We are incredibly honored to share that Rooted Life Adventures has been awarded GoAbroad’s Innovation in Accessibility award for 2026! This award recognizes our strategic efforts to expand international educational opportunities to traditionally underrepresented groups. Many of you know that accessibility is something that is deeply engrained into our purpose and business model at Rooted Life Adventures. So, winning this award feels particularly meaningful for our team.
How we make summer & gap year programs more accessible
Rooted Life Adventures expands access to international education by addressing a growing and often overlooked barrier. Many capable students face mental and physical health realities that limit participation. These challenges make traditional travel, gap year, and study abroad programs inaccessible for students who would otherwise thrive.
Anxiety, depression, ADHD, ASD and related challenges continue to rise among adolescents and young adults. Unfortunately, an increasing number of students are quietly excluded from international opportunities as a result. The issue isn’t their interest or ability, programs simply fail to support how these students regulate, learn, and connect. This gap creates an invisible barrier that affects far more students than most people realize. As a result, many lose access to meaningful global experiences they could otherwise succeed in.
Rooted Life Adventures exists to close this gap. Our residential, adventure-based model embeds mental health informed support directly into daily life abroad. Licensed or clinically trained staff live alongside students, providing daily check-ins, emotional coaching, conflict mediation, and consistent structure. Support is proactive and normalized, woven into the program rather than separated into “therapy”. This allows students to fully engage in cultural immersion, service, and adventure.
This same model has also expanded access for students with physical health challenges that typically limit participation in international programs. Because we are a residential program with trained staff on-site, we are able to support students managing health conditions. These include diabetes, epilepsy, recovery from prior surgeries, and other medical or physical considerations. We don’t exclude these students for liability or logistical reasons. Rather, we intentionally design support systems that allow them to participate safely and fully.
Importantly, our goal is not dependence, but skill-building. Our team coaches support students in real time as they build skills in medication management, self‑advocacy, routines, and decision‑making. They learn how to care for themselves while still having the safety net of an adult in the home. This approach supports the development of self-sufficiency during a critical stage of young adulthood, while ensuring safety and inclusion.
The impact is tangible. Students once advised against traveling abroad because of mental or medical needs can now complete meaningful international experiences. They return home with increased confidence, independence, and readiness for college, work, and future travel. Families frequently share that Rooted Life Adventures was the first program where their child could be both safe and fully included.
Accessibility is not only about physical accommodations, it is about removing unseen barriers that prevent participation. Rooted Life Adventures expands access to global education. We reimagine how mental and physical health support can coexist with adventure and cultural immersion. This approach ensures that more students, not just the most resilient, get to experience the world.
Thank you
We are very proud to be the recipients of this esteemed award. With thanks to GoAbroad and award sponsors Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) for the recognition. FEA provides scholarships and ongoing support to students with financial need who face barriers to participation in education abroad. You can find out more about the award and other category winners here.
If you are looking for a gap year or summer program that offers real mental health support without becoming clinical, a Rooted Life Adventures program could be your answer.