Mention to them your particular disability and the help and assistance you may require - most team members will then be able to guide you as to where you should choose to study.Talk to other students with disabilities who have travelled abroad, or ask study abroad staff to put you in touch with someone on site who has a similar disability and can give you firsthand information about the potential barriers and help at hand in that country. Students planning on studying abroad usually have to ask themselves a few questions about why they’re going, what they plan on achieving and how their year will help them in the future. Students with a disability also have to ask themselves how they will respond if people abroad don’t respond well to their disability.

Culture shock, in this sense, can be upsetting and you can feel isolated, which is why it is best to research your , but with the right amount of planning and determination, you can make your study abroad experience a smooth transition. Speaking to the course coordinator from the foreign university and fellow students can help make things a little easier, as they’ll be aware of what you may require if you choose to study there. You can also get in touch with the following organisations, European and American, to get an idea of what help is at hand, should you need it, and to find out how accommodating cities are for the disabled:

FRANCE
Rehabilitation International, RI-ECA c/o CRPF, BP 34, F-77792 Nemours Cedex, France; +33 1 644 51841, fax +33 1 642 90517; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

UK
World Blind Union: The Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB), 224 Great Portland St., London W1N 6AA, England; +44 207 388 1266, fax +44 207 388 2034; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

SPAIN
Confederación Española de Personas con Discapacidad física y orgánica, Calle de Luis Cabrera 63, Madrid, España; +34 91 744 3600, fax +34 91 413 1996; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

ITALY
Fondazione Handicap Dopodinoi onlus, Borgo Pio 10 - 00193 Roma; +39 80 609 01009.

GERMANY
BVKM, Brehmstr. 5-7, 40 239 Dusseldorf.

CZECH REPUBLIC
World Federation of the Deaf (Central European Regional Secretariat), Czech Union of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Karlinske Namesti 12, 18603 Praha 8, Karlin, Czech Republic; fax +420 2 24 816 829.

CANADA
Disabled Peoples’ International (Headquarters Office), DPI, 101-7 Evergreen, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3L 2T3, Canada; +01 204 287 8010, fax +01 204 453 1367; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

USA
Mobility International USA, 132 E. Broadway, Suite 343 Eugene, Oregon 97401 USA; +1 (541) 343 1284, fax +1 (541) 343 6812.

Student Organisations
SKILL, The National Bureau for Students with Disabilities, Chapter House, 18-20 Crucifix Ln., London SE1 3JW , England; +44 207 450 0620 (free phone in England) 0800 328 5050, or TTY +44 207 450 0620 or (free phone in England) 0800 068 2422, fax +44 20 7450 0650; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Useful Websites
Many of the organizations above have web sites that list their worldwide member organisations. Also try the following sites:

The Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) has an extensive database of deaf resources in England and around the world, including deaf clubs and organizations and places to learn different sign languages.

Accessibility and Transportation
Accessibility varies widely throughout Europe so you should contact local disability organizations for specific information. National tourism offices sometimes have guides for travellers with disabilities, and local transportation departments can advise on their policies. For information see the web site for European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT); contact them directly: 2 rue André Pascal, F-75775 Paris Cedex 16, France; +33 1 45 24 9710, fax +33 1 45 24 9742 / 01 45 24 13 22; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

These are the things you really need to think about before you go so that when situations are tough in another country--and they will be in the beginning--you don’t forget why you were determined to go in the first place. Finding alternatives is all part and parcel of studying abroad in the first place, and more so at times if you have a disability. Bear this in mind, don’t give up and look on the positive side if a hurdle comes about, and you’re sure to have the time of your life. Good luck!