Accessibility
This information is provided to assist you in identifying possible accessibility barriers and preparing for an accessible educational experience with SIT Study Abroad. You should be aware that while in-country conditions and resources vary by site, every effort is made to work collaboratively with qualified individuals to facilitate disability-related accommodation. Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact SIT’s Disability Services at [email protected] for additional information related to access abroad and to discuss possible accommodations.
Academics
During the coursework phase of the program, you will generally be in class five to six days per week for three to five hours per day. You will have two 30-minute breaks. Learning is typically assessed through take-home assignments, in-class assignments, oral presentations/exams, individual assignments, group assignments, and in-class quizzes/exams. Course readings and in-class materials are typically available in a digital format.
If you have questions about alternate format materials, testing accommodations, or other academic accommodations, you are encouraged to contact the Office of Disability Services as early as possible.
Program Center
The program office and its classroom are located on the ground level but there are threshold bumps in the doorways, including the exterior entrance. Doorways and pathways/hallways are less than 32 in. (82 cm.) wide. The program does not have a separate computer space, student lounge, or study/library. As is typical of Indonesia’s bathrooms, the program’s restroom contains an open area for rinsing off, a short toilet, and a floor drain.
Activities/Excursions
Program excursions include visits to foundations, NGOs, rural farming villages, and mountainous regions. You should expect to stand and walk for long periods of time. A pair of comfortable, rubber-soled, waterproof shoes is recommended. Please note that to take advantage of dynamic learning opportunities, program excursions may occasionally vary.
Housing
The program’s homestay coordinator will be responsible for placing you in your homestays. These placements are made based, first, on health concerns, including any allergies or dietary needs, to the extent possible. Homestays offer regular access to electricity to charge devices. The physical accessibility of homestay options is currently limited. If you have questions about homestay accessibility, you are encouraged to contact the Office of Disability Services as early as possible.
Dietary Needs
Meals are generally composed of rice with spicy vegetables, tofu, tempeh, poultry, meat, or fish. It is difficult to maintain a strict vegetarian diet while in Indonesia due to the use of fish pastes and meat stocks in all dishes. Students interested in keeping Kosher should be aware that pork is a popular meat and flavoring in Bali, but it is not served in predominantly Islamic Java. Milk and dairy products are rarely used in Indonesian cooking.
SIT Study Abroad works with students, program staff, homestay families, home colleges and universities, and others to accommodate dietary needs whenever possible. For more information on dietary needs and dietary preferences, please review the Student Support section of the Student Health, Safety, and Support web page.
Transportation
In Kerambitan, you will typically walk the five to ten minutes between your homestay, classes, and/or placement sites. In Yogyakarta, you will be a 45-minute car ride between homestay and campus. Small vans and cars are used for transportation on local excursions. The accessibility of public transportation is limited. The general routes of travel are narrow and bumpy, and there are no signals (auditory or visual) to cross streets.
Technology
You are advised to bring your own academic technology, including laptops or recording devices. It is also recommended that you fully insure your electronic property against loss or theft. Internet services including Wi-Fi are available at the SIT program center as well as in internet cafés in major cities and tourist areas.
If you have questions about assistive technology, note-taking accommodations, or other academic accommodations, you are encouraged to contact the Office of Disability Services as early as possible.
Health Resources
International and private health clinics are located throughout Bali and Yogyakarta, and the SIT program maintains close contact with health facilities in all locations visited on this program. Counseling and psychiatric care is not as widely available nor utilized in Indonesia in the same way as in the United States. However, there are now several registered psychologists in Bali. Payment for medical services is covered by your health insurance if the provider is notified prior to or during the medical service.
You are advised that the humidity in Bali is considered extremely high. Additionally, Bali can be very dusty in the dry season (May to September) and muddy in the rainy season (October to April).
Once admitted, you are encouraged to discuss any questions or concerns about accessing health services or medication while abroad during the health review process. Read more about the health review process and the summary of benefits for student health insurance.
Requesting Disability-Related Accommodations
To request disability-related accommodations once admitted, you should contact the Office of Disability Services. For more information about the accommodation process, documentation guidelines and a link to the accommodation request form, please visit the Office of Disability Services website.
Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact Disability Services at [email protected] or 802 258-3390 as early as possible for information and support.
Additional Support 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.
Abroad with Disabilities (AWD) is a Michigan nonprofit organization founded in 2015 with the goal of promoting the belief that persons with disabilities can and should go abroad. AWD works diligently to empower clients to pursue study, work, volunteer, and/or internship opportunities outside of the United States by creating dialogue, sharing resources, and spreading awareness.