Tag Archives: disability rights

How to Design Accessible Exchange Programs

“We’re sorry, but we can’t guarantee that the program in Toulouse will be able to accommodate your needs. Would you consider a summer internship in the States, instead?” As I sat in my wheelchair in my college’s study abroad office, I realized that I was not going to share this experience with my classmates. I wasn’t going to study abroad as a junior, as was strongly encouraged by the academic program. At the time, we were not aware of the resources and grants for students with disabilities seeking to study abroad. The following summer, I did participate in an excellent internship program…

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Honoring the Legacy of Stella Young, IVLP Alumna

A fiery Australian journalist, unfiltered comedian, and tireless activist, Stella Young a 2014 International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) alumna  quickly became a leader in the global disability community. She sparked international attention through her April 2014 TEDx Talk: I’m not your inspiration, thank you very much, through which she educated and enlightened her audience about the misconceptions, objectification, and discriminatory treatment of people with disabilities. Before her untimely death one year ago today, Stella said during a radio interview about her IVLP project: “I had the best experience, maybe it was the best experience of my life.”