October 11, 2009

Have Wheelchair, Will Travel: Disabled Students Study Abroad, Too

Students With Disability Study Abroad, Too 1

CIEE

Rob Hurtekant volunteered at a school for children with disabilities while studying in Cape Town. "You don’t necessarily see too many South Africans in wheelchairs out and about,” he says.

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close Students With Disability Study Abroad, Too 1

CIEE

Rob Hurtekant volunteered at a school for children with disabilities while studying in Cape Town. "You don’t necessarily see too many South Africans in wheelchairs out and about,” he says.

By Lee Roberts

When Rob Hurtekant was studying in South Africa, he ran into some roadblocks. Literally. Sometimes when he crossed a street in Cape Town, there would be a curb cut on one side of the street, but not on the other. That wasn't helpful for a young man in a wheelchair.

"I had to learn how to jump my chair over the curbs," Mr. Hurtekant recalls. "You don't necessarily see too many South Africans in wheelchairs out and about. So the people would see me jump the curb and would come over to

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