In a world where simply traveling abroad with a disability can seem daunting, the prospect of moving to a foreign country might seem overwhelming. How will people treat me? What access obstacles will I face? Can I get the medical services and resources I need? And that’s not even considering the fact you are likely abandoning your entire support system and moving somewhere you know no one.

We reached out to people with disabilities who are succeeding after moving away from their native countries to find out their keys to success and suggestions for others.

Tony Boatright left the United States for Panama nine years ago — almost 40 years after sustaining a C5-6 spinal cord injury. His only regret is not moving there sooner. Mitch St. Pierre has been living in Cambodia for the last six years after growing up in Canada as a wheelchair user. He says he feels totally accepted as a disabled person and has relished the move: “I love adventures.” Power wheelchair user Josh Grisdale also left Canada and became a naturalized Japanese citizen five years ago. Rhonda Raven Neuhaus had been visiting Costa Rica for 25 years before she finally decided to move there in 2019. An amputee who uses prosthetic legs, Neuhaus says, “It’s beautiful to live in a country that prioritizes the natural environment and its people. Costa Rica is a beautiful nation rich with biodiversity — and the people are amazing.”

All of these people shared a passion for adventure and a desire to experience something new. Boatright acknowledges that living abroad isn’t for everyone but doesn’t want anyone to give up on that dream because of a disability. His advice? “If you are ready for adventure, prepared to face unexpected difficulties and have an open mind, try it.”

Make New Friends

Near the top of many people’s lists of concerns about moving abroad is the fear of leaving behind friends, family and support networks. While you may not be able to replace the support provided by existing family and friends, all the people we spoke with suggested that over time new friends can fill these roles. “As I’ve been coming to Costa Rica for 25 years, I have people who are my family here and I’ve made a large circle of friends,” says Neuhaus. “I am also blessed to have a wide circle of expats from all over the world near where I live. This mix is perfect for me.”

Boatright and St. Pierre both report how easy it is to make friends — both locals and expats — in their adopted countries. “The Panamanian people are very kind and welcoming,” says Boatright.

“It’s very easy to meet people here, especially in the local bars,” adds St. Pierre.
Additionally, the pandemic has taught us that we can sustain meaningful relationships — not to mention employment — via FaceTime, Zoom, Skype and so on.
Although getting physical support via the internet isn’t possible, the advice and emotional support available can help with stress and homesickness.

Formal supports are easier to replace with forethought and planning — you know best what your needs are, so careful research should tell you whether they can be met in the country you’re planning to emigrate to. Everyone we interviewed for this article stressed the importance of two things: finding out as much as you can about the destination and testing the waters by frequent and, if possible, extended visits.

“I would recommend visiting many times before moving,” says Neuhaus. “I would ask a lot of questions, find local disability organizations and meet other people in the community. I would also be sure to find any accessible housing or other needs prior to arrival.”

That approach worked for Grisdale. “I visited Japan numerous times and wanted to try living here,” he says. Both he and St. Pierre recommend making friends in the local disability community to get expert advice when navigating the welfare and disability systems and to make connections. “You’ll need and maybe even rely on them,” says St. Pierre.

Access & Affordability

Quite possibly the primary reason people with disabilities choose to move abroad is affordability. Lower costs for labor, resources and property may allow you to buy or build the accessible dream home you couldn’t afford in the United States. Boatright wasn’t able to find suitable modified accommodations, so he simply bought and modified his home — something he would have been unlikely to be able to afford stateside.

St. Pierre takes full advantage of the flexibility that comes with lower construction costs. “The apartment I live in in Cambodia is actually easier for me than back home,” he says. “My bathroom is bigger, and if things need to be changed it is very cheap and easy to have something built.”

On the downside, more affordable countries often lack the economic means and political structures that facilitate disability access and support. Without relevant legislation, like the Americans with Disabilities Act, or the means to enforce it, getting around can be difficult.

Both Boatright and St. Pierre acknowledge that their adopted countries lack the resources not only for the upkeep of infrastructure, but also for the enforcement of building codes. Boatright says that Panama has “accessibility laws, but no standards.” He says he encounters lots of ramps, but many are too steep or impractical.

St. Pierre describes Cambodia in bleaker terms, saying, “There is no infrastructure for disabled people in Cambodia.” But both added that a lack of infrastructure is made up for by people power and a willingness to help. “Getting around Cambodia can sometimes be difficult, but everyone is so helpful — carrying me into a car or tuk-tuk,” says St. Pierre. Neuhaus lives near the first independent living center in Costa Rica, Centro Morpho. “They, and other organizations like them, have done a lot toward passing legislation, educating the public, providing assistance services and advocacy toward inclusion,” she says. “That said, there is much needed here for full inclusion and access.”

St. Pierre notes that the lack of regulation leaves ample room for innovation, highlighting the sidecar he designed and built for his then-partner’s motorbike. It would be illegal in Canada but has been a boon for getting around in Cambodia. “I basically showed a picture of a sidecar to the local welder who took the measurements of my chair and built me a sidecar that attaches to my girlfriend’s motorbike,” he says.

Care Doesn’t Have to Be Costly

Living with a disability often means that you need to be more mindful of the quality and cost of healthcare. There’s no doubt that the U.S. medical care system is among the best in the world — first-rate doctors, clean and modern facilities, and top-quality care — but it’s also without doubt the most expensive, and largely unaffordable without health insurance, which itself can be prohibitively costly.

Almost anywhere you move is sure to have cheaper medical care, but ensuring that it is competent and accessible remains important. Thankfully, the rise in medical tourism and the growing global economy have increased the number of countries offering solid services. Our interviewees reported mixed levels of satisfaction, but good experiences overall.

In Japan, which is very much a first-world country with prices to match, Grisdale makes do with a combination of national healthcare and his company healthcare plan. He admits that navigating the welfare system was one of the biggest challenges he faced once living in Japan. He relied heavily on local friends in the disability community for help and advice.

As a legal resident of Costa Rica — ranked No. 3 in affordable healthcare by International Living magazine — Neuhaus is able to take full advantage of the country’s highly-regarded universal healthcare system. Her experiences emphasize that challenges are inevitable, even in a good situation. “As an amputee, the biggest challenge is that my closest prosthetist is three to four hours away in the capital, San Jose,” she says. “When my leg broke, there was nobody local to fix it. When I had a new set of legs made, I had to constantly make trips back to San Jose.”

Panama may not be the country that jumps to mind when you think of healthcare, but Boatright reports that it is “good and cheap.” He noted that therapy can cost as little as $1.50 per hour. “The prices there are so affordable I have never bothered with buying insurance,” he says.

St. Pierre’s experience in Cambodia has been more mixed. “Cambodia is a developing nation, and its medical standards are nowhere near those of Canada,” he says. While hospital care can be costly, medication is highly affordable. Despite the uneven offerings, he says, “I would only return home if I had some kind of serious medical issue.”

Employment Everywhere

Even within developed economies, disability representation in the workplace is much lower than the average, while people with disabilities represent a minuscule proportion of the international workforce. As with building codes, although the legislation may be in place, in some countries it is rarely enforced. Modified or adaptive equipment may also be unavailable or difficult to access in some countries.

As a writer, Boatright can carry on his trade from anywhere there is electricity and an internet connection. Neuhaus, similarly, is an entrepreneur who works from home, making it immaterial where she is based. “As a consultant in disability rights and as an intuitive healer, I feel very blessed that I am able to live where I desire,” she says. “I very much appreciate having a disability community in my area that has welcomed me into its heart, with the love and the same passion for inclusion that I carry.”

St. Pierre believes he’s been “pretty fortunate” to find employment. While Grisdale found it much more difficult than back home to find a job, he now feels well-supported and secure in his role as a webmaster. He set up the website Accessible Japan and the social media platform Tabifolk because, “I believe strongly in giving back to society, and I love to use technology to improve the lives of people with unique needs and challenges.”

Home is Where the Heart Is

There’s nothing easy about giving up the world you are familiar with for a new world riddled with new challenges and unforeseen obstacles. But if that task sounds slightly familiar, it’s because many of us have already faced something similar with our disabilities. The same skills and attitudes developed living with a disability often prove invaluable in making the move to a new country.

At the end of the day, though, home ends up being where the heart is. Everyone we spoke to settled in the country they fell in love with. St. Pierre first laid eyes on Cambodia while filming a documentary for Canadian television. “During the filming of our documentary, I fell in love with this beautiful country,” he says. For Neuhaus, that process happened slowly over 25 years of visits, but the end was never in doubt. “I always thought that I would retire in Costa Rica,” she says, “but made my move 20 years earlier than anticipated. Truly, this is a second home for me and I felt called to make this move … I feel very at peace here.”

Boatright moved to Panama with a plan to live there for a year. He got hooked: “After 10 months, I bought a car and started looking for a home.” Grisdale visited Japan numerous times before moving there 14 years ago and felt so at home that five years ago he renounced his Canadian citizenship and became naturalized. Tellingly, no one has plans to move back to their country of origin.