Studying abroad, whether it’s your first time or your tenth, can be exciting—but navigating a new environment also brings unique considerations for students with physical disabilities or who are neurodivergent. 

New places can present challenges related to accessibility, sensory environments, routines, or mobility, and you won’t have to manage any of it alone when studying through IES Abroad. We provide resources focused on accessibility, disability support, and neurodivergent-friendly strategies, and our dedicated Student Affairs staff are available both in the U.S. and onsite to help you prepare and advocate for what you need. 

Explore our collection of IES Abroad and partner resources designed to support a healthy, accessible, and empowering study abroad experience.

At IES Abroad, we're here to help. If you have any questions about your identity abroad, please contact our Access & Strategic Partnerships Team by emailing us at accesspartnerships@iesabroad.org or by calling 800.995.2300. Know of another resource we should add? Let us know!

Headshot of Kevin Sullivan, Assistant Director of Education Abroad at Case Western Reserve University
“Having a disability—physical or otherwise—should not stop a student from studying abroad. Although I was fully able-bodied during my academic year abroad in college, I have travelled extensively after becoming disabled in 2017, both domestically and throughout Europe. As humans, it's normal for us to fear the unknown. However, when we put ourselves in uncomfortable situations, we learn and grow. Was I worried about travelling alone throughout Greece and Spain during my first solo trip abroad as a paraplegic? Absolutely! Was I anticipating my wheelchair tire to explode while in Greece? Not at”

Kevin Sullivan, Assistant Director of Education Abroad at Case Western Reserve University

Student Resources

Headshot of Zachary Treseler, IES Abroad Nice student.
“Learning how to navigate the system of academic accommodations in the United States will very easily be able to transfer over to IES Abroad Centers. In my experience in Nice, and I would bet it's similar for others, oftentimes the same types of accommodations, and their respective processes, are coordinated in a similar manner between IES Abroad and my home school.”

Zachary T. (IES Abroad Nice | 2025 Spring | Case Western Reserve University)

Browse More Resources

Just as each study abroad experience is unique, each location offers a different adventure. So we've made sure to compile resources specific to your host city and country. 

All Resources
students attend an LGBT parade