Accommodations and resources for access and mobility may vary from country to country. Do your research and prepare before you go.
Ask your Education Abroad Advisor and/or Trip Leader questions to understand the program:
Disclose your disability and medical condition to Education Abroad and Disability Resources to start securing reasonable accommodations. Note: if you are currently registered with Disability Resources, your accommodation information is not automatically transferred to Education Abroad. Therefore, please contact Disability Resources to initiate accommodation coordination at 979-845-1637 or disability@tamu.edu. Early disclosure is strongly encouraged, as it may take 4 to 6 months to finalize arrangements.
Shipment of special supplies, quarantine of service animals, immunizations, travel documents, and other necessary preparations will take time to complete. Verify with your doctor if your prescription medication is legal in the host country and how to obtain enough supplies for the duration of your stay. You may need a note from your doctor to travel with certain medication.
If you are planning to travel with a service animal or emotional support animal, verify quarantine regulations. To verify related requirements, consult the following resources:
Depending on your accommodation needs, advanced requests for assistance in transit to and from the host destinations might be helpful. To reserve assistance, contact your airline carrier approximately a few weeks before departure and remind them of special requests upon checking in. Available services may include assistance from the airport lobby to the security checkpoint to the gate to passport control to baggage claim. For general details about TSA Cares Assistance, visit the TSA Passenger Support page.
Some countries do not have an equivalent of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Therefore, the availability of disability accommodations and program adjustments are determined based on the following information:
Research the Program Country
Ask your Education Abroad Advisor and/or Trip Leader questions to understand the program:
- What are the program arrangements, cultural norms, and resources available for students with disabilities in my program and in my host destination?
- Are reasonable accommodations available?
- How will the resources abroad differ from what I am accustomed to at TAMU?
(A few examples of accommodation needs might include but are not limited to, accessible housing, access to academic support, accessible transportation, modifications for dietary considerations, adjusted program pace, traveling with medications, continued access to in-country medical support, and so forth) - If I use prescription medications, are they legal and available in the host country?
- Can I procure enough to supply me for the duration of my stay abroad?
Disclose your Disability and Medical Condition
Disclose your disability and medical condition to Education Abroad and Disability Resources to start securing reasonable accommodations. Note: if you are currently registered with Disability Resources, your accommodation information is not automatically transferred to Education Abroad. Therefore, please contact Disability Resources to initiate accommodation coordination at 979-845-1637 or disability@tamu.edu. Early disclosure is strongly encouraged, as it may take 4 to 6 months to finalize arrangements.
Plan Ahead
Shipment of special supplies, quarantine of service animals, immunizations, travel documents, and other necessary preparations will take time to complete. Verify with your doctor if your prescription medication is legal in the host country and how to obtain enough supplies for the duration of your stay. You may need a note from your doctor to travel with certain medication.
Verify Quarantine Regulations
If you are planning to travel with a service animal or emotional support animal, verify quarantine regulations. To verify related requirements, consult the following resources:
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Pet Travel (policies for entering a foreign country and returning to the U.S) and
- U.S. Department of State Pets and International Travel, as well as
- Verify specific airline regulations based on your flight itinerary.
Reserve Airport Assistance
Depending on your accommodation needs, advanced requests for assistance in transit to and from the host destinations might be helpful. To reserve assistance, contact your airline carrier approximately a few weeks before departure and remind them of special requests upon checking in. Available services may include assistance from the airport lobby to the security checkpoint to the gate to passport control to baggage claim. For general details about TSA Cares Assistance, visit the TSA Passenger Support page.
Be Flexible
Some countries do not have an equivalent of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Therefore, the availability of disability accommodations and program adjustments are determined based on the following information:
- An assessment of the participant’s needs by an Access Coordinator in the Department of Disability Resources
- Examination of the program itinerary with the education abroad advisor/trip leader and on-site staff
- Exploration of available resources in the participant’s host countries. You can find more information about the request for accommodation process here.
Texas A&M Department of Disability Resources
Campus office for academic accommodation coordination, evaluation referral, and disability-related information
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
CDC provides guidance on traveling abroad with medicine.
Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
TSA provides details on airport assistance and guidelines on traveling for those with disabilities, service dogs and animals, or medical conditions.