Travelling to a foreign country on a work or study placement abroad is an exciting prospect and it’s good to know that Erasmus+ (like it’s British equivalent, The Turing Scheme) is entirely inclusive, so if you have a disability, you can still enjoy everything it has to offer. It’s equally comforting to hear that having a disability (whether seen or unseen) means you’re entitled to different grants, to help with any additional needs you might need. For that reason, we’d urge you to prioritise your organisation as early as possible.
So, the first thing to do is to get in contact with your Erasmus+ co-ordinator at your school, college or university (or other higher education institution) to discuss what you want out of your trip and what you might need to facilitate a successful placement. By doing so, you are allowing yourself and your school ample time to prepare. You can also thoroughly evaluate all the available possibilities and make informed decisions. This means choosing the most suitable destination and university, that not only caters to your educational needs but also your own personal needs. It might be worth you talking to other past students with similar disabilities who’ve experienced a work/study placement abroad to help with decision-making. Again, your co-ordinator should be able to put you in touch with people, or you could look at the Facebook and other social media groups to make enquiries.
A good tip that we’ve been told about by other disabled students is to really look at your location of preference. Go onto Google Maps, look at Street View and see the city before you visit. Work out how easy it will be for you to navigate and access all the places you want to visit. So, will you be ok with cobbles? Will you need to use public transport? How easy will it be to get from your accommodation to your university on your own or will you need additional help? Choose accommodation that’s close to your university too – this is obvious, but you’d be surprised at how many students forget to do this! Plus, if you’re planning a journey, this tool is essential before you embark on your trip, whether a brief jaunt to the supermarket or a longer day out in a new city. Of course, if you travel with TravelEdventures, we’ll make sure all of this is done for you well in advance.
As already mentioned, there is extra funding available for students with disabilities, from the Higher Education Authority. Use this for things like public transport assistance and alternatives, special equipment (like wheelchairs for example). Also, upon arrival at your host university, arrange a meeting with their Disability Services (all universities and other higher education institutions offer this). This is a good opportunity for you to make sure all your needs are understood and accommodated – such as a compatible timetable so you’re not rushing across campus unnecessarily. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness and making sure you’re well looked after will make all the difference. It will ensure you navigate any challenges with confidence and help you to fully engage in your Erasmus+ location.
Remember to do small things like locating the Metro station and its lifts, noting where the disabled toilets are, the lifts in your receiving university, getting used to the cultural nuances and asking for help when you need it. People are only too happy to offer assistance – after all, if someone asked you for help, you’d say yes wouldn’t you!
Erasmus+ is for all – disabled, abled, disadvantaged, any colour, any race, any religion. It is an inclusive journey for students to embrace a different experience, gain experience to enrich life, education and bring wonderful possibilities for a future career. Don’t let anything discourage you from embracing everything it has to offer and make the most of an exceptional opportunity that could change your life! Get in touch with the TravelEdventures’ team here to find out more.