Jeannette, recipient of the Enabled Abroad Scholarship, not only created a program for students with disabilities as a part of her internship abroad, but she also embarked on a journey of personal growth when she studied at the University of Stirling in the UK. While Jeannette was disappointed that an internship in her field of interest, adaptive sports, wasn’t available, the program she created to welcome students with disabilities to campus and provide them with the necessary accommodations and resources was ultimately a rewarding experience that taught her about the logistical considerations of accessibility. Perhaps more valuable, though, was the opportunity she had to reclaim parts of her identity while abroad. In her everyday life, Jeannette uses a service dog, named Gaza, and debated whether or not to bring Gaza abroad with her. After discussions with Illinois and Stirling staff, she decided to leave Gaza at home and study abroad on her own.
“I was unsure about the culture around disabilities in the UK or what resources would be available to me, but I eventually made a personal decision not to take her [Gaza]. I found that the UK was inclusive, accommodating, and welcoming – when people saw having difficulty with my cane at the airport, or that I was struggling to keep up with the group, they put out a hand, asked if they could assist me, or waited for me to catch up. While abroad, I climbed the 246 steps of the National Wallace Monument and at the end of my program, I even gained enough confidence to climb Dumyat Hill with the people on my program. I love Gaza. She is a part of me, and always will be, but my identity had become ‘the girl with the dog.’ My study abroad experience allowed me to do the self-healing that I needed.”