The opportunity to study abroad has become more than just an academic pursuit; it’s also an experience that shapes students into well-rounded individuals equipped for the challenges of the future. Traveling to a foreign country to further one’s education opens doors to diverse cultures, perspectives, and innovative ideas, fostering personal growth and enhancing academic learning. From navigating new cities to engaging with local communities, studying abroad challenges students to step outside their comfort zones, adapt to different environments, and develop invaluable skills. However, for students with disabilities, this journey can present unique challenges.
Carly Kalkauski, MSU Senior, majoring in Social Relations and Policy, and who identifies as a person with a disability, recently studied abroad in Amsterdam, Netherlands. They were inspired to author a student study abroad accessibility guide based on their experience and with the hope that it will help future students, who also identify with a disability, as they prepare for travels abroad.
Continue reading below to learn more about Carly’s inspiration to creating this guide:
Q: What excited you about going to Amsterdam for Study Abroad?
A: When I first imagined myself going on a study abroad program, I instantly imagined The Netherlands. As a queer person who hopes to eventually write legislation that protects and uplifts everyone regardless of identity or class, it can sound like an almost mythical place. I hoped that by going there, I’d finally understand what it was about their country and their culture that caused them to historically see a lot of success in passing robust social policy.
Of course, the reality is much more complicated than what you read on the internet. But I had an intense desire to see it for myself because I knew I’d never really understand the truth of the situation otherwise. Once I found the actual program, it felt fated. Not only was I going to Amsterdam, but I’d also get to study sexuality and gender while getting James Madison credits! It was a perfect fit.
Q: Did you notice any immediate differences between the U.S. and Amsterdam when you arrived as far as accessibility? In other words, did you find that Amsterdam was more accessible in general than the U.S.? Worse? About the same?
A: Yes – as soon as I arrived at my student housing! One of the most interesting and striking issues I encountered repeatedly was issues with lifts/elevators. The elevator in our student housing got stuck the very first time I rode on it, and the RA informed us that although they’d called someone, no one had come out yet to figure out why that kept happening. It was also unlike any elevator I’d ever seen, with the door on the hallway rather than the elevator itself.
While most public buildings such as libraries and museums in Amsterdam have an elevator like we’d imagine in the United States, it was less of a guarantee for buildings like bars or clubs. One club required walking up the equivalent of three flights of stairs to get inside, which is pretty much unheard of in the US. Walking up a few random steps to enter a building was extremely common in Amsterdam. I also noticed quite a few elevators out of order, but that may have been confirmation bias after a certain point.
The biggest positive for accessibility in Amsterdam however is the public transit. I could not have done the study abroad program without utilizing their incredibly well-connected system of trams and trains. Their stops were frequent enough that even with the mobility issues I was having, I could still get to and from school. I was already a huge supporter of expanding public transit before going to Amsterdam, but experiencing their public transit firsthand was truly a dream come true.
Other than the recurring issues I ran into with elevators and the differences in public transit, I think Amsterdam and the typical United States city both have their own accessibility pros and cons. Amsterdam had narrow, uneven sidewalks that would be incredibly difficult to navigate with mobility aids, but some cities in the United States like my hometown just don’t have sidewalks for miles upon miles of road. Neither is perfect.
Q: What inspired you to write this study abroad accessibility guide?
A: I needed to create a deliverable for my study abroad program’s final project. I know, that sounds so romantic. Actually, I had already started gathering thoughts together in a notes app titled something like “Things I Wish I Had Known Before I Studied Abroad.” I was planning on sharing it with RCPD advisor Hannah Huey-Jones and Education Abroad program coordinator Hailee Ridge once I got back because they had both been enormously helpful in getting my accommodations updated while I was abroad. But then I had a conversation with my professor, Ellen McCallum, and the graduate student assisting her, April Best. I shared the accessibility struggles I was having and April suggested I make an Amsterdam travel guide that incorporates accessibility recommendations.
I was also immensely inspired by the Amsterdam Street Medics handbook I received from someone I met at an event our program put together, as well as by the really beautiful digital queer archive my friend Hazel Erickson made for their final project. I’d love to update it someday to be a bit more aesthetic like that.
Once I created it though, I felt compelled to share it because it would have really helped me to have something like this before going abroad. I think it would and can be helpful to a lot of people, regardless of ability level or official diagnoses.
Q: What was your favorite memory of your travels?
A: Choosing one is incredibly difficult. So I won’t! First was our trip to Kröller-Müller Museum; the art was really stunning, I picked up drawing again, and when I saw two of my new friends coming back from walking the grounds, it was the first time after arriving in Holland that I really felt like, okay, I’m where I’m meant to be. Another was sitting on top of a houseboat staring up at the night sky just in front of our student housing with some friends. And honestly, so many little moments in our building’s garden. I’m a simple person, I live for moments of feeling at ease.
You can read Carly’s Student Study Abroad Accessibility Guide on the MSU RCPD website here.