ExchangeAbility

Going to study abroad for a period of time is a challenging time for young people, as they are facing an unfamiliar environment, a new language and culture to name but a few things. In addition, it can be more even more difficult for students with disabilities who may face inaccessible environments or disability-related stereotypes. As recognition of such challenges, ESN developed the ExchangeAbility project to make our organisation accessible for students with disabilities, to help remove obstacles to participation in exchange and promote the opportunities available.

Aims of the project

The project has dual aims that can be summarised as:

  • Making ESN a more accessible association for disabled students at all the levels of its activities. This means that ESN wants to provide the conditions and opportunities for the disabled students to actively be involved in the work with international students and therefore to benefit from the exchange programmes at their home universities.
  • Increasing the number of students with disabilities going on exchange. The  long-term vision of the project is to promote the opportunities and support offered for students with disabilities to study abroad.   Also, ExchangeAbility  works with ESN sections, HEIs and organisations that are experts in the field to  create the best conditions possible for disabled students during their stay abroad.

MapAbility

The ExchangeAbility subproject aims at mapping the HEIs (Higher Education Institutions) accessibility for students with disabilities and special needs leading to the creation of MappED! a database mapping the accessibility of HEIs facilities

What ESN Leeds can do with that:

New for 2017/2018 ESN Leeds is looking for an ExchangeAbility coordinator who will be responsible for organising accessible activities and promoting the mapping of university building around Leeds.

 

Useful Information and websites

For more information about the opportunities for students with disabilities to participate in the ERASMUS programme and other useful information please check out the following websites:

More information: 
European Commission page for students or staff with special needs in ERASMUS mobility
European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education
LINK- Learning Inclusively Network + Know-how
MappED!