This year ECA launched the Access for All campaign! The purpose of this campaign is to celebrate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 30th anniversary. ECA is committed to including persons with disabilities as exchange program participants and to advancing disability rights in the United States and abroad.
The Americans with Disabilities act was signed into law July 26, 1990 to prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life including employment, education, transportation, and other public and private places open to the general public.
ECA is proud of its tradition and strong record of including persons with disabilities in its exchange programs—from its flagship Fulbright Programs to FLEX and YES high school students from abroad; from its valued IVLP participants to U.S. undergraduate Gilman award recipients; from Sports Diplomacy Programs to Programs in culture and the arts; and many more. Beyond that, the Bureau works with each individual disabled participant, as necessary, on a case-by-case basis, to provide “reasonable accommodations” that help participants have as successful and comprehensive exchange experience as possible.
Join us as we showcase how ECA programs empower participants to advance disability rights, challenge discriminatory policies in their countries, improve accessibility, promote mainstream education and employment, start a business, build capacity to advocate for the rights of other persons with disabilities, and enhance their own career paths.
Follow the campaign on Twitter @ECAatState, Instagram @Exchangeourworld and Facebook @ExchangeProgramsatState. Tweet us using the hashtag #AccessforAll. For press inquiries in the United States, contact ECA-Press@state.gov.
