Ripple Effects

Emily Molchan, who is blind, has gone on a number of international exchange programs. Listen as we read a story Emily wrote about being fearless abroad. As this marks the final episode of the #BlindAbroad series, make sure to hearour closing with campaign highlights and take aways. For more information and transcription of this episode, visit www.miusa.org/resource/podcast/emily.

Serena Olsen, a current Peace Corps volunteer serving in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan encountered some obstacles with the application process as well as challenges with the placement process. Serena stayed persistent, creative, and focused on achieving this dream though. Listen how she made it work and also listen how this opportunity has impacted her and her community. For more information and transcription of this episode, visit www.miusa.org/resource/podcast/serena.

Adriana Pulido, was one of the first persons with a disability in Colombia to receive a Fulbright scholarship. Let’s hear as she tells us about applying for the Fulbright and the impact it had for her personally and professionally. For more information and transcription of this episode, visit www.miusa.org/resource/podcast/adriana.

Erinn Snoeyink, a blind woman, has studied and taught abroad in Spain and loves her independence. Listen as she speaks about both international exchange programs and how integrating into her community helped her maintain her independence abroad. For more information and transcription of this episode, visit www.miusa.org/resource/podcast/erinn.

Erdem Yigitoglu, a blind man from Turkey, was accepted to a summer international honors program at Stanford University in California. He speaks about the hesitations of locals leaving a collectivistic disability culture and entering a more independent culture in the U.S. Hear from Erdem about his experience in the U.S and his first time surfing!   For more information and transcription of this episode, visit www.miusa.org/resource/podcast/erdem.

Dr. Christie Gilson, who is blind, was appointed by President Obama to join the Foreign Fulbright Scholarship Board in 2012. She was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to study higher education for students with disabilities in Hong Kong in 2006 and has been teaching in the field for years. In this episode, Dr. Gilson will share the impact her Fulbright had on her life, personally and professionally, and also provide tips to encourage more students with disabilities to apply. For more information and transcription of this episode, visit http://www.miusa.org/resource/podcast/rippleeffects/christie.

Juanita Lillie, a blind woman from the US, studied abroad in Costa Rica and participated in a number of adventure sport excursions. In this episode “Blind People Can Do That?”, Juanita speaks about the adventure sports she enjoyed and goes over communication tips to work with universities and organizations to successfully make it happen. For more information and transcription of this episode, visit http://www.miusa.org/resource/podcast/rippleeffects/juanita.

In this #BlindAbroad episode, Nicholas Hoekstra speaks from years of experience abroad and discusses why he thinks it’s important to reflect on one’s blindness or disability in a cultural context. He explains the benefits of preparing for a reaction since your disability can be seen and experienced differently country to country, culture to culture.    For more information and transcription of this episode, visit miusa.org.

Nicholas Hoekstra, who has spent over six years abroad, gives us his top ten tips for navigating abroad as someone who is blind. These tips can better prepare someone who is visually impaired be more independent and adventurous abroad.   For more information and transcription of this episode, visit miusa.org.