2020 Highlights

2020 Program Highlights

Utilizing a webinar platform, the NCDE offered dynamic sessions, invited thoughtful speakers, and a organized a robust poster fair. Below are a few highlights from the virtual program:

• Through this virtual platform, we heard from disability activists from all across the world about the impact of international exchange on disability rights

• We had an in-depth conversation on disability and intersectionality with international exchange alumni with disabilities and who identify with other diverse identities

• We collected a number of posters on inclusion through our Virtual Poster Fair

• Many joined us for “Disability at the Movies” watching the short film Opening Doors to College discussing the hundreds of colleges across the U.S. that are opening doors to higher education for students with intellectual disabilities followed by a discussion on opening doors to study abroad for the students as well

• We also learned many practical tips from building accessible virtual exchange programs to identifying resources and tools to support and fully integrate both American and international participants with disabilities in all types of international exchange programs.

By the numbers

• 5 days

• 8 sessions

• 14 poster fair submissions

• 24 guest presenters

• 70 countries represented

• 896 registrants!!!

Beyond the numbers: Diversity and Intersectionality

Thanks to the virtual platform, our attendees and presenters tuned in not only from across the United States but from countries around the world, from Argentina to Estonia to Finland to Japan to India to Morocco and many more.

They included alumni of international exchange programs who studied or interned abroad, conducted Fulbright research, served in the Peace Corps, and more in countries including Zambia, Cambodia, Brazil, Italy, the United States and other destinations.

Diverse types of disabilities were represented among presenters and attendees, who identify as blind, having ADHD, Deaf, having an intellectual disability, wheelchair riders, hard of hearing, having a speech disability, having a limb difference, and other apparent and non-apparent disabilities.

In addition to their disability identity, presenters and attendees shared other aspects of their identities that they proudly celebrate: being Latina, a gay woman, Black and Deaf, an artist, a parent, Muslim, first-generation American, an immigrant, Jewish, Asian-American, multilingual, a first-generation college student, and more.