Access Study Abroad

A joint project between the Office of Disability Services (ODS) and the Study Abroad Program.

An invitation to all students registered with ODS

We are delighted to announce this collaboration between our two programs--and need your help! In an effort to provide appropriate support to Barnard students with disabilities who are interested in either domestic or international study away programs, we'd like your input on how to assist and accommodate before, during and after your study leave. Please take a moment and complete the survey which is appropriate to your experience. It should only take a few minutes--and the info you provide will be most helpful to us in our future efforts. Thanks--and if you have any questions, please contact either of us. We'd be delighted to talk with you further!

Survey #1: For students who have completed a study leave

Survey #2: For students who have not yet participated in a study leave

Feel free to check out more information on our study abroad program here!

Top ten questions for study abroaders with disabilities

1. Do you have a disability services (DS) contact for your study abroad program (SAP) — and have you shared this info with both ODS and Dean Gretchen Young?
2. Have you scheduled a check-in appointment with your ODS disability adviser (Susan or Okie) re: any disability-related accommodations needed in your SAP?
3. Have you obtained a copy of the ODS Study Abroad/ Summer School Accommodations Template to share with your SAP?
4. If you have a chronic illness (medical or psychiatric)—have you checked in with your current clinician and/or with the Barnard Primary Care Health Service and the Furman Counseling Center?
5. Have you located local clinician referrals in the event of a flare-up or other disability-related needs?
6. If you use any disability-related aids or equipment (e.g. ASL interpreters, FM assistive listening devices, strobe alarms, orientation and mobility (O+M) training, assistive technology, etc.)—do you have local referrals? (miusa.org is an excellent resource!)
7. Have you been in touch with Alumnae Affairs (via ODS) to locate any local Barnard alums or clubs near your SAP?
8. If you have specific disability-related travel needs, have you been in touch with airline disability services personnel?
9. Have you communicated your housing needs for the coming academic year with a designated proxy/friend? Will you be completing a Disability Housing Request?
10. Would you like to be a Study Abroad E-mentor?

Reports from the Field

Living and Learning in London with Angela Winfield, '05

"It has been nearly three months that I have been living, playing, and of course studying here at Queen Mary College in London. During this time, I have learned many things in respect to disability, specifically blindness, and studying abroad. The most important of these things is 1) to plan, 2) plan, and 3) plan some more. Then, after all of this planning and researching, prepare to have not planned enough and expect the unexpected! It's Murphy's Law! But, don't worry. From my experiences, it is all of the unexpected things that have served as the source for a good laugh as long as you keep your sense of humor about you. Overall though, studying abroad is an incredible experience for anyone as I'm sure you've already heard time and time again. There are many good and justifiable reasons for not studying abroad, but disability is not one of them! It is definitely a major factor you must consider in choosing WHERE you study abroad, but NOT IF you study abroad -- especially if you're thinking of studying in England! They're extremely disability-friendly over here. If you just remember Location! Location! Location!, I really think that your studying abroad experience will be free of too many disability-related glitches, leaving you free to experience and enjoy life abroad."