Since attending my very first open house at Meredith College, I knew that studying abroad was something I really wanted to do. I didn't really care where I went, I just wanted to travel and experience life in another country. A car accident later, I wasn't sure if that would be possible.
After a lot of prayer and planning, I'm happy to say that for the entire month of July, I studied abroad in London, United Kingdom! A lot of thought and planning went into this trip, so I'm here to help you if you're a wheelchair user, hoping to study abroad!
1 ) It's Never Too Early to Start Planning
I found out about this study abroad program in December 2021, which was about 7 months before it began. I immediately told my family about it and started to have conversations with my school's disability services about the logistics and what I would need while abroad.
We stayed at Regent's University in London, so I made sure to include their disability administer in our conversations. I was able to request a dorm on the ground floor and made sure there was an accessible bathroom and shower on campus. I was also able to request to rent a rolling shower chair so I didn't have to bring mine from home. The accessible bathroom had a roll in shower, accessible sink and toilet, and was right across from my room. There was plenty of room in my dorm and the bed was low enough for me to transfer easily.
My family and I looked into hiring a personal care assistant (PCA) in London, but wasn't able to find one that would be willing to work for just 1 month. It was going to be too expensive to send my PCA from home, so my parents decided to come along too. Instead, I had my mom stand in as my PCA. My parents did their own thing while I spent most of my time with the other students in the group. I still felt I was able to get the full independent study abroad experience.
2) Do Your Research
For my program, we were given a list of museums, shows, parks, etc. we were required to visit while in London. I researched each place and created a Word document that said whether it had a lift, accessible toilet, best way to get there, it's cost, and where the accessible entrance is. This way you will know what to expect and you won't be blindsided if it's not accessible.
You'll also want to research places you plan to visit yourself! There were several museums and restaurants I wanted to go to, so it was helpful knowing about their accessibility ahead of time.
3) Contact Your Airline
My biggest worry about studying abroad was the plane ride. I've heard so many stories about people's wheelchairs being damaged by airlines and I didn't want mine to be next.
We contacted American Airlines and asked if I could store my chair in the cabin's storage closet. Luckily, they said I could if it fit the closet's dimensions. We had to take the wheels off, but it fit!
If the airline doesn't allow you to store it in the closet, ask if the flight is full or is there are empty seats. If there are, they might let you strap your chair in the empty seat.
4) Research Transportation
Obviously, transportation is very important when studying abroad--it's how you're going to get around. The major modes of transportation in London are tube (subway), bus, train, and taxi. The tube is the most popular, but unfortunately most tube stations had steps to get to the platform. The bus is the next most popular mode of transportation. Every bus has a ramp that comes out the side and designated space inside for wheelchair users. I'll talk more about transportation in a separate post.
5) Stay Hydrated!
You've heard it a million times...DRINK PLENTY OF WATER! But for real, it's even more important to stay hydrated when you're going to be on the go. I suggest getting a water bottle holder for your wheelchair or carry a crossbody big enough to hold a water bottle.
I was really worried that if I drank too much water I would need to use the bathroom more frequently and not be able to find an accessible toilet. To avoid this problem, I found an app called WheelMate that helps you located the nearest accessible toilet based on your current location.
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Remember, there will be bumps in the road, not everything will be perfect, and you're going to have to adapt to certain situations. That doesn't mean it isn't possible. My hope is that I've helped pave the way for those with disabilities hoping to study abroad. Stay tuned for more blogs about London and the UK!
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