Research the Program Country

Ask your Education Abroad Advisor and/or Trip Leader questions to understand the program:  

• What are the program arrangements, cultural norms, and resources available for students with disabilities in my program and in my host destination? 
• Are reasonable accommodations available?  
• How will the resources abroad differ from what I am accustomed to at TAMU?  
  (A few examples of accommodation needs might include but are not limited to, accessible housing, access to academic support, accessible transportation, modifications for dietary considerations, adjusted program pace, traveling with medications, continued access to in-country medical support, and so forth)  
• If I use prescription medications, are they legal and available in the host country? 
• Can I procure enough to supply me for the duration of my stay abroad?   

Disclose your disability and medical condition

Disclose your disability and medical condition to Education Abroad and Disability Resources to start securing reasonable accommodations. Note: if you are currently registered with Disability Resources, your accommodation information is not automatically transferred to Education Abroad. Therefore, please contact Disability Resources to initiate accommodation coordination at 979-845-1637 or disability@tamu.edu. Early disclosure is strongly encouraged, as it may take 4 to 6 months to finalize arrangements.

Plan Ahead

Shipment of special supplies, quarantine of service animals, immunizations, travel documents, and other necessary preparations will take time to complete. Verify with your doctor if your prescription medication is legal in the host country and how to obtain enough supplies for the duration of your stay. You may need a note from your doctor to travel with certain medication. 

Verify quarantine regulations

If you are planning to travel with a service animal or emotional support animal, verify quarantine regulations. To verify related requirements, consult the following resources: 

• U.S. Department of Agriculture Pet Travel (policies for entering a foreign country and returning to the U.S) and 
• U.S. Department of State Pets and International Travel, as well as   
• Verify specific airline regulations based on your flight itinerary. 

Be flexible

Some countries do not have an equivalent of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  Therefore, the availability of disability accommodations and program adjustments are determined based on the following information: 

• An assessment of the participant’s needs by an Access Coordinator in the Department of Disability Resources 
• Examination of the program itinerary with the education abroad advisor/trip leader and on-site staff 
• Exploration of available resources in the participant’s host countries. You can find more information about the request for accommodation process here.