Encouraging participation in international programs.

The opportunity to be a part of an international exchange program or to travel to another country is an eye-opening event. Life goals and perspectives are often changed. Leonard Lovitt, a young man with a spinal cord injury, explains after returning from a leadership exchange in Mexico, "On my trip to Mexico, I met many wonderful people and saw things that changed my ideas about what people with disabilities can do. Our only limitations are what we believe we cannot do." There are many benefits to be gained by those who participate in an international program: an advantage in seeking employment; the opportunity to learn about another culture first-hand; the challenge to learn how to function in another environment; a more open and accepting attitude toward cultural and diversity issues; an increased investment in developing second language skills; an increased interest in active community involvement; the development of leadership skills; an increase in self-confidence; an increase in independent-thinking skills; and a greater understanding of oneself.

People with disabilities must have the opportunity to experience the benefits of international programs. Community recreation professionals and therapeutic recreation specialists can empower consumers with disabilities to develop their interest in international pursuits by providing information about international exchange programs. Exciting videos, motivational speakers, books, and magazines all are available to spark the interest of potential travelers. The Internet has thrown open the door to explore the world--now we need to support people with disabilities to step through that door into an actual international experience.

Physical and attitudinal barriers do exist all over the world, sometimes making international travel difficult for people with disabilities. It is vital to individual development that people with disabilities have the right to choose adventure and risk and are able to find a way to make the best of conditions when traveling, in order to reap the many benefits.

Of the thousands of U.S. citizens who study or volunteer overseas every year, only about one percent are people with disabilities. For too long, people with disabilities have been denied opportunities for involvement in international programs such as high school and university study-board programs and other volunteer or work-abroad programs. Historically, organizations that offer international opportunities have been reluctant or have lacked the knowledge to include people with disabilities into their programs. Correspondingly, people with disabilities often exclude themselves by not even applying to programs -- believing the activities would not be accessible to them.

Now in the United States, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other related legislation serve as a new standard to protect the rights of people with disabilities to participate in a vast array of international programs, especially those programs that receive federal funding. More literature highlighting people with disabilities participating in international programs is being disseminated by projects like the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange, launched in 1995 by Mobility International USA (MIUSA), with funding from the United States Information Agency (USIA). Through the Clearinghouse, MIUSA is working in partnership with many international exchange and disability organizations to provide the training and information program recruiters and others need to successfully include participants with disabilities in their programs. These efforts are helping international exchange agencies to gradually improve their awareness and ability to increase the number of successful participants with disabilities in their programs.

Taking a Leading Role

People with disabilities need to know about the opportunities for international involvement. The number of people with disabilities who participate in international programs must increase to become more reflective of the general population. Community recreation professionals and therapeutic recreation specialists are in the unique position to take a leading role to provide this information to their consumers with disabilities. It is the responsibility of professionals to provide resources and appropriate support to consumers so that they can achieve their leisure goals. In the last 10 years, people with disabilities have challenged us to see full employment, independent living, access to equal education, and competitive sports as outcomes that are achievable and expected. It is time to add access to the international community to this list of full-life experiences. As recreation professionals, we must let go of any preconceived notions that limit consumers' goals or opportunities for international participation. If we educate ourselves about the increasing number of international opportunities available, we can confidently direct our consumers to resources that can empower them to meet their international-experience goals.

Listed below are some international exchange organizations that recreational professionals can contact for more information about the exciting opportunities available to their consumers wishing to reap the benefits of international involvement:

AFS Intercultural Programs/USA 198 Madison Avenue, 8th Floor New York, NY 10016 [phone] or (800) AFS-INFO Fax: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail] Web site: www.afs.org

Alliance for International Educational and Cultural Exchange 828 L St., NW, Suite 901 Washington, DC 20036 [phone] Fax: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail]

Council on International Educational Exchange 205 East 42nd St. New York, NY 10017-5706 [phone] or (888)-COUNCIL Fax: [phone] E-mail: info @ciee.org Web site: www.ciee.org

Disabled Peoples International/DPI 101-7 Evergreen Winnipeg, Manitoba R3L 2T3 Canada [phone] Fax: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail] Web site: www.dpi.org

Institute of International Education/IIE 809 United Nations Plaza New York, NY 10017-3580 [phone] Fax: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail] Web site: www.iie.org

Mobility International USA/MIUSA The National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange P.O. Box 10767 Eugene, OR 97440 [phone] (v/TDD) Fax: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail] Web site: www.miusa.org

NAFSA -- Association of International Educators 1875 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 1000 Washington, DC 20009-5728 [phone] Fax: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail] Web site: www.nafsa.org

National Council for International Visitors/NCIV 1420 K St., NW, Suite 800 Washington, DC 20005 [phone] Fax: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail]

Partners of the America/POA 1424 K St., NW Washington, DC 20005 [phone] Fax: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail] Web site: www.partners.net

Sister Cities International 120 South Payne St. Alexandria, VA 22314 [phone] Fax: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail] Web site: www.sister-cities.org

United States Information Agency/USIA USIA Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs 301 4th St., SW, Room 234 Washington, DC 20457 [phone] Fax: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail] Web site: www.usia.gov

University of New Orleans, Training, Resource and Assistive-Technology Center P.O. Box 1051 Lakefrontt Campus New Orleans, LA 70148 [phone] (v/TDD) Fax: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail] Web site: www.uno.edu/~pst

World Institute on Disability/WID 510 Sixteenth St., Suite 100 Oakland, CA 94612-1500 [phone]/TDD: [phone] Fax: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail] Web site: www.igc.apc.org/wid