions

Many countries have restrictions on what may be brought into the country, including medications. Even over-the-counter medications may be prohibited in some countries. Check with the embassies of your destination countries as to prohibited items. A listing of foreign embassies and consulates in the U.S. is available on the Department of State’s website at http://www.state.gov/s/cpr/rls/dpl/32122.htm.

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 program accommodations can only house students.) What kind of funding will he or she need? Before departure, students who will need to hire an attendant abroad should find out what steps to follow and identify funding that will support this cost.