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Accessibility Services

SIT Accessibility Services facilitates an accessible educational experience abroad for students with disabilities. Students with eligible disabilities including learning, physical, mental health, short-term, or other types of disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act, are encouraged to contact Accessibility Services as early as possible for information and support. Please note that accessibility accommodations differ based on the learning environment. Therefore, students who have accommodations in place at their home institution may find that an accommodation is not necessary in the SIT Study Abroad context and others who do not have accommodations at their home institution may find they would benefit from an accommodation for their SIT program. Disability accommodations from your home institution do not automatically transfer to SIT. SIT students should work with Accessibility Services for any accommodations on SIT programs.

How to request accommodations
To request accommodations, admitted students can complete the online accommodation request form in the application portal.

Students can also contact Accessibility Services for an initial consultation at [email protected] or 802.258.3523.

Students should request accommodations as early as possible, with a recommended deadline date of: November 30^th-Spring semester, April 10^th-Summer programs, June 15^th–Fall semester. While accommodation requests will be considered at any point during an SIT program, please note that a reasonable amount of time is required to review non-academic accommodation requests. Depending on the nature of the request and the realities of our program on-site, SIT cannot guarantee that all requests will be approved.

What happens next?
The determination of reasonable accommodations is handled on a case-by-case basis and includes an interactive process between the student and Accessibility Services. Students should be aware that in-country conditions and resources vary significantly by site, and specific program locations may have limited accessibility. However, every effort is made to work collaboratively to facilitate an accommodation. Students who are eligible for disability accommodations will receive a written letter outlining their approved accommodation plan.

Documentation
The amount and type of documentation required will depend on the individual situation and specific accommodation requests. Documentation submitted to Accessibility Services should be current and provided by a qualified professional. The documentation must be written on that professional’s letterhead, personally signed by the evaluator, and include the following:

• Functional impact of the stated disability on one or more major life activities;
• Specific diagnosis of the disability;
• A comprehensive history of the disability and the use of accommodations, if applicable;
• Specific evidence of the disability, including any diagnostic tests or other evaluations performed and results, clinical observations, and/or other relevant evidence of the disability;
• Recommendations from the evaluator for accommodations, including academic adjustments or auxiliary aids.

Please include a copy of your accommodation letter from your college/university disability office, if available.

Confidentiality
Documentation records are confidential and maintained by Accessibility Services. However, appropriate information may be shared with designated SIT/World Learning staff, in accordance with federal and SIT/World Learning confidentiality policies, for the purpose of processing accommodation requests and facilitating approved disability accommodations.

As a student with SIT Study Abroad, you are ultimately responsible for your own learning, motivation, and success. Think of your relationship with SIT Accessibility Services as a partnership, one that provides support but also encourages your own self-advocacy. We recommend that you consult with Accessibility Services as early as possible to discuss your disability, possible accommodations, and other assistance you may need.

Resources
MIUSA (Mobility International USA) is a cross-disability organization serving those with cognitive, hearing, learning, mental health, physical, systemic, vision, and other disabilities. It offers numerous resources for persons with disabilities who wish to study abroad and/or engage in international development opportunities.