Drexel Spring Break in Italy:
Paralympics and Disability Sports in the 21st Century
Offered by Drexel University’s Department of Health Administration in the LeBow College of Business, Power in Motion is an interdisciplinary international course in Milan, Italy that invites students to explore the dynamic relationship between disability, movement, and human performance. Through site visits, academic collaboration, and cultural immersion, students will examine how science, design, and policy converge to shape the lived experiences of individuals with disabilities—particularly within the realm of sport and adaptive physical performance. In partnership with Politecnico di Milano, one of Europe's top institutions for engineering and design, students will engage in workshops on biomechanics, assistiv
e technologies, and inclusive design. The program includes visits to rehabilitation centers, adaptive sport facilities, and organizations supporting Paralympic athletes and individuals with mobility challenges. Lectures on sports nutrition and marketing in disability sports will be included.
Students will explore the history of disability in sport, the evolution of the Paralympic movement, and the broader disability rights landscape. Through the lens of urban design and innovation, they will examine how infrastructure and technology can both enable and restrict access to movement and participation. By engaging with global perspectives, students will critically evaluate how different cultures approach inclusion and autonomy.
Course Objectives:
- Analyze how biomechanics and human movement science are applied in adaptive sports, rehabilitation, and assistive technology through academic sessions at Politecnico di Milano.
- Compare international models of inclusive healthcare delivery and health policy, disability policy and disability support systems across clinical and community settings.
- Evaluate the intersection of performance, design, and identity through the lens of Paralympic sport and adaptive physical activity. Collaborate with Italian students, faculty, and organizations to explore real-world solutions to challenges in rehabilitation and performance optimization.
- Reflect on the ethical, social, and personal implications of movement, disability, and autonomy in global contexts.
- Synthesize knowledge gained through immersive experiences, including site visits, expert presentations, and cross-cultural dialogue, into a final project or presentation that addresses an emerging challenge in the field of disability and performance.
This program is open to all majors!
Credit/Registration: Undergraduate students will be registered for HSAD T380, 3 credits as part of their spring term course load. Students must leave room for the credits in their credit load when registering for spring term, or will be billed for credits exceeding the 20 credit maximum.
Graduate students will be registered for HSAD T580 for 1 credit and will be billed a the per credit rate.
Instructors
Kristine Mulhorn, (kam426@drexel.edu), Department Head and Clinical Professor of Health Administration, LeBow College of Buiness
Nyree Dardarian, (nd28@drexel.edu), Assistant Clinical Professor, Health Sciences, College of Nursing and Health Professions
Arrival Date: March 12, 2026 (students will need leave on March 11 to arrive on March 12)
Departure Date: March 20, 2026
*Students may extend their travel independently before or after program dates.
Tentative Itinerary Overview
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Day 1
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Arrive Milan, bus to hotel in Trento, welcome dinner and orientation
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Day 2
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Wheelchair curling (mixed) semi-finals
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Day 3
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Para Snowboard finals, Wheelchair curling (mixed) gold medal game
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Day 4
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Transfer to Milan, Para Ice Hockey Gold Medal game
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Day 5
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Class sessions and Introductino to the Human Performance Club at Politecnico di Milano (PoliMi) University
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Day 6
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Design and plan group projects
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Day 7
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Day trip to Lake Como
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Day 8
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Site visit: the role of biomechanics in prosthetics and orthotics, farewell dinner
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Due 11/17/2025 - $500
Due 1/15/2026 - $2795
*All payments are non-refundable unless declined admission or program cancels for unforeseen reasons.
Included in Program Fee:
- Accommodations
- Round trip transportation from Milan to Cortina
- 4 group meals
- Tickets to Paralympics events listed above
- All site visits and activities
- Day trip to Lake Como
Not Included in Program Fee:
- Round trip airfare ($1200)
- Remaining meals ($300)
- Passport ($165)
- Visa* (if applicable)
- Spending money /optional activities
- Airport transfers
ICA Financial Aid: Students may request an Adjusted Cost of Attendance by submitting the ICA program fee and estimated out of pocket expenses listed above to Drexel Central (via askdrexel). Doing so could make students’ eligible for additional financial aid. Students may also be eligible to apply for Drexel's
ICA Scholarships.
- Visa: US Citizens are not required to have a visa for this program. Other nationalities should check visa requirements on the Italian Embassy websites.
- A recommended flight itinerary will be provided. Students are responsible for booking their own airfare.
