Honoring Disability Pride Month 2025

Each July, Disability Pride Month honors the strength, resilience, and contributions of the disability community while commemorating the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in July 1990—a landmark piece of civil rights legislation that continues to shape the way we create more accessible and inclusive spaces.

We believe that no two study abroad journeys are alike. Each of our Centers is different, and each student brings their own needs, strengths, and identity to their experience abroad, including students with disabilities. From physical and chronic health conditions to learning differences and mental health needs, our students show every day that disability and global exploration are not mutually exclusive—they’re intertwined in powerful and deeply personal ways.

This month, we’re celebrating the stories of students who shared candid reflections about studying abroad with a disability. Their blogs offer valuable insight and honest looks at both challenges and triumphs.

Navigating Learning Differences & Accommodations Abroad

Zachary T. (IES Abroad Nice | Spring 2025) shares insightful tips for navigating learning differences while studying abroad, emphasizing the importance of self-advocacy and open communication. From reaching out to IES Abroad staff predeparture to understanding how accommodations may differ from home, Zachary encourages students to be proactive and flexible. Zachary reflects not only on the challenges of adapting to a new academic environment, but also highlights the rewards of growing more independent and confident in the process.

Read Zachary's Blog

“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.

Managing Chronic Pain While Abroad

Hannah E. (IES Abroad Vienna | Spring 2025) opens up about studying abroad while managing chronic pain, offering a candid and compassionate look at balancing health needs with new experiences. They share strategies like building in rest time, communicating openly with peers and professors, and learning to listen to their body. Hannah emphasizes that it’s possible to fully engage with your host city while honoring your limits. Their reflections are a powerful reminder that meaningful exploration doesn't have to come at the cost of well-being.

Read Hannah's Blog

“Bring everything you might want related to your pain management just in case. For me this included KT Tape, pain relief lotion, resistance bands for physical therapy, and most importantly over-the-counter pain medicine. Here in Austria, almost any kind of medication requires a prescription from a doctor. When I am going through a flare-up, it can be difficult for me to even move around my room, so I wanted to make sure that I brought my own from America.”
- Hannah E.

Support From Your Home University

Tal P. (IES Abroad Berlin | Fall 2024) discusses how working closely with their home university’s disability services team was key to a successful study abroad experience. They explain how early planning and documentation helped ensure that accommodations carried over to their program in Berlin. Tal also reflects on the emotional side of studying abroad with a disability—navigating feelings of independence, identity, and support. Their story offers both practical advice and encouragement for others considering a similar path.

Read Tal's Blog

“From the very beginning of my search for study abroad programs, the study abroad office at my home university, Brandeis University, has provided me with incredibly helpful resources and tips; IES Abroad put me in touch with a returnee who answered my long list of questions about Metropolitan and Urban Studies in Berlin; and a financial services advisor from Brandeis helped me to understand the financial side of studying abroad.”
- Tal P.

Living with a Chronic Illness Abroad

Katlyn C. (IES Abroad Amsterdam | Fall 2023) reflects on the highs and lows of studying abroad with a chronic illness, offering a thoughtful and empowering account of her time in Amsterdam. She shares how being transparent with her program staff and allowing herself space to rest helped her thrive. Katlyn describes moments of challenge and joy alike, and how both contributed to her growth. Her story reinforces the idea that a fulfilling abroad experience can look different for everyone—and that’s something to embrace.

Read Katlyn's Blog

“If you have a chronic illness and are nervous about traveling abroad, I hear you! But you can do it as long as you’re willing to make those extra changes for yourself to accommodate your lifestyle abroad, it will just take some additional time and effort. I found that I had heightened mood swings while abroad, and my emotions were harder to control. Pack the medication that you need for the entire duration of your trip, and try not to miss days. Going abroad can feel like a weird, extended vacation and it’s hard to not treat it like one. But again, maintain those routines and continue setting medication alarms and reminders if that’s what you usually do. Remember that you can have relaxing days! When abroad, you might feel pressure to go go go, all of time. You don’t have to be that, especially if your symptoms are creeping in or you just need time for yourself. Everyone needs a break once in a while.”
- Katlyn C.

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

"We all know that students who study abroad are more likely to earn higher GPAs, receive job interviews, and earn more starting their careers compared to students who don't study abroad. Studying abroad also helps students learn the top skills employers seek: adaptability, problem solving, and working on a team. As an international educator who is also a wheelchair user, I can speak with certainty that individuals with disabilities are expertly skilled at problem solving and adapting to different situations. Not because we always want to, but learning those skills comes with the territory of living in a world without universal access—a world not built for us.

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 all! People are always willing to help, and after getting my tire replaced I will always have a fun story to tell. (Pro tip: do your research before you study abroad to learn where to get your mobility aid fixed).

The Americans with Disabilities Act is not always at the vanguard of disability rights law. Many countries have similar or better disability laws with more universal access in their respective countries. We have 100 year old buildings in the United States that are "too old" to adapt for universal access, yet the Acropolis in Athens, Greece is almost fully wheelchair accessible even though it was constructed in the 5th century B.C.E. Perspective is everything. My advice to a student with a disability considering studying abroad: do it! Lean into the skills you've gained through your disability—you're stronger than you might think. Will life be different abroad? Absolutely. Will you encounter challenges? 100%. Will you have to adapt? For sure. At the end of the day, your disability does not define who you are as a person. More often than not, it's our own minds that get in the way of our growth, even when we know deep down we are physically able. Take the plunge and go get that flat tire abroad. Just know where to get it fixed!"

Whether you’re planning to study abroad or currently preparing for your program, know that support is available. From accessibility planning to health and safety guidance, our team is here to help you navigate your journey with care, dignity, and the resources you need.