International Exchange – A Valuable Step in Career Focus and Employment
November 2003

By Mary Ann Higgins,
Consultant, National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange

Melissa wasn’t sure what kind of setting she would be working in after graduating in 1996 from Boston College with a Master’s degree in Social Work. She did know, however, that the opportunity to participate in an international exchange program to Mexico that summer was not something she would pass up. While she had traveled with her family before, venturing out of the United States to Mexico with a delegation of other young adults with and without disabilities had so much potential, she couldn’t resist the opportunity. Melissa was selected to join the international program that focused on meeting and exchanging information with Mexicans with disabilities. She ended up learning so much from contributing her perspective as a young woman growing up with spina bifida that within six months after returning home she was offered a paid position coordinating future Mexico exchange programs for the same international exchange organization.

For Melissa, international exchange was not necessary to reach her academic goals nor required to prepare for a successful career as a social worker. Nonetheless, the opportunity to participate enhanced her education and set her on a course that led her to achieve successful and fulfilling employment. International exchange participation enabled Melissa to perfect her Spanish language skills to the level of being able to interpret sophisticated workshop presentations. It enabled her to use her social work skills to reach out and mentor other young adults with disabilities and their parents about the importance of gaining international experience as part of their leadership development and employment preparation. Furthermore, it put her in a visible role that enabled other young people with disabilities and parents to see her as a successful, full-time employed adult with a disability.

International exchange participation often leads to an advantage in seeking employment and other opportunities whether you have a disability or not. Lynnae Ruttledge, Assistant Administrator for Planning and Policy with Oregon Vocational Rehabilitation Division, feels it is vital for young adults with disabilities to include international experience as part of their preparations to enter the increasingly global US job market. “Even with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), people with disabilities in this country still are not always considered equally for positions of employment. A job applicant with a disability who has international experience brings that much more to the table to support their qualifications for the job.” Maybe an employer is hesitant as to whether an applicant with a disability can meet the demands of the job, but then learns that the individual successfully studied in Brazil for a year; those worries may just disappear. The ability to be successful in an academic or structured international program implies the person has a certain ability to be, among other things, flexible, culturally aware, creative and motivated.

Based on 19 years of international and disability experience, Mobility International USA has compiled a list of some of the benefits of participating in an international program such as studying, volunteering, researching, working or interning abroad, all of which add to an individual’s employability. These benefits include:

• A more open and accepting attitude towards cultural and diversity issues
• Experience learning how to function in a new environment
• An increased skill level and/or investment in developing second language skills
• An increased interest in active community and global involvement
• The development of leadership skills
• An increase in self-confidence
• An increase in independent-thinking skills
• Greater understanding of oneself
• An increased sense of self-direction
• Improved general job skills (interpersonal skills, flexibility, adaptability)
• The opportunity to learn other cultural and world view perspectives
• The opportunity to achieve a goal and a sense of accomplishment

Funding Options
If a person with a disability is pursuing a career in which international experience is vital, there are some options to consider for funding. Other funding information is also available free of charge from the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange (see the Resource section at the end of this article).

Vocational Rehabilitation as a Funding Option
If a person with a disability feels that international experience is important in their career development, there are some options to consider for funding international exchange. Working with Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services, international exchange can be included as part of an individual’s vocational plan. “There is no federal regulation that prohibits the funding of an international program as part of an individual’s vocational rehabilitation plan,” reports Mary Davis, Rehabilitation Program Specialist at the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) of the United States Department of Education, the federal agency that oversees the state level Vocational Rehabilitation Services. “Each state has flexibility in the nature and scope of what activities they cover, but cost alone can never be the only reason to deny a particular program.” She adds, however, “There does need to be a clear link between the international activity and the individual’s vocational objective.” It also should be clear that the experience is not available through participation in a domestic program. If a counselor agrees that the experience would be valuable and the department is supportive, it should be written into the vocational plan. Also, if VR has approved funding for adaptive equipment or an assistant such as a note-taker to meet the vocational goal, it may be possible to use those funds to provide the same service while abroad. Davis recommends that individuals should discuss international program participation with their VR counselors if they feel it would increase their employability, as some states may have state level VR policies that apply.

Davis shared that individuals who feel an international experience is crucial to their future employability and yet are denied the opportunity to gain that experience as part of their vocational rehabilitation plan, should use their right to appeal through the Client Assistance Program. If an individual can present a strong case that the experience would make him or her more employable, it should be supported.

Supplemental Security Income Provision
If a person with a disability receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits and has the opportunity to participate in an international exchange program, they should apply to have their benefits continue while they are abroad. There is a little-used SSI provision that allows for the continuation of benefits while participating in an overseas educational program. The exact wording from the Social Security Handbook is:

“A student of any age may be eligible for SSI benefits while temporarily outside the U.S. for the purpose of conducting studies that are not available in the U.S., are sponsored by an educational institution in the U.S., and are designed to enhance the student's ability to engage in gainful employment. Such a student must have been eligible to receive an SSI benefit for the month preceding the first full month outside the U.S.”

This is an exception to the more well known “SSI 30-day rule” that does not allow for the continuation of SSI benefits while outside the United States for more than 30 days. The “30-day rule” was amended through legislation introduced by Congressman Peter Stark of California in 1994 as part of the Social Security Independence and Program Improvements Act and became effective January 1, 1995. Even though the requirements to qualify are rigid, this provision makes it possible for people with disabilities, who financially need to continue their SSI benefits, to gain the international experience needed to pursue their employment goals.

Another option available to SSI beneficiaries to proactively plan for international exchange is through the SSI work incentives program. An individual with a disability receiving SSI benefits can work with their VR counselor to apply for a PASS (Plan for Achieving Self-Support). Through a PASS, an individual can set aside income and/or resources that will be used to achieve a career goal. The income set aside in a PASS will then not be included in determining the individual’s continued eligible for SSI benefits. If international experience is approved by the VR counselor as necessary to meet an individual’s career goal, income can be set aside to be used to cover some of the expenses related to participating in the program. For example, Sam has the approved career goal of becoming a German language interpreter. VR may approve the funding to cover his tuition and books to study in Germany for a semester and a PASS plan would allow him to set aside income from his part-time job to purchase the airline ticket.

Health Insurance
Regarding health insurance, Medicaid and Medicare are not usually transferable overseas. Private health insurance may expect an individual to pay for expenses abroad and then turn in claim forms to be reimbursed when he or she returns to the United States. Individuals should check with their international exchange organization and health insurance provider to find out about coverage abroad. If additional insurance is needed, one should inquire about coverage for pre-existing conditions.

The Social Security Administration believes it is important for people with disabilities to get the experience they need to be employed. It is critical that people with disabilities recognize the importance of international experience and, when possible, include it as part of their preparations for employment. Mobility International USA and the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange offer free information and resources related to the numerous international exchange options available to people with disabilities.

Resources:

The Social Security Administration (1999) The Social Security Handbook.

The Study Group, Inc. (1998) Meeting the Needs of Youth with Disabilities: Handbook on Supplemental Security Income Work Incentives and Transition Students. The National Transition Network, Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota.

Mobility International USA
The National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange
PO Box 10767
Eugene, OR 97440
Tel: (541) 343-1284 (voice/TTY)
Fax: (541) 343-6812
E-mail NCDE
MIUSA web site

Christa Bucks Camacho
Youth and Transition Coordinator
Office of Employment Support Programs
Social Security Administration
6401 Security Blvd.
107 Altmeyer
Baltimore, MD 21235
Tel: (410) 966-5147

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