
The number of students with disabilities taking part in Erasmus+ has been almost stagnating since 2007, while the number of young people experiencing Erasmus+ exchanges are increasing rapidly. The question of the inclusiveness of one of the flagship EU programmes has been raised many times over the past few years. Despite many efforts made, Erasmus+ is still considered by many as a rather elitist programme.
Between 0.17% (Higher Education students and trainees mobilities) and 2.4% (Youth mobilities) of Erasmus+ participants are part of the so-called category "Special Needs". Needless to say, there is room for improvement!
Our solution: to create an alliance of European organisations working on the topic of Inclusive Mobility.
We have gathered 21 organisations with high expertise in Higher Education mobility, Youth mobility and Disability. The diagram above shows the logos of the organisations involved and how their field of work is interlinked.
The goals of the Inclusive Mobility Alliance are:
- To gather partners from different fields with a common interest around the topic of Inclusive Mobility;
- To gather existing material, resources and research papers about the inclusion of students and young people with disabilities in Erasmus+ and share them widely with all the organisations that would benefit from it;
- To monitor and publish recommendations on how to make the next Erasmus+ programme 2021-2027 more inclusive;
- To create a long-lasting Alliance working on the topic of Inclusive Mobility for the years to come
IMA Recommendations on making the Erasmus programme 2021-2027 more inclusive
IMA Declaration
Toolbox on Inclusive Mobility
The following toolbox gathers existing useful material on Inclusive Mobility. Created by different organisations from all over Europe, all the material available is aimed at improving the inclusiveness of international mobilities, raise awareness about opportunities and support systems or provide evidence-based research about Inclusive Mobility.
1. Testimonials
This section contains useful testimonials of students with disabilities in the area of European and international mobility.
- MappED! Videos and articles
- ExchangeAbility Videos
- Que fuerte! Diversamente Erasmus
- Studentmobilitet Norden - att studera utomlands med funktionsnedsättning
- A Nordic Region for all - student mobility
- Study Abroad Experiences by Deaf Students' Union
- Carmen Jiménez Recena talks about her Erasmus experience (Inclusion Europe)
- Anke about her Erasmus experience in Sweden (SIHO)
- Jessica and her Erasmus experience in Barcelona (SIHO)
- Kevin about his Erasmus experience in France (SIHO)
- Laima about her Erasmus experience in France (SIHO)
- Leonieke about her Erasmus experience in Denmark (SIHO)
- Minke about her Erasmus experience in Spain (SIHO)
- Jessica about her Erasmus experience in France (EMASI project)
- Gerard about his Erasmus experience in Barcelona (EMASI project)
- Andrea about her Erasmus experience in Germany (EMASI project)
- Jamie about don’t let disability dictate your year abroad (The Guardian)
- Tory about travelling your heart out (MIUSA)
- Sheriff about ‘no matter where you want to go you can get there’ (MIUSA)/sites/default/files/ima/IMA%20declaration.pdf
- Lisa about her overseas experiences (Go overseas)
- Sorcha about her experiences and advice (Manchester on the Road)
- Shenaa about a North-South-South accessibility grant exchange from South-Africa to Finland (CIMO Finland)
- Student mobility in the Nordic countries (Nordic Welfare Center)
2. Interesting networks/platforms
This section contains useful links to network/platforms in the area of European and international mobility for students with disabilities.
- Abroad with disabilities promotes the participation of persons with disabilities in abroad programmes.
- The Diversity & Inclusion Resource Center is a centralized hub where administrators, faculty, staff and other education professionals can access the best practices, tools and resources needed to increase access, achieve equitable diversity and incorporate inclusive excellence in global education.
- Easy to read contains European standards on how to make information accessible and easy to read.
- GetAHEAD works to up-skill graduates with disabilities by providing training events and valuable information covering a wide range of topics and resources including.
- Inclusive Campus Life was an Erasmus+ project with the aim to make life on a campus for higher education more inclusive.
- Jaccede is an interactive platform (website and mobile app) that serves as guide to accessibility. Anyone can add details of places open to the public. This helps people with reduced mobility identify establishments that can meet their accessibility needs.
- The MappED! platform of the Erasmus Student Network provides students with disabilities in higher education with the necessary information about their rights, procedures and support services they are entitled to.
- Mobility International USA (MIUSA) advances disability rights and leadership globally for students with disabilities.
- Mobilitytoolkit.ie is a product of a research project from the Irish Universities Association that aims to provide staff at higher education institutions with a practical resource to help them in their efforts to widen and enable participation in outward mobility by all students, especially those from underrepresented groups.
- The Nordic Network of Disability Officers (NNDC network) a professional network which aim to promote exchange of expertise and experience between the members and between the Nordic HEIs. NNDC and Universell has in cooperation with NVC carried out a project on disability and mobility between Nordic countries.
- International Communication and Computers (ICC) offers summer programmes for blind and partially sighted students across Europe. Here you can find testimonials of Belgian students on the value of summer programs as taster for further participation in Erasmus programmes.
- Peer support informs on training opportunities for peer supporters with intellectual disabilities in Europe.
- Study Abroad without Limits (SAWL) from the LINK-network offers information concerning studying and international mobility across Europe.
- Student Minds provides some ideas and tips for preparing for the year abroad for students with mental health issues, as well as blogs from students such as Year Abroad Blues.
- Studenttoolkit from Universell, SIHO and AHEAD contains tips and advice on diverse topics from students with disabilities for students with disabilities.
- DirectLoansLenders - Online lender that provides loans for students with disabilities at a very affordable conditions. Students may choose from payday loans, installment loans, or personal loans.a
- Wheelmap is a map for finding wheelchair accessible places. The map works similar to Wikipedia: anyone can contribute and mark public places around the world according to their wheelchair accessibility. The criteria for marking places is based on a simple traffic light system.
- Widening Participation in Outward Student Mobility is a project from Universities UK International that contains a report and toolkit for universities to ensure wide and open access to mobility.
3. Guidelines and webinars on inclusive mobility
This section provides useful links to guidelines and webinars in the context of inclusive mobility for student with disabilities.
Check this folder folder to find guidelines and useful documents.
Below are some useful links to online resources:
- Abroad With Disabilities (AWD), the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange (NCDE), & The Global Access Files (2018). Webinar directed at people with disabilities, covering everything you ever wanted to know about why and how to study abroad.
- Access & Diversity (EAIE) (2014). The ABC guide to inclusive international mobility for all.
- Association for Higher Education Access and Disability (2013). A Guide to Disclosure. Dublin, Ireland: AHEAD.
- Allinson, K. (2017). Widening participation in outward student mobility : a toolkit to support inclusive approaches. Universities UK International.
- Diversity Abroad (2014). Access, Inclusion, and Diversity in International Education Roadmap
- Guidelines for Diversity and Inclusive Practices: in Education Abroad.
- Erasmus Student Network & AHEAD (2014). MAPPED! Erasmus+ and how to support students with disabilities. Guidelines on collaboration and good practice for International Relation Offices and Disability Services in Higher Education Institutions.
- Lucey, S. (2017). Enhancing Mobility for Access Students in Ireland. Irish Universities Association.
- Mikulenaite, G. (2018). Going international and supporting mental health needs. Universities UK International.
- Salto (2017). Youth 2.0. Guide on social inclusion in international voluntary projects
- Universell, SIHO & AHEAD (2014). Universal design for Learning. A Best Practice Guideline.
4. Training activities on social inclusion
This section provides useful links to training sessions outlines that the Erasmus Student Network organises across Europe to promote social inclusion. These activities can be used at general events in institutions such as open days, or in lecture shout-outs, etc.
It also provides useful session outlines from other organisations such as ENIL - European Network on Independent Living.
TSOs available here folder.
We also recommend checking the SALTO Inclusion and Diversity resources for more training material developed by and for Youth Workers on the inclusion topic: https://www.salto-youth.net/rc/inclusion/
5. Research and policy articles/reports
This section contains useful links to research and resources in the area of European and international mobility with a particular emphasis on widening participation for students with disabilities.
- Allinson, K., (2017). Widening Participation in UK Outward Student Mobility. A picture of participation. Universities UK International (UUKi)
- Council of Europe (2017). Learning mobility, social inclusion and non-formal education - access, process and outcomes.
- EBU & ECIVI Europe (2016). State of the art report on the accessibility of exchange programs for students with visual impairment.
- European Students’ Union (2018). Bologna with Students’ Eyes. The final countdown.
- European Commission Directorate General for Education and Culture (2014). Erasmus+ Inclusion and Diversity Strategy – in the field youth.
- European Commission (2016). Erasmus + Recommendations on the Inclusion of higher education students and staff with physical, mental or health related conditions in the Erasmus + Programme for Higher Education Institution.
- European Network on Independent Living (ENIL). Freedom of Movement (October 2019).
- Fazekas, A., (2018). Disability as a diversity issue in internationalisation. European Association for International Education (EAIE)
- Fazekas, Ágnes Sarolta (2018). A fogyatékossággal élő személyek felsőoktatáshoz történő hozzáférésének biztosítása Skóciában. Neveléstudomány: oktatás - kutatás - innováció. 2018. 2. szám. 75-89. URL: http://nevelestudomany.elte.hu/index.php/2018/06/afogyatekossaggal-elo-szemelyek-felsooktatashoz-torteno-hozzaferesenek-biztositasaskociaban/
- Fazekas, Agnes Sarolta (2017). Inclusion Culture - Promoting Leadership in Intercultural Understanding within Mixed-Ability Groups. Final Report. Strasbourg, France: Council of Europe URL: http://rm.coe.int/2017-enil-esn-inclusion-culture-report/16807879ba
- Fazekas, Agnes Sarolta (2017). Training manual "Inclusion Culture – Promoting Leadership in Intercultural Understanding within Mixed-ability Groups" Strasbourg, France:
- Council of Europe. URL: http://rm.coe.int/enil-esn-inclusion-culture-study-sessiontraining-manual-2017/16807879ef
- Fazekas, Ágnes Sarolta (2017). Inclusion Culture - Promoting Leadership in Intercultural Understanding within Mixed-ability Groups. Dublin, Ireland: THE AHEAD JOURNAL No. 6. 51-63. URL: https://www.ahead.ie/userfiles/files/Journal/AHEAD_Journal_6.pdf
- Fazekas, Ágnes Sarolta (2017). Towards a more inclusive international mobility across Europe. London, UK: Think Pieces. GAPS-Education. URL: http://www.gapseducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/The_GAPS_Think_Piece_Issue_201.pdf
- Fazekas, Ágnes Sarolta (2017). ExchangeAbility – an inclusive practice within the youth field. Youth Knowledge book # 22 “Learning mobility, social inclusion and non-formal education. Access, processes, and outcomes. Strasbourg, France: Council of Europe Publishing.
- URL: https://pjp-eu.coe.int/documents/1017981/1667851/Learning-Mobility-2018+WEB.pdf/313c137e-d76c-241c-411c-7b3b7e9a4646
- Fazekas, Agnes Sarolta & Todd, Zara (2016). Inclusive Internationalisation. EAIE Webinar. Amsterdam, the Netherlands: European Association for International Education. URL:https://www.eaie.org/training/webinars/webinar-detail/inclusive-internationalisation-students-disabilities.html
- Fazekas Ágnes Sarolta, Griffith, Miro, Knarlag, Kjetil (2016). “Examining the need for global, systemic accessibility frameworks in Higher Education: the potential of UDL” Konferencia előadás. Liverpool, UK: European Association for International Education.
- URL: https://www.eaie.org/dam/jcr:8eba342d-32cb-4bf8-bcfa-79a0e5a40327/EAIE%20Liverpool%202016%20Conference%20Programme.pdf.
- Fazekas, Ágnes Sarolta, Todd, Zara, & Sioen, Frank (2015). Submission to the Draft General Comment on Article 24 of UNCRPD. Brussels, Belgium: European Network on Independent Living. URL:http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/CRPD/GC/RighttoEducation/TheEuropeanNetworkIndependentLiving-ENIL.doc
- Fazekas, Ágnes Sarolta & Todd, Zara (2015). Contribution for the day of general discussion of Article 24 of UNCRPD. Brussels, Belgium: European Network on Independent Living. URL: http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/CRPD/DGD/2015/ENIL.doc
- Fazekas Ágnes Sarolta (2015). Creating Mobility Windows for Students with Disabilities. EUROPEAN EDUCATION, TRAINING AND YOUTH FORUM 2015. New priorities for European cooperation in education, training and youth Brussels, Belgium 19 - 20 October 2015. Konferencia előadás. URL: https://education-training-youthforum.teamwork.fr/en/programme & https://education-training-youthforum.teamwork.fr/docs/presentations/ws3-agnes-sarolta-fazekas.pptx
- Fazekas Ágnes Sarolta, Nagy, Izabella (2015). Intersectionality between gender and disability in access to higher education. - A comparative study between United States and Europe with a focus on Hungary – konferencia előadás, Bergen, Norway: Nordic Network on Disability Research NNDR2015
- URL: https://hil.conferenceservices.net/reports/template/onetextabstract.xml?xsl=template/onetextabstract.xsl&conferenceID=4355&abstractID=872249
- Fazekas, Ágnes Sarolta & Piorecky, Viktor (2015). Universal Design in Erasmus+: Can we make it work for all? Dublin, Ireland: AHEAD, Ireland Publishing
- URL:http://www.ahead.ie/userfiles/files/Conference/2015/Conference%202015%20Publication.pdf
- Fazekas, Ágnes Sarolta (2014) „Challenges of portability of support services for students with disabilities under the Erasmus+ Mobility in higher education” URL: http://www.enil.eu/news/enil-roundtable-on-the-portability-ofpersonal-assistance-in-the-european-parliament/
- Fazekas, Ágnes Sarolta, Lyner-Cleophas, Marcia & Du Toit, Nina (2014).The inclusion of students with disabilities: A New era for South Africa and Hungary. konferencia előadás. Prága, Csehország: European Association for International Education EAIE2014. URL: https://www.eaie.org/dam/jcr:b84ef153-8c96-4804-b95a-548a9189774f/EAIEConferenceProgramme2014.pdf
- Fazekas Ágnes Sarolta & Kenneth Ho (2014): Fostering Mobility of Students with Disabilities in Erasmus Programme. AHEAD - Association for Higher Education Access & Disability, Dublin, 2014. URL: http://www.ahead.ie/userfiles/files/Conference/2014/Into%20the%20Real%20World.pdf
- Fazekas, Ágnes Sarolta, Scheib, Michelle, & Kvernmo Trine (2013). The mobility of students with disabilities: Perspectives from Europe and the USA. konferencia előadás. Istanbul, Törökország European Association for International Education. EAIE2013. URL: https://www.eaie.org/dam/jcr:6fe2d70f-bc51-4c56-a83d-89a59e5b6131/IST_ConferenceProgramme_FA_lr.pdf
- Fazekas, Ágnes Sarolta (2011). A fogyatékossággal élő hallgatók felsőoktatásba való bekapcsolódását meghatározó tényezők. ELTE Társadalomtudományi Szakkollégium tanulmánykötete. Kiadja az ELTE Társadalomtudományi Szakkollégium, Budapest URL: http://angelusz.elte.hu/sites/default/files/Kotetlen_2011.pdf
- Fazekas, Ágnes Sarolta (2011). Fogyatékossággal élők hátránykiegyenlítése a felsőoktatásban / A magyar és német jogi és szervezeti intézményrendszer főbb elemeinek összehasonlító bemutatása. Társadalmi tanulmányok 2011. Budapest: Az ELTE Társadalomtudományi Kar hallgatói Önkormányzatának évkönyve.
- Bugarszki, Zsolt, Fazekas, Ágnes Sarolta, Flaskár, Melinda, Molnár, Katalin, Pájer, Melinda, Szekeres, Andrea, Tupi, Zsófia, & Volosinovszky Linda (2010). A Fogyatékosügyi Civil CAUCUS Árnyékjelentés és a Kormány Jelentés összehasonlító tanulmánya. Budapest: Hilscher Rezső Szociálpolitikai Egyesület online folyóirata.
- URL: http://www.hilscher.hu/hilscherfolyoirat
- Lucey, S. (2017). Enhancing Mobility for Access Students in Ireland. Irish Universities Association.
- SIHO in cooperation with the LINK-network (2012). No Limits on international exchange.
- SIHO, AHEAD in partnership with LINK (2015). (No) Limits on International Exchange? International mobility and students with a disability. EAIE Forum, spring issue, 32-34.
- Universell and the Nordic Network Nordic Network of Disability Coordinators (2017). Equity in Student Mobility in Nordic Higher Education (ESMHE). (PDF)
OTHER ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- https://www.sensepublishers.com/media/1765-disabled-international-students-in-british-higher-education.pdf
- Interview/summary with Agnes (included in the final report. https://www.ijab.de/fileadmin/user_upload/documents/PDFs/Publikationen/Dokumentationen/Dokumentation_Inklusion_Zwischentagung.pdf
- EPLM 2015 Interview/summary with Agnes (included in the final report. Final Report: https://pjp-eu.coe.int/documents/1017981/8655813/EPLM-report-2015.pdf/66294907-f3e3-40d7-aaa5-e9b6de6e6ea0
- European Commission, DG EAC Erasmus Unit, Erasmus+ Higher Education Working Group on students with disabilities (2016) URL:
- https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/sites/erasmusplus/files/erasmus-plus-recommendations-higher-education_en.pdf
- https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/sites/erasmusplus/files/erasmus-plus-recommendations-national-agencies_en.
- EAIE ACCESS & DIVERSITY Expert Community (2014): https://www.eaie.org/our-resources/library/publication/Templates/abc-guide-inclusive-international-mobility.html
- https://www.cogitatiopress.com/socialinclusion
- Lifelong Learning for All - A report on Recommendations for a more Inclusive and Accessible LLP and the new Education and Training Programme (2012)
- https://drive.google.com/open?id=1tERQog7LSQZc_pEZxl_sNOEI87_HZvqB
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