Abstract  

International education experiences have a great influence on people’s life by giving them the opportunity to explore diverse cultures and meet different people. However, compared with their nondisabled peers, disabled students have more difficulties in participating and being included in ordinary international educational programs due to their physical limitations.
The paper examines factors that prelude disabled students from overseas opportunities and points out specific barriers and challenges lying ahead of the Chinese disabled students. Then it studies some successful implementations to assist disabled students with needs to study abroad and thus aims to present some possible solutions and practices for the Chinese educators, disability service staff and students themselves. At last it concludes that by breaking these barriers and including disabled students in exchange programs, they can make a great difference on the society.

Key words:  disabled student, international education, barriers, solutions

摘要

通过提供探索多元文化的机会，国际教育对个人的发展产生了深远的影响。然而残疾学生在国际交流中一直是属于弱势群体。本文首先阐述残疾人拥有平等参与国际教育机会的重要性。然后分析中美两国残疾人学生参与海外教育项目的现状。推出美国残疾人学生参与国际教育中所遇到的障碍。通过对比中美两国残疾学生参与国际教育的情况，分析阻碍残疾学生参与海外交流的一般因素，并针对这些问题探索可行的解决方法，特别是学习美国的先进经验，扩大残疾学生国际教育的参与度。最后对比美国，分析具体国情下中国的具体困难，研究美国为清除残疾人学生参与国际教育而出台的政策与措施，探讨中国可以做出的努力。

关键词：残疾学生；国际教育；困难 ；障碍；解决方法

1.    Introduction
International exchange experience can be very important to individuals; especially in the context of globalization, a diverse background turns out to be not only useful but also imperative for people to strengthen their competiveness so as to meet the global challenges. People will visit new places, meet different people, and then be immersed in and inspired by the world’s diversity. People can obtain rich social resources and expand their network in the programs. They will also have the chance to hone their leadership and teamwork skills, which would help pave the way for their future careers. Moreover, sometimes education abroad is more than a period of life experience. It will have a lasting impact on people, for they might unexpectedly encounter critical ideas or opportunities that would revolutionize their life.