Learning Abroad Center

Accessibility: Study Abroad in Mexico

The program requires sitting, standing, and moving across uneven terrain both in urban and rural areas. The program operates Monday through Friday and may include weekend activities.

Find important health, environmental, safety, and security info from the US Department of State.

We are happy to assist students with documented reasonable accommodation needs through an interactive, case-by-case process involving the student, Learning Abroad Center, on-site staff, home school (when applicable), and the Disability Resource Center.

Program Page

For information on this program, visit the Study Abroad in Mexico page.

Attitudinal

In general, people in Cuernavaca are compassionate and willing to help individuals with disabilities. People with disabilities participate in daily life (work, school, etc.) with increasing frequency. The government does have specific policies regarding individuals with disabilities. There is a disabilities services office in the community (though not at Cemanahuac), but there is a fee to use these services.

Classroom and Academics

Cemanahuac has hosted students with a range of disabilities in the past. The most challenging type of disability is mobility as the city of Cuernavaca is not flat nor does it have the infrastructure to easily support mobility disabilities. Navigating outside of Cemanahuac is particularly difficult.

Classroom accommodations could include identifying volunteer note takers, recording lectures, taking an exam in a separate room, and making classrooms wheelchair accessible.

The typical course load consists of five hours per day in class, Monday through Friday, with a minimum of ten hours per week of homework/out of class studying. Classroom learning typically consists of lectures, reading, writing, and class participation. Student assessment is typically based on class participation, homework, oral presentations, written papers and exams. Homework is generally handwritten.

Sign language interpreters for ASL may not be available locally. 

Excursions and Field Trips

Most excursions require riding in a bus and moving across uneven surfaces (pyramids, gravel, narrow streets and sidewalks and through crowds of people).

Housing and Food Services

Assistance would be provided to help students find appropriate housing (all housing is with host families). However, wheelchair accessible housing may not be available, service dogs may not be allowed into sponsored housing, access to kitchen facilities would likely not be available. Accommodations could be made for students with special dietary needs. 

Technology

Students have access to three computers that have Internet access, however there is not a printer available.

Library Services

Students have access to a small library on campus. Assistance could be available to help students access library materials.

Transportation

Students typically travel a mile or more between Cemanahuac and housing. Cuernavaca is an old colonial town at 5,000 feet elevation (Mexico City is at 8,000 feet), so it is mountainous with narrow streets and sidewalks. Public transportation does not have ramps or lifts. Navigating around the city may be particularly difficult for individuals with mobility disabilities.