Going the Extra Mile?

The Inclusion of Students with Disabilities in Exchange Programmes

This article discusses the participation of students with disabilities in international exchange programmes within Higher Education. Its purpose is to give the International Officer a framework for establishing procedures to encourage and include students with disabilities, in accordance with the principles established in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006). The article suggests simple, practical steps for the International Officer to achieve this, focussing mainly on outgoing study abroad. Through effecting procedural change, the International Officer has a unique and important role to play in reshaping attitudes and supporting the implementation of the UN Convention at ground level.