Shaping and Shifting
Cultural Perceptions of
Disability Abroad
Chair: Ashley Holben,
Mobility International USA
(MIUSA)
Presenters: Mark Bookman,
CIEE Alumnus; Dr. Kirsten
Jensen, CIEE
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Culture Matters!

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Diverse Cultural Views on Disability
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Can Traveling with a Disability Challenge Perceptions?
“People with disabilities in
that community [in rural
Ecuador] often stay at home,
but here was this person,
getting his health needs met
while out experiencing the
world. It really changed their
mindset. That, to me, is
citizen diplomacy.” – Global
Citizens Network director
Linda Stuart
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“
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Different Culture, Different Attitudes
• Isn't the customer always right?
• Overprotectiveness
• Unwillingness to accommodate
• Recognizing legitimacy of disability
• Intrusive staring or questions
• Unsolicited help
• Emphasizing other identities
• Expectations of independence
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Remind Your Students…
• ALL travelers experience
awkwardness
• Potential to challenge
perceptions
• Opportunity to grow
• Cultural connections create
meaning
• Be open to positive experiences
• Safety comes first – offer
support services
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Adjusting to a New Place
How might other aspects of culture have an impact on a
student with a disability?
• Time and punctuality
• Different place, different pace!
• Leisure and schedules
• Siestas/resting, lingering meals and conversations
• Body language
• Eye contact
• Rituals and Routines
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“I was very comfortable [in
Japan] – for some reason, the
cultural structure is less
intimidating. You know what is
expected of you in Japan. It’s a
more ritualistic society, and
people with autism can be
ritualistic. I knew the basic
culture was family-oriented, so I
could follow their structure.”
- Ted Koehler, U.S. student to
Japan
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Create a Culture of Inclusion!
• Partner agreements
• Dispel negative assumptions
• Seek out champions of inclusion
• Leverage culture values
What have you found to be
effective cross-culturally?
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Services and Resources from MIUSA
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• Free advising
•Website
• E-news
• Publications
•Webinars and events
Sponsored by:
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department
of State

Visit www.miusa.org for…
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• Tips for traveling with a disability
• Resources for students & professionals
• Traveler stories
• E-newsletter sign-up

Popular Resources for Advisors & Intl. Educators
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• Showing Respect by Being Direct
• Accommodations Assessment Forms & Guidelines
 Accessibility
Assumptions
 When Can We Ask
for Disability
Information?

Resources and Stories Specific To…
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• Autism Spectrum
• Blind & Low Vision
• Chronic Health Conditions
• Deaf & Hard of Hearing
• Learning Disabilities
• Mental Health Conditions
• Physical Disabilities
Add to our resources: Share your travel tips and stories!

Build on Your Knowledge!
Session: “Incorporating Universal Design Concepts Into
Study Abroad” – Today @ 3:45 pm in Salon I & II
Session: “Technological Barriers & Moving Towards Fully
Accessible Website & Materials” – Tomorrow @ 10:15 am
IIE Generation Study Abroad Webinar: “Disability-
Inclusion Best Practices and National Trends” - December
2 @ 3:00 pm Eastern - ow.ly/EDmJg
MIUSA E-news: Updates on future trainings & webinars
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Committing to Inclusion
CIEE pledges 25 full scholarships for
students with disabilities in 2015!
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Why 25?

Thrice in Japan
CIEE Alumnus Mark Bookman Shares His Story
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A Brief History of “Barrier-Free” in Japan
• Late 1980s: The term “Barrier-Free” becomes a popular
term. [1]
• 2009: 3.6 million people estimated to have a physical
disability. [2]
• 1993: Fundamental Law for Disabled Persons sets in
motion measures to advance Barrier-Free Agenda,
including:
• 1996: Action Plan for Priority Areas
• 2003: Basic Plan for Persons with Disability [3]
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Barrier Free vs. Americans with Disabilities Act
Fundamental Law for Disabled
Persons
Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA)
Est. 1993 Est. 1990
• Establishes fundamental
principles and measures for
disabled persons
• Designates public
responsibilities
• Promotes the independence
and full participation of disabled
persons [4]
• Ensures equal opportunity for
persons with disabilities in areas
such as employment,
government services, and
transportation.
• Guaranteeing public and
commercial facilities as being
accessible
• Prohibits discrimination [5]
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“Barrier-Free” Translation from Theory to Praxis
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Ideological and legal differences between Japan and
U.S.
Lead to:
Differences in terms of private resource allocation
Gap in adequate care coverage for
many PWDs
Foreign students face a particular
challenge. Why? Consider the
following…

Permanent vs. Temporary Residence
• Differences in assistive devices across cultures
• Accessible housing is difficult to locate, often requires
long-term contract and increased security deposit
• Long-term residents with disabilities outfit their living
spaces to meet their unique needs, an expensive and
time-consuming process
• No one may apply for “介護” (Kaigo), or Care Services
until after at least one year of living in Japan
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An Overview of My Experiences
I have studied in Japan on three separate occasions with
three distinct levels of severity in disability:
• 1) Waseda University: For 2 months during the summer of
2008. I walked with a limp and did not require the use of a
wheelchair.
• 2) Sophia University: For 5 months during the spring of
2013. I used a wheelchair but could stand independently.
• 3) Toyo University: For 10 months starting in September
2014. I use a wheelchair and am unable to stand
independently.
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Waseda University (2008)
• Same opportunity to
experience Japan as any
other study abroad student
(albeit at a slower pace)
• I was often able to scale
staircases to access those
places otherwise
inaccessible to me
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Yes, you CAN!
Tokyo Study Center
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PHASES
1. Preparation 電動式車椅子
2. Arrival & orientation 電動車椅子
3. Semester 車椅子Mark
4. Aftermath Mark Fulbright Fellow
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PREPARATION
1. March 5, 2012 – General Inquiry
2. Accommodation search, general research,
discussions, lists, and more lists
3. Sept 18, 2012 - reserved dorm room through
Sophia
4. October 3 - received preliminary information
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???????????????
• Questions to ask (First Skype conversation 12/21/12)
• Height when seated in his power chair?
• Power-charging voltage needed? 2 or 3-pronged plug?
• Do feet extend beyond the chair when seated? What is
the length including feet?
• When could he move into the dorm?
• Length of contract?
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???????????????
• More Questions to ask
• Hiring another Sophia student to do his laundry/ provide
help if needed/ push when using manual wheelchair?
• Dimensions of manual chair?
• Will airlines transport one chair free? If not, get estimates
of cost.
• Also for second chair. Bettter to hire in Japan?
• (4 typed pages of Questions & A)
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POWER CHAIR
• Width – 25.5 in/ 65 cm
• Length – 42.9 in/ 109 cm
•Weight – 260 lbs/ 118 kg
• Chair is rather “spider-like” with 2 center wheels for
torque, as well as a pair of front and back wheels, like
training wheels – turns “on a dime” – long and narrow
compared with regular, manual wheelchairs – has one
joystick hand control, so Mark uses an umbrella in rainy
weather.
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DORMITORY
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DORM ROOM
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ARRIVAL & ORIENTATION
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MODIFIED SCHEDULE (1)
• Started with full student schedule
• Then modified for Mark
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Day Date Time Place Event Items Remarks
Wed 3/20/1
3
16:50 NRT Mark Bookman's arrival
Arriving at 16:50 with DL173 (Delta Air Lines) at
Terminal 1 North
Dr. Kirsten Jensen meet MB (and the van driver)
Ship luggage to Edagawa dorm so it will be delivered
by 3/22.
Driver: (Asami-san, 090-1540-3418) will meet KJ at
Terminal 1
（”ハイヤー”
車種：ハイエーストヨタグラ
ンドキャビン）
Inform him of SoftBank
prepaid phone
c. 19:00 Mitsui Garden Hotel Check-in
Help unpack
Thu 3/21/1
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Mitsui Garden Hotel MB Breakfast at hotel restaurant (1F Salvatore
Cuomo)
Entrance from hotel lobby is
flat but vould be difficult to
turn corners. Hotel staff will
help this and getting food
from buffet table as well.
10:00 Hotel Lobby Darren Biggs (CIEE student assistant) meet MB to
escourt to Study Center
10:30 - 12:00 Study Center MB: SoftBank prepaid phone purchase
(Staff can fill out the form for him. MB to pay 6,000
yen)
Orientation with Dr. Jensen and Hiroko Watanabe
MB Passport copy
12:00 - 14:00 Lunch
(Go back to hotel if wish)
Lunch stipend
14:30 - 16:00 Sophia Offices MB Meeting with relevant Sophia offices
(Academics, Student Affairs, FLA, ISO, Health Center,
etc.)
National
Holiday

ORIENTATION
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Modified Orientation
Schedule
With other students as
much as possible

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MODIFIED SCHEDULE (2)
Date Time Place Events/Sessions Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Mar 27 Wed
14:00 - 18:00 Narita Int'l Airport Arrival Day Welcome to Japan!
n/a Stipend
Stay at Narita Tobu Hotel 【Address: Narita Tobu Hotel, 320-1 Tokko, Narita-shi, 286-0106 , Tel: 0476-32-1234】
Mar 28 Thu
6:00 - 8:00 Narita Tobu Hotel (1F)
Buffet Breakfast
Check-out
Hotel
CIEE
Welcome
Lunch
Stipend
8:30 - 10:45
Hotel Meeting Room
"Asahi" (2F)
CIEE Orientation 1 (Welcome Meeting) - Official Program Opening
11:00 - 15:50
Travel to Tokyo by chartered bus
Including stop for CIEE Welcome Lunch in Odaiba (Tokyo Bay area) and tour of central Tokyo
16:00 - 17:00 Study Center SoftBank prepaid phone sign-up and payment
Check-in to the Green Palace Hotel 【Address: 2 Niban-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0084, Tel: 03-5210-4600】
Mar 29 Fri
7:00 - 8:30 Green Palace Hotel Buffet Breakfast
Hotel Stipend n/a
8:45 Hotel lobby Check-out and meet Dr. J.
9:40 ---
Tokyo Medical Surgical
Clinic
Doctor's appointment at 9:40 a.m. with Dr. J.
11:30 - 12:30 Sophia Campus Campus Tour and lunch at cafeteria with senpai students.
13:30 North Gate Meet staff (You are included in the Homestay students group.)
14:45 - 16:30 Ikebukuro Bosaikan
Earthquake simulation and other training at Life Safety Learning Center
Return home (Sophia Edagawa Dorm) on own
Mar 30 Sat All Day Free (Other students have required events, but you are not required to come to campus.) n/a n/a n/a

SETTLING IN
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KAMAKURA
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SPRING SEMESTER
Challenges VS.
• Attitudes
• Physical barriers
• Lack of experience
• Assumptions/
misunderstandings
• Academic policies
Positives
• Good will
• Removed if possible
(within university)
• Willing to learn
• Understood if explained
carefully
• Some flexibility – not stated
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BULLET TRAIN and HIRODEN
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Regular
Public
Transportation

HIROSHIMA
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DEPARTURE DAY
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AFTERMATH
• Confidence in assisting students with disabilities
if/when needed
• Knowledge of disabilities in Japan, especially in an
academic setting
• Mark’s graduation and Fulbright Fellowship – trailblazing!
•Fulbright Commission asked CIEE for advice
• A new journey for Mark – not all positive – but he had also
gained knowledge, confidence, patience, resourcefulness
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A NEW ADVENTURE!
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WHAT WE LEARNED
• Academic accommodations / learning disabilities-relatively
new fields in Japan
• Clarify and specify exact needs of students requiring
accommodations
• Host university is eager to learn from us
• No separate Office of Disabilities/Accommodations
• Caution! Accommodations Letters & wrong assumptions
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Sophia University (2013)
• For the first time, I became
very aware of the
inaccessibility of many
buildings in Japan
• Many private
establishments were not
accessible to me lest I leave
my wheelchair outside and
go in with the help of a
friend
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Toyo University (2014)
• Accessibility was a challenge
not just outside the home,
but inside as well, especially:
• 玄関(Genkan), or Japanese
style entryways
• 風呂（Furo), Japanese-style
baths, toilets, beds, etc.
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Access Abroad: General Considerations
1. Access to Academic Facilities
2. Access to Specialty Medical Facilities
3. Access to Living Facilities and Accommodations
4. Health Insurance: Both Domestic and International
Coverage
5. Customs Clearance for Medical Devices & Medications
6. Access to Transportation Services
7. Developing of an Emergency Plan
8. Establishing Assistive Services
9. Overcoming Language Barriers
10.Modified Outreach Events and Services
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Accommodation
• ‘Accommodation’ occurs in the liminal space between the
disabled individuals’ psyche, their physical capabilities,
and the resources of the study abroad program.
• Prior to studying abroad the student is often not aware of
the cultural idiosyncrasies with regard to accessibility.
Take the opportunity to discuss how flexible each party
(the student, the program, the overseas partner, etc.) is
willing to be.
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Global Conceptions of Disability: Bane or Boon?
Above all, the study abroad
program should do all they can to
promote disability abroad as a
‘Boon’ and not a ‘Bane’.
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Bibliography
1. http://www.japantoday.com/category/executive-impact/
view/building-a-barrier-free-society
2. http://www.qsr.mlit.go.jp/n-michi/
barrierfree/michi_machi/p01.html
3. http://www.disabled-world.com/news/asia/japan/japan.php
4. http://www.dinf.ne.jp/doc/english/intl/z15/z15007le/z1500706.
html
5. http://www.ada.gov/2010_regs.htm
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THANK YOU!
Questions for us?
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Ashley Holben
Project Coordinator, Mobility International USA
aholben@miusa.org
Dr. Kirsten Jensen
Center Director in Tokyo, CIEE
kjensen@ciee.org
Mark Bookman
CIEE alumnus
Mbookm01@gmail.com