No Barriers to Study

Formally founded in 1988, No Barriers to Study (NBTS) is committed to facilitating study abroad opportunities for college and university students with disabilities.

No Barriers to Study professionals meetingThe NBTS is a consortium of college and university professionals from the areas of disability services, international programs, study abroad, diversity and other interested groups. The NBTS group meets twice a year to discuss issues and concerns regarding disabled students studying abroad, and collaborative assistance among the various members is given to help make desired and necessary changes to policies, procedures, and best practices to improve study abroad experiences for students with disabilities. The organization has focused on a variety of intrinsic, environmental and communication obstacles that face students with disabilities as they study abroad.

Increasing numbers of students with disabilities are enrolling in American colleges and universities and expect their higher education institutions to provide full access to educational programs, services, and activities. In addition, institutions of higher education are asking students to internationalize their experiences as a means of enriching their education and preparation for a professional career. As these two movements continue, it is inevitable that more students with disabilities will be seeking to study abroad and seek access to sites abroad. Therefore, education abroad and disability service providers will need to be prepared to handle situations of access abroad for students with disabilities. The professionals from these two entities can be more effective at assisting students with disabilities to study abroad if there is collaboration of efforts and resources.

In NBTS meetings, which all hold a common theme of sharing information, members share best practices, worst practices, case studies, and resources.