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[MUSIC PLAYING]
OLIVIA HARDIN: My work, specifically, is to promote
international exchange to students, to
also create web resources.
All of our resources are free on our website.
And to advise students to contact us, as well as
professionals to contact us for information.
I think the most common myth is that students with
disabilities need to do something special in order to
get accepted into colleges in the United States.
There aren't special schools for people with disabilities,
so they go through the same admission process as any other
student does.
There are actually several laws in the United States that
protect the rights of persons with disabilities.
The most significant one for international students is the
Americans with Disabilities Act.
And that act prohibits the discrimination of students
with disabilities.
Any schools that accept federal funding, and most
schools do accept federal funding--
so for example, a school is not going to ask about
disability in the application process.
And they will not consider it in the application process.
It also means that schools are required to provide access to
classes and to programs for people with disabilities.
So that access could include anything from American Sign
Language interpreters to wheelchair ramps to housing
that has vibrating fire alarms in the dorm room.
It is important to start early to prepare for any
accommodations that students might need on, for example,
the English language testing.
It can be a lengthy process to get accommodations such as
Braille, English language testing, or a reader for the
English language testing.
So students should start that process months in advance.
Also, they should make sure that they have documentation
of their disability.
This documentation needs to be from a medical health care
provider or a psychiatrist, psychologist, that says what
the condition is that the student has, and why the
student would need the accommodation.
Now sometimes it can take a little bit of time.
And not every testing center is equipped to do every single
type of accommodation.
But we are also able to help students navigate that.
If they have questions about getting accommodations on the
testing, or are having trouble with it, they are always
welcome to contact us.
We do have a lot of featured people and articles on our
website by people who have gone abroad and have
disabilities.
We have many people from all over the world who have talked
about their experience in the United States as a person with
a disability, both the positive parts and the
challenges, so that students can get a really concrete idea
of what it will be like for them coming
to the United States.
Students with disabilities should be applying to all of
the same scholarships that students without
disabilities apply to.
And we know many students with disabilities that have won
Fulbright Awards, who have also gotten Humphrey
Fellowships.
So it's important that students with disabilities
know that any scholarship available is available to them
as a person with a disability.
And in fact, if these scholarships are looking for
diverse applicants, then their disability may be an advantage
to them, and not a disadvantage.
So if they see that a college is looking for
under-represented groups, or students who are diverse, they
should be sure to mention their disability in their
application process.
They won't be discriminated against, because that's
illegal if the scholarship is in the United States.
But it might help them.
I would also say that sometimes, universities have
scholarships that are specifically for people with
disabilities.
So once a student has narrowed down their choices too a few
universities, they should contact those universities and
ask what scholarships or funding is especially
available to people with disabilities.
The way that disability services in the United States
works is to approach every individual student as this
unique situation.
So they'll look at what that student uses currently, in
their home country, and they'll look at what they have
available on campus, and try to find a match.
Now, that could be anything from finding an interpreter
for the classroom.
Or maybe it's more helpful for the student to sit in the
front of the classroom so they can hear better.
It depends on what the student needs.
There are a lot of services and equipment that are not
provided by schools, generally, such as a personal
assistant or a wheelchair, or other equipment like that.
In those cases, the disability services office, or our
office, might be able to help students find those resources
off campus.
And we actually have a tip key on our website that talks
about finding resources off campus.
It's a great experience for students with disabilities to
have a different cultural idea of what having
a disability is.
In the United States, students with disabilities are expected
to be independent.
And so students should know that coming in.
Most often times, they develop a very strong sense of
confidence having this experience
in the United States.
And it's a great experience to have. They should definitely
give it a try, and not be discouraged because of
disability.