Colton Treadwell, an individual with physical disabilities, had a strong interest in learning Russian. He was accepted to participate in a Russian immersion program through the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Because his father was in the service, Colton had grown up traveling and moving around all of his life. He was a fulltime power chair user, who, while growing up, had required a lot of support from his father with activities of daily living. Now, he aspired to study abroad in a country with minimal wheelchair access, and took the lead in setting up a support plan during his program. Colton's experience in Georgia forced him to be more resourceful and gain useful skills, particularly around traveling to locations that required multiple connecting flights. As Colton's father, James Treadwell, noted, "It doesn't feel as though I get as many off-schedule requests to come see him, as I did before he went abroad. So, I would see that as a gain." Through international travel, Colton found opportunities to feel like he was contributing to society and being more independent.

LANGUAGE LAB: The author reading a Braille sign at Iguazu Falls; "I recruited sighted people to read class and archival materials to me, promising English lessons to the Chileans, and Spanish support to the Americans, in return for their help."

ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS

Many programs are capable of supporting student participants with all sorts of disabilities. At the same time, adolescents may not always ask the right questions to determine whether a program can provide the support they need. That's where parents can be especially helpful. "At orientations, kids are mostly thinking about what

they are going to eat, and where they are going to visit", reflects Sara. "Parents are concerned about where their children are going to get their medications."

During the planning for his experience in Georgia, Colton asked his father to share his concerns, which then helped guide his preparation for his exchange program. He invited his father to meetings with program staff and with an access advisor with the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange, where they discussed the details of how his power wheelchair would get transported to the host country, and what it would look like for him getting

from one place to another, once on the ground. James recalled that when he realized Colton's trip to Georgia might actually happen, he began to pay closer attention and really think about what he would absolutely have to have in place, in order to survive on his own, without James two hours away.

Parents can also support their children in more basic ways. Although Isabel was not able to directly support in the planning calls for Sara's program, due to limited English, she and her husband were available to support their daughter with putting together application materials.

A PERFECT FIT: Jane Hamilton in front of Itsukushima shrine in Japan. (Right) Jane and her mother Sara before their departure to Poland; "Jane's sensitivity to sensory input, like certain noises and foods, and the occasional need to decompress, influenced their decision to go with Global Volunteers."