by Mary Ann Curulla
Consultant, Mobility International USA
Jessica Lorenz, a 21-year-old San Francisco State University student, was one of 13 participants in Mobility International USA (MIUSA)’s three-week International Exchange Program to Costa Rica in the summer of 1999. During her last days in Costa Rica, Jessica wrote an article about her first international experience. She shared the following with her fellow participants with and without disabilities:
“The MIUSA motto is an appropriate way to sum up the trip — ‘Challenge Yourself and Change the World’™ — we pushed the envelope as they say, and I don’t know about anyone else, but I learned that my maximum capacity is a lot greater than I ever knew. We learned so much and were positively changed. I know none of us will ever be the same.”
Jessica is blind and is enrolled in California’s Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program working toward a multi-subject teaching credential with the goal of becoming an adapted physical education teacher. In California, getting hired as a teacher often requires Spanish language skills, so Jessica is also working toward a minor in Spanish. When Jessica suggested the international exchange program as part of her vocational training, her VR counselor agreed that it would be an added asset to her educational endeavors by increasing her Spanish skills and disability knowledge, both of which would ultimately make her more employable as a teacher. Jessica was fortunate to have a VR counselor who understood the connection between this international experience and Jessica’s future employability.
The fact is, however, that international exchange participation often leads to an advantage in securing employment — whether one has a disability or not. That is why Lynnae Ruttledge, Assistant Administrator for Planning and Policy with Oregon Vocational Rehabilitation Division, feels it is vital for young adults with disabilities to include international experience as part of their preparations to enter the increasingly global U.S. job market.
“Even with the ADA, people with disabilities in this country still are not always considered equally for positions of employment. Job applicants with disabilities who have international experience bring that much more to the table to support their qualifications for jobs.”
If an employer who is apprehensive about whether an applicant with a disability can meet the demands of the job learns that the individual successfully studied in Brazil for a year, those worries may just disappear. The ability to be successful in an academic or structured international program implies the person has a certain ability to be flexible, culturally aware, creative and motivated, to say the least.
And, if individuals have high employment expectations for themselves, international experiences may be just what they need to lift them to the next level, closer to reaching those goals.
Including Lynnae Ruttledge, many successful individuals with disabilities employed in influential positions have had international experience. A few of the many are: Judy Heumann, Assistant Secretary in the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Service; journalist John Hockenberry; Heather Harker, Kellogg Fellow and master’s student in the public administration program at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University; Rich Spittler, Director of Bay Area Outdoor Recreation Program; and Jan Garret, executive director at the Berkeley Center for Independent Living.
Based on 19 years of international and disability experience, Mobility International USA has compiled a list of some of the benefits of participating in an international program such as studying, volunteering, researching, working or interning abroad, all of which add to an individual’s employability:
• Experience learning how to function in a new environment
• A more open and accepting attitude towards cultural and diversity issues
• An increased skill level and/or investment in developing second language skills
• An increased interest in active community and global involvement
• The development of leadership skills
• An increase in self-confidence
• An increase in independent-thinking skills
• Greater understanding of oneself
• An increased sense of self-direction
• Improved general job skills (interpersonal skills, flexibility, adaptability)
• The opportunity to learn other cultural and world view perspectives
• The opportunity to achieve a goal, a sense of accomplishment
Funding Options
If a person with a disability is pursuing a career in which international experience is vital, there are some options to consider for funding. Additional funding information is available free from the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange (see the Resource section at the end of this article).
Vocational Rehabilitation Funding
“There is no federal regulation that prohibits the funding of an international program as part of an individual’s vocational rehabilitation plan,” reports Mary Davis, Rehabilitation Program Specialist at the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) of the U.S. Department of Education. “Each state has flexibility in the nature and scope of what activities they cover, but cost alone can never be the only reason to deny a particular program.”
But, she adds, “There does need to be a clear link between the international activity and the individual’s vocational objective.” It also should be clear that the experience is not available through participation in a domestic program. If a VR counselor agrees that the experience would be valuable and the VR department is supportive, it should be written into the vocational plan.
Also, if VR has approved funding for adaptive equipment or an assistant such as a note-taker to meet the vocational goal, it may be possible to use those funds to provide the same service while abroad. Mary recommends that individuals should discuss international program participation with their VR counselors if they feel it would increase their employability as some states may have state level VR policies that apply.
Jessica worked closely with her VR counselor to get approval to use VR funds to participate in an international exchange program. “When my VR counselor and I wrote up my educational/vocational plan in February 1999, I was in the process of applying for the MIUSA exchange program. I told her that I was planning to [apply] and asked if that would be something that the department would support. My counselor said yes, and it was written into my plan. She and I kept in phone contact while all of the funding issues were being resolved. She never stopped encouraging me the entire time. When I was contacted by MIUSA [about my selection for the program], my VR counselor said that the department would sponsor me, and she faxed confirmation of such to MIUSA.”
Mary Davis of the RSA and Jessica’s counselor both shared that individuals who feel an international experience is crucial to their future employability and yet are denied the opportunity to gain that experience as part of their vocational rehabilitation plan should use their right to appeal through the Client Assistance Program. If an individual can present a strong case that the experience would make him or her more employable, it should be supported.
Supplemental Security Income Provision
If a person with a disability receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits and has the opportunity to participate in an international exchange program, they should apply to have their benefits continue while they are abroad. There is a little-used SSI provision that allows for the continuation of benefits while participating in an overseas educational program. Even though the requirements to qualify are rigid, this provision makes it possible for people with disabilities, who financially need to continue their SSI benefits, to gain the international experience to increase their employability.
Another option available to SSI beneficiaries to pro-actively plan for international exchange is through the SSI work incentives program. An individual with a disability receiving SSI benefits can work with his/her VR counselor to apply for a PASS (Plan for Achieving Self-Support). Through a PASS, an individual can set aside income and/or resources that will be used to achieve a career goal.
If international experience is approved by the VR counselor as necessary to meet an individual’s career goal, income can be set aside to be used to cover some of the expenses related to participating in the program. For example, Sam has the approved career goal of becoming a German language interpreter. VR may approve the funding to cover his tuition and books to study in Germany for a semester and a PASS plan would allow him to set aside income from his part-time job to purchase the airline ticket.
Health Insurance
Regarding health insurance, Medicaid and Medicare are not usually transferable overseas. Private health insurance may expect an individual to pay for expenses abroad and then turn in claim forms to be reimbursed when he or she returns to the United States. Individuals should check with their international exchange organization and health insurance provider to find out about coverage abroad. If additional insurance is needed, one should inquire about coverage for pre-existing conditions.
The Social Security Administration feels it is important for people with disabilities to get the experience they need to be employed. It is critical that people with disabilities recognize the importance of international experience and, when possible, include it as part of their preparations for employment. Mobility International USA and the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange offer free information and resources related to the numerous international exchange options available to people with disabilities.
Editor’s Note: Mobility International is currently looking for individuals to apply for this year’s international exchange programs. One program, “Global Options for Women with Disabilities in Leadership and Employment,” is for women ages 18 to 25 from around the United States. It is a two-week international exchange program scheduled for July 2000 in Eugene, Ore. American delegates will join women from other world regions in an international cross-disability exchange of issues, ideas and strategies to improve opportunities for leadership and employment and to develop cross-cultural support networks. The Presidential Task Force on Employment of Adults with Disabilities is a major sponsor of this program.
Another program is called “US/Costa Rica: Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Disability.” It is open to U.S. citizens ages 18 to 24. This exchange program is also two weeks during the summer. Its goals are to explore disability issues, strengthen cross-cultural ties and expand leadership skills. Activities include sessions on a variety of disability-related topics, participating in cultural events, visiting schools to learn about the country’s educational system for disabled students, and learning about the culture and traditions by living with local families.
All activities in both programs are designed to ensure equal participation. Sign language interpretation and materials in alternate formats will be provided. Other accessibility arrangements will be negotiated to ensure full participation. Partial scholarships are available for both programs. For more information, or to apply for either of these programs, contact Mobility International USA, National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange, PO Box 10767, Eugene, OR 97440; phone (541) 343-1284 (voice/TTY); fax (541) 343-6812; e-mail clearinghouse@miusa.org, or visit the web site, http://www.miusa.org.
Resources:
The Social Security Administration (1999) “The Social Security Handbook.” www.ssa.gov
The Study Group, Inc. (1998) “Meeting the Needs of Youth with Disabilities: Handbook on Supplemental Security Income Work Incentives and Transition Students.” The National Transition Network, Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota.
Lorenz, Jessica (1999) Tribute to MIUSA, “Over the Rainbow,” Mobility International USA.