You are here: American University Provost Disability Support Studying Abroad with Accommodations

Back to top

Studying Abroad with Accommodations

AU Abroad and the Office of Student Disability Support (OSDS) make every effort to ensure that students with disabilities can participate successfully in study abroad programs. As a result of these efforts, AU students with disabilities study abroad as frequently as other students and find that, for the most part, they can access accommodations with advance planning.

Study Abroad Information Release 

During the study abroad process, students will likely be asked to provide an OSDS document outlining their approved accommodations or other disability documentation OSDS may have on file. We are happy to assist students with this process! Complete the steps below to obtain the documents you need:

  • Log onto your Disability Support Dashboard.
  • In the navigation menu on the left side of the screen, select "Information Release Consents". 
  • In the top right corner of the webpage, select "New Information Release". 
  • Select Study Abroad Information Release, and then click "Select and Continue". 
  • Fill in the required information, and then click "Submit Information Release Consents Form". 

Students should allow up to 3 business days for the OSDS to process their Study Abroad Information Release request.  

Please note, the documentation you provided to the OSDS may or may not meet the requirements of other institutions or testing agencies outside the American University community. 

When in doubt, reach out: call 202-885-3360 or email [email protected].

  1. Start by reviewing the detailed information and programs offered on the AU Abroad webpage. Research host institutions and pay special attention to their disability support webpage and associated resources.
  2. Meet with an AU Abroad Advisor: Your AU Abroad advisor can review program options and locations with you, and discuss in more detail how your disability may be accommodated when participating in a specific program, and the process to request accommodations for that program. Your AU Abroad advisor can help you obtain more information, as needed, so that you can make the best decision for yourself regarding your study abroad experience.  

  3. Choose an AU Abroad Partner program or host institution that is the best fit for you! 

  4. Complete a 'Study Abroad Information Release' through your Disability Support Dashboard. When completing this form, you will be requesting an 'AU Abroad - Approved Eligibilities document' that lists your approved academic, housing, and/or dining accommodations. You can also request any documentation of your disability the OSDS has on file. 

  5. Upload your AU Abroad - Approved Eligibilities document to your AU Abroad portal.

  • When you participate in one of these programs, you are studying at AU - just in another country! As such, AU provides accommodations for these abroad programs.  

  • Please note, American University cannot guarantee that facilities, technology, or support services will be available and/or implemented at each location abroad in the same range and quality as on the AU campus. Laws in other countries are in effect. In other words, your accommodations may look different, but you'd work with AU Abroad to implement them.

  • Like the Faculty Notification Letter sent on AU's main campus, you will need your accommodations listed on a document from the ASAC, and you will use this document to notify professors of your accommodations.

  • If you're interested in an AU Abroad program at an AU Center in Brussels, Madrid or Nairobi, discuss with an AU Abroad advisor how the AU Center program might best be able to support your disability accommodation needs!

  • When participating in an AU Abroad Partner program (i.e., direct-enroll), students enroll as a visiting student directly into a host institution or program. As such, students must follow the host program/institution's procedure for requesting accommodations, which will be provided by the host program/institution depending on availability. Please note that deadlines, timelines for review, notification of disability requirements can be different from what we require for American University in DC. 

  • American University cannot guarantee that facilities, technology, or support services will be available and/or implemented at each location abroad in the same range and quality as on the AU campus. Laws in other countries are in effect, and procedures followed by institutions abroad may be different from what you are accustomed to at AU. While abroad, students should not expect US laws to be applicable; rather, the host program/institution's country's laws will apply. 

  • American University cannot alter architecture, transportation, or laws in other countries. 

  • The OSDS recommends investigating what accommodations are available abroad, if any. It is the student's responsibility to research programs and institutions before applying. AU Abroad advisors, along with OSDS staff, are ready to support students as they navigate this process. 

  • Please be aware that American University cannot guarantee that facilities, technology, or support services will be available and/or implemented at each location abroad in the same range and quality as on the AU campus. Laws in other countries are in effect, and procedures followed by institutions abroad may be different from what you are accustomed to at AU. As a student abroad, you are expected to follow the laws of the country in which you are studying. 

  • American University cannot alter architecture, transportation, or laws in other countries.

  • Physical access can vary widely depending on specific program and location. For some programs and locations, access is excellent and easily managed. For other programs and locations, physical access may be extremely challenging.  It is always best to fully discuss your needs in detail with an AU Abroad advisor so that they can help you make the best-informed decision regarding a study abroad program. Your Disability Access Advisor is available to be part of these discussions at the student’s request. 
  • For general tips regarding physical access abroad, you may read the following articles: Top 5 Tips for Students with Physical Disabilities Studying Abroad, 7 Tips for Studying Abroad with Disabilities and Chronic Conditions
  • Please note, American University cannot alter architecture, transportation, or laws in other countries. 

  • If you are approved for an accommodation for the use of a recording device, please be aware that local laws in other countries may prohibit the use of a recording device. Reasonable alternatives may need to be implemented in certain cases. It is the student’s responsibility to discuss this with their AU Abroad advisor prior to going abroad.  

  • If participating in an AU Abroad Partner program (i.e., direct-enroll), it is the student's responsibility to work with the disability support staff of the host program/institution around local laws in the host country and to determine if a reasonable alternative may need to be implemented.  

  • Though American University makes every effort to ensure that students with disabilities can participate successfully in programs, we cannot guarantee that facilities or support services will be available at each location abroad in the same range and quality as at American University. American University cannot alter laws in other countries. 

  • It is important and helpful to disclose to your AU Abroad advisor that you will be studying abroad with a disability as soon as possible and early in the process. Your AU Abroad advisor can then fully discuss with you the possibility of disability accommodations abroad, things to consider when choosing a program, and program-specific details that might impact your decision on where to study abroad and your experience on a program.   

  • Your AU Abroad advisor will also help to clarify what the program-specific process is for requesting/applying for accommodations and, if needed, how to obtain more information from the program on what accommodations may be possible to implement.  AU Abroad will facilitate and support you in this process so that you can make the best decision for yourself on a program and prepare for study abroad with a disability on your chosen program. 

  • After you have decided on and applied for or been accepted to a specific AU Abroad program, and/or if you are participating in an AU Abroad Partner (i.e., a "direct-enroll" type program at a foreign university), your AU Abroad advisor can help you to contact the host institution/organization's disability support office and complete their disability support process to formally request accommodations through their disability office. 

  • The OSDS can process your Study Abroad Information Release in just a few business days — through this process, you can request an "AU Abroad - Approved Eligibilities document" or any and all documentation OSDS has on file for you. 

  • The OSDS is happy to help answer general questions about studying abroad as an individual with a disability. 

  • OSDS staff can help you brainstorm academic strategies (and more!) to help you through your time abroad. 

  • Your Disability Access Advisor is available to meet with you and your AU Abroad Advisor to facilitate conversations about disability-related needs that may arise while abroad.

When issues arise, first contact your program’s on-site support staff or disability support office. You can also reach out to your AU Abroad advisor and your Disability Access Advisor for additional support. Please note, similar to laws in the United States, some countries may not permit retroactive accommodations requests. Also, AU Abroad and the OSDS may have limited ability to support if you are in a direct-enroll program. 

This type of document is called an "AU Abroad - Approved Eligibilities document" in the OSDS office. 

To complete a request for an AU Abroad - Approved Eligibilities document, please complete the following steps: 

  • In the navigation menu on the left side of the screen, select "Information Release Consents". 

  • In the top right corner of the webpage, select "New Information Release". 

  • Select Study Abroad Information Release, and then click "Select and Continue". 

  • Fill in the required information, and then click "Submit Information Release Consents Form". 

Students should allow up to 3 business days for the OSDS to process their Study Abroad Information Release request. 

Your "AU Abroad - Approved Eligibilities document" can include housing and dining accommodations. 

To complete a request for AU Abroad - Approved Eligibilities document, please complete the following steps: 

  • In the navigation menu on the left side of the screen, select "Information Release Consents". 

  • In the top right corner of the webpage, select "New Information Release". 

  • Select Study Abroad Information Release, and then click "Select and Continue". 

  • Fill in the required information, paying special attention to the question: "Which of your approved accommodations with the OSDS are you requesting for your time abroad?" This is where you can specify housing and dining accommodations, in addition to academic accommodations.  

  • Once you complete the Study Abroad Information Release, click "Submit Information Release Consents Form". 

Students should allow up to 3 business days for the OSDS to process their Study Abroad Information Release request. 

Please note, the OSDS facilitates Housing & Dining accommodations for students participating in AU Center programs (AU Madrid/Brussels/Nairobi). Housing & Dining accommodations for students attending AU Partner Programs (i.e., direct-enroll) must be coordinated with the host institution directly.  

You can obtain your documentation on file with the OSDS by completing a Study Abroad Information Release  

  • In the navigation menu on the left side of the screen, select "Information Release Consents". 

  • In the top right corner of the webpage, select "New Information Release". 

  • Select Study Abroad Information Release, and then click "Select and Continue". 

  • Fill in the required information, and then click "Submit Information Release Consents Form". 

  • Complete study abroad information release on Disability Support Dashboard and specify what documentation you'd like released to you under the question "In addition to a document listing your currently approved accommodations with the OSDS, do you also need any disability-related documentation on file with the OSDS?" 

Washington College of Law students should review the WCL Abroad webpage.