Hi Beth,

Here at Ohio State we do not have any specific supports or groups in place for international students with disabilities. In recent years we have developed somewhat better communication with our Office of Disability Services, and their staff have been proactive in looking for ways to connect better with international students. I don’t recall us getting requests from international students to remain below full time enrollment for more than 12 months due to their disability, though it’s possible it’s come up for my colleagues. . . I’m not aware of any advocacy for that coming from our campus.

Have a great weekend everyone, Caroline

Caroline Omolesky Program Officer for Sponsored Programs & Academic Liaison

The Ohio State University Office of International Affairs International Students and Scholars 140 Enarson Classroom Building 2009 Millikin Rd., Columbus, OH 43210 614-292-6101 Office omolesky.2@osu.edumailto:omolesky.2@osu.edu / oia.osu.eduhttp://oia.osu.edu/

[The Ohio State University]

International students: please note that as of Autumn Semester 2023 SEVP ended COVID-19 flexibilities with online enrollment, meaning that you may count no more than 3 online credit hours towards your full time enrollment requirement. See: https://oia.osu.edu/units/international-students/summer-autumn-2023-updates/.

From: Lin, Shuhui shuhui-lin@uiowa.edu Sent: Friday, September 20, 2024 10:23 AM To: Beth Isensee isen0021@umn.edu; btaa.intl.support@lists.unl.edu Subject: [btaa.intl.support] Re: [External] Supporting International Students with Disabilities

Hello Beth, Thank you for reaching out. We don't have anything specific, but I had a student staff who explored this a little bit the past two years. We have started to use accessibility practices more regularly in our programming and social

Hello Beth,

Thank you for reaching out. We don't have anything specific, but I had a student staff who explored this a little bit the past two years. We have started to use accessibility practices more regularly in our programming and social media design (this accessibility-informed events and programming guidehttps://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/pressbooks.uiowa.edu/aiepg/__;!!KGKeukY!wuMQsNM_i8uDkA0c34dvJ71pahSaMfx1k4SZ9N_H7xVN1OEY4Qx8nj0-5QNehyoqDtSFLdcOF2y5DKWqd-ZLaejn$, and some additional social media guidelines), and included a neurodivergent topic at one of our coffee hours last year.

Best, Lin

Shuhui Lin, (she/her/hershttps://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.mypronouns.org/__;!!KGKeukY!wuMQsNM_i8uDkA0c34dvJ71pahSaMfx1k4SZ9N_H7xVN1OEY4Qx8nj0-5QNehyoqDtSFLdcOF2y5DKWqdzXhdDV2$)

International Education Program and Student Affairs Advisor

International Student and Scholar Services

UI Staff Council – Academic Support Services; Libraries Function Representative

Phone: 319-335-0335

https://international.uiowa.edu/issshttps://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/international.uiowa.edu/isss__;!!KGKeukY!wuMQsNM_i8uDkA0c34dvJ71pahSaMfx1k4SZ9N_H7xVN1OEY4Qx8nj0-5QNehyoqDtSFLdcOF2y5DKWqd5GcTkoj$

https://staff-council.uiowa.edu/https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/staff-council.uiowa.edu/__;!!KGKeukY!wuMQsNM_i8uDkA0c34dvJ71pahSaMfx1k4SZ9N_H7xVN1OEY4Qx8nj0-5QNehyoqDtSFLdcOF2y5DKWqd-gY7rMB$

[Image removed by sender. The University of Iowa Logo]

The University of Iowa Acknowledgement of Land and Sovereignty

https://nativeamericancouncil.org.uiowa.edu/acknowledgement-land-and-soverei...https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/nativeamericancouncil.org.uiowa.edu/acknowledgement-land-and-sovereignty__;!!KGKeukY!wuMQsNM_i8uDkA0c34dvJ71pahSaMfx1k4SZ9N_H7xVN1OEY4Qx8nj0-5QNehyoqDtSFLdcOF2y5DKWqd-Tm623f$

________________________________ From: Beth Isensee isen0021@umn.edu Sent: Friday, September 20, 2024 8:53 AM To: btaa.intl.support@lists.unl.edu btaa.intl.support@lists.unl.edu Subject: [External] [btaa.intl.support] Supporting International Students with Disabilities

Some people who received this message don't often get email from isen0021@umn.edu. Learn why this is importanthttps://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification__;!!KGKeukY!wuMQsNM_i8uDkA0c34dvJ71pahSaMfx1k4SZ9N_H7xVN1OEY4Qx8nj0-5QNehyoqDtSFLdcOF2y5DKWqd4i3ZrqE$ Hi BTAA colleagues,

I hope the transitioning of new international students went well this fall and that your students and scholars are engaging!. There is definitely a lot more energy on our campus!

I am writing to get your feedback on two areas:

1) Do you do any specific support for international students with disabilities at your institution? If so, can you share the broad themes of what you do?

We just started an international student affinity group called "Abilities Beyond Disabilitieshttps://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/isss.umn.edu/abilities-beyond-disabilities-caucus-international-students__;!!KGKeukY!wuMQsNM_i8uDkA0c34dvJ71pahSaMfx1k4SZ9N_H7xVN1OEY4Qx8nj0-5QNehyoqDtSFLdcOF2y5DKWqd3IXbxuh$" that is being led by student leaders.

2) Do you know of any advocacy that is being done around the intersection of USCIS course registration (12 credits) and the ADA. Specifically students being unable to complete the 12 credits due to challenges with their disability which is misaligned with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

A report from Open Doors cites:https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/opendoorsdata.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/OD22_Disabilities-Report_Digital-1.pdf__;!!KGKeukY!wuMQsNM_i8uDkA0c34dvJ71pahSaMfx1k4SZ9N_H7xVN1OEY4Qx8nj0-5QNehyoqDtSFLdcOF2y5DKWqd6ydymbt$

REDUCED COURSE LOAD AND VISA STATUS An additional unique area affecting international students noted by interview participants and more than a quarter of survey respondents (26 percent) was the regulatory framework of maintaining a full time student status for a student visa, which can be at odds with a disability accommodation that allows for a reduced course load. For international students who may need this accommodation, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (2020) does permit international students to take a reduced course load for illness or medical conditions, but this is limited to only twelve months within a program level. There may be a need for advocacy or the exploration of policy change that support how international students who may need longer-term accommodations can remain in status.

I appreciate any insights you have!

Beth Beth Isensee (pronounshttps://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.mypronouns.org/__;!!KGKeukY!wuMQsNM_i8uDkA0c34dvJ71pahSaMfx1k4SZ9N_H7xVN1OEY4Qx8nj0-5QNehyoqDtSFLdcOF2y5DKWqdzXhdDV2$: she, her, hers) Associate Director - Student Engagement and Intercultural Initiatives International Student and Scholar Services isss.umn.eduhttps://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/isss.umn.edu/__;!!KGKeukY!wuMQsNM_i8uDkA0c34dvJ71pahSaMfx1k4SZ9N_H7xVN1OEY4Qx8nj0-5QNehyoqDtSFLdcOF2y5DKWqdxrW_vze$ Global Programs and Strategy Alliance University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Thank you everyone for your responses. This is extremely helpful!

I am going to follow up with NAFSA staff to see if there is advocacy at the national level. I will let you know what I find out.

Beth

On Mon, Sep 23, 2024 at 8:11 AM Anthony, Kimberly anthony.118@osu.edu wrote:

Hi All,

I actually had a case back in 2021 where one of our students with Leukemia had accrued the maximum number of days for the medical RCL approval and needed additional time still for his on-going treatments. I reached out to our SEVP rep and he forward the request up the chain and it was approved within a few weeks! I got a letter of approval signed by the SEVP Division Chief and it gave an allowance for the RCL for medical reason throughout the remainder of the student’s program! I’m not sure how common this is, but I was relieved it was able to be processed for our student. 😊 The subject on the approval memorandum was “F-1 Student Exception for Long-term Disability” so perhaps this is something worth exploring for students.

Thanks,

Kim

[image: The Ohio State University]

*Kimberly Anthony* Advanced Student Immigration Specialist

*The Ohio State University* Office of International Affairs International Students and Scholars 140 Enarson Classroom Building 2009 Millikin Rd., Columbus, OH 43210 614-292-6101 Office anthony.118@osu.edu / oia.osu.edu

Pronouns: she/her/hers

*Buckeyes consider the environment before printing.*

*From:* Omolesky, Caroline omolesky.2@osu.edu *Sent:* Friday, September 20, 2024 11:10 AM *To:* Lin, Shuhui shuhui-lin@uiowa.edu; Beth Isensee isen0021@umn.edu; btaa.intl.support@lists.unl.edu *Subject:* [btaa.intl.support] Re: [External] Supporting International Students with Disabilities

Hi Beth, Here at Ohio State we do not have any specific supports or groups in place for international students with disabilities. In recent years we have developed somewhat better communication with our Office of Disability Services, and their

Hi Beth,

Here at Ohio State we do not have any specific supports or groups in place for international students with disabilities. In recent years we have developed somewhat better communication with our Office of Disability Services, and their staff have been proactive in looking for ways to connect better with international students. I don’t recall us getting requests from international students to remain below full time enrollment for more than 12 months due to their disability, though it’s possible it’s come up for my colleagues. . . I’m not aware of any advocacy for that coming from our campus.

Have a great weekend everyone,

Caroline

*Caroline Omolesky* Program Officer for Sponsored Programs & Academic Liaison

*The Ohio State University* Office of International Affairs International Students and Scholars 140 Enarson Classroom Building 2009 Millikin Rd., Columbus, OH 43210 614-292-6101 Office omolesky.2@osu.edu / oia.osu.edu

[image: The Ohio State University]

*International students: please note that as of Autumn Semester 2023 SEVP ended COVID-19 flexibilities with online enrollment, meaning that you may count no more than 3 online credit hours towards your full time enrollment requirement. See: * *https://oia.osu.edu/units/international-students/summer-autumn-2023-updates/... https://oia.osu.edu/units/international-students/summer-autumn-2023-updates/ *.*

*From:* Lin, Shuhui shuhui-lin@uiowa.edu *Sent:* Friday, September 20, 2024 10:23 AM *To:* Beth Isensee isen0021@umn.edu; btaa.intl.support@lists.unl.edu *Subject:* [btaa.intl.support] Re: [External] Supporting International Students with Disabilities

Hello Beth, Thank you for reaching out. We don't have anything specific, but I had a student staff who explored this a little bit the past two years. We have started to use accessibility practices more regularly in our programming and social

Hello Beth,

Thank you for reaching out. We don't have anything specific, but I had a student staff who explored this a little bit the past two years. We have started to use accessibility practices more regularly in our programming and social media design (this accessibility-informed events and programming guide https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/pressbooks.uiowa.edu/aiepg/__;!!KGKeukY!wuMQsNM_i8uDkA0c34dvJ71pahSaMfx1k4SZ9N_H7xVN1OEY4Qx8nj0-5QNehyoqDtSFLdcOF2y5DKWqd-ZLaejn$, and some additional social media guidelines), and included a neurodivergent topic at one of our coffee hours last year.

Best,

Lin

*Shuhui Lin, (**she/her/hers* https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.mypronouns.org/__;!!KGKeukY!wuMQsNM_i8uDkA0c34dvJ71pahSaMfx1k4SZ9N_H7xVN1OEY4Qx8nj0-5QNehyoqDtSFLdcOF2y5DKWqdzXhdDV2$ *) *

International Education Program and Student Affairs Advisor

International Student and Scholar Services

UI Staff Council – Academic Support Services; Libraries Function Representative

Phone: 319-335-0335

https://international.uiowa.edu/isss https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/international.uiowa.edu/isss__;!!KGKeukY!wuMQsNM_i8uDkA0c34dvJ71pahSaMfx1k4SZ9N_H7xVN1OEY4Qx8nj0-5QNehyoqDtSFLdcOF2y5DKWqd5GcTkoj$

https://staff-council.uiowa.edu/ https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/staff-council.uiowa.edu/__;!!KGKeukY!wuMQsNM_i8uDkA0c34dvJ71pahSaMfx1k4SZ9N_H7xVN1OEY4Qx8nj0-5QNehyoqDtSFLdcOF2y5DKWqd-gY7rMB$

[image: Image removed by sender. The University of Iowa Logo]

*The University of Iowa Acknowledgement of Land and Sovereignty*

https://nativeamericancouncil.org.uiowa.edu/acknowledgement-land-and-soverei... https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/nativeamericancouncil.org.uiowa.edu/acknowledgement-land-and-sovereignty__;!!KGKeukY!wuMQsNM_i8uDkA0c34dvJ71pahSaMfx1k4SZ9N_H7xVN1OEY4Qx8nj0-5QNehyoqDtSFLdcOF2y5DKWqd-Tm623f$

---

*From:* Beth Isensee isen0021@umn.edu *Sent:* Friday, September 20, 2024 8:53 AM *To:* btaa.intl.support@lists.unl.edu btaa.intl.support@lists.unl.edu *Subject:* [External] [btaa.intl.support] Supporting International Students with Disabilities

Some people who received this message don't often get email from isen0021@umn.edu. Learn why this is important https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification__;!!KGKeukY!wuMQsNM_i8uDkA0c34dvJ71pahSaMfx1k4SZ9N_H7xVN1OEY4Qx8nj0-5QNehyoqDtSFLdcOF2y5DKWqd4i3ZrqE$

Hi BTAA colleagues,

I hope the transitioning of new international students went well this fall and that your students and scholars are engaging!. There is definitely a lot more energy on our campus!

I am writing to get your feedback on two areas:

1. Do you do any specific support for international students with

disabilities at your institution? If so, can you share the broad themes of what you do?

We just started an international student affinity group called "Abilities Beyond Disabilities https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/isss.umn.edu/abilities-beyond-disabilities-caucus-international-students__;!!KGKeukY!wuMQsNM_i8uDkA0c34dvJ71pahSaMfx1k4SZ9N_H7xVN1OEY4Qx8nj0-5QNehyoqDtSFLdcOF2y5DKWqd3IXbxuh$" that is being led by student leaders.

2. Do you know of any advocacy that is being done around the intersection

of USCIS course registration (12 credits) and the ADA. Specifically students being unable to complete the 12 credits due to challenges with their disability which is misaligned with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

A report from Open Doors cites: https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/opendoorsdata.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/OD22_Disabilities-Report_Digital-1.pdf__;!!KGKeukY!wuMQsNM_i8uDkA0c34dvJ71pahSaMfx1k4SZ9N_H7xVN1OEY4Qx8nj0-5QNehyoqDtSFLdcOF2y5DKWqd6ydymbt$

REDUCED COURSE LOAD AND VISA STATUS An additional unique area affecting international students noted by interview participants and more than a quarter of survey respondents (26 percent) was the regulatory framework of maintaining a full time student status for a student visa, which can be at odds with a disability accommodation that allows for a reduced course load. For international students who may need this accommodation, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (2020) does permit international students to take a reduced course load for illness or medical conditions, but this is limited to only twelve months within a program level. There may be a need for advocacy or the exploration of policy change that support how international students who may need longer-term accommodations can remain in status.

I appreciate any insights you have!

Beth

Beth Isensee

(pronouns https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.mypronouns.org/__;!!KGKeukY!wuMQsNM_i8uDkA0c34dvJ71pahSaMfx1k4SZ9N_H7xVN1OEY4Qx8nj0-5QNehyoqDtSFLdcOF2y5DKWqdzXhdDV2$: she, her, hers)

Associate Director - Student Engagement and Intercultural Initiatives International Student and Scholar Services

isss.umn.edu https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/isss.umn.edu/__;!!KGKeukY!wuMQsNM_i8uDkA0c34dvJ71pahSaMfx1k4SZ9N_H7xVN1OEY4Qx8nj0-5QNehyoqDtSFLdcOF2y5DKWqdxrW_vze$

Global Programs and Strategy Alliance

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities