Building Trust and Encouraging Disclosure

Making it safe to disclose the need for an accommodation and developing trust are essential for putting the right resources, supports, and contingency plans in place. Exchange providers play a pivotal role in creating a culture where participants feel comfortable sharing this information.

To encourage participants to communicate an accommodation need, education abroad providers must take steps to build a welcoming, supportive, and judgment-free environment. One of the most powerful ways to do this is by being upfront about how medical or disability-related information will be used and protected.

When participants know that their disclosure will lead to better access—not restrictions, they become more likely to share. Providers can show they are ready by demonstrating awareness, being transparent, and communicating a “can-do” approach even when unsure about specific accommodations.

It’s About Accommodations, Not Disability

In higher education, the focus is on accommodations rather than diagnoses. Under U.S. laws such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), students have a right to privacy. This means that information about a student’s disability is kept confidential.

For example, a faculty member at a U.S. university will know what accommodations a student has been approved for. However, unless the student chooses to share it, the faculty has no right to know the underlying disability.

An education abroad program may partner with a university, in which case the staff and faculty might only receive information about accommodations—not the student’s disability. In other cases, a provider may be working directly with applicants outside of a higher education framework, where this approach may not always apply. Either way, it’s important to keep in mind how this system works in higher education, since many students come from this context and carry those expectations into their education abroad program.

Steps to Encourage Disclosure and Build Trust

1. Feature alumni with disabilities on promotional materials; mention disability in non-discrimination and diversity statements.
2. Ensure recruitment and advising staff know how to respond to accommodation inquiries respectfully and confidently.
3. Offer an opportunity for applicants to choose whether they want to discuss disability as part of their background. While they should never be required to disclose accommodation needs before applying, some may wish to highlight how their disability has shaped their skills, resilience, or qualifications for the challenges of studying abroad.
4. Clarify who will see disability and accommodation information, why, and with what restrictions.
5. Share steps clearly and widely through program websites, acceptance letters, orientation materials, housing forms, etc. The need for accommodations can show up in all areas of life, so a provider should offer multiple contexts – host families, predeparture orientations, healthcare, physical access, medications, program outings – for requesting support.
6. Normalize disability by including the perspectives of presenters possessing expertise in accessibility and managing medical conditions in orientations and workshops.
7. Offer disability-related scholarships. When current or prospective participants see that a program recognizes the extra costs of disability, they will be more likely to seek support.
8. Instead of only asking about “academic accommodations,” ask what personal care, transportation, medical or housing supports participants use at home that may not be of an academic nature.

Conclusion

By creating multiple opportunities to request an accommodation and modeling transparency about next steps, providers can keep the lines of communication open.

while written and verbal communication is important for conveying accessibility values, actions are another form of language. The biggest motivator for participants to disclose the need for accommodation will be the experiences of their friends on a program. We have many resources and best practices for providing accessibility in education abroad, and providers are welcome to contact us with questions.