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This one is a bit of an esoteric long-shot, but it may be a possibility for you. It'd be a foot-in-the-door strategy :
J1 Au Pair Visa
http://www.workpermit.com/us/exchange_au_pair.htm
The thing is ...
1) you'd need some experience for child care (you've got 3 years to build that up on your CV)
2) someone would need to want to require you for the job (do you have skills in other languages? For example.)
3) children would have to be quite interesting for you
4) it is really a full-time job and then some, usually for low pay
BUT,
5) your specialist training in disabilities is a strength, a very significant one
6) it puts you in the U.S. where you can develop direct contacts
An Au Pair who can work with disabled/special needs children would be a rather rare commodity (in just about any country) ... IF this is something you would want to do.
Downside, is generally 12-months, although renewals are possible (especially with specialty skills).
Another, if you want to use this as a mechanism to leverage long-term / permanent residency, you'll need careful placement with a family that understands this clearly and is willing to work with you.
However,
sakura's suggestion about going the student route is excellent. You have enough time and resources to attempt getting into school, and that opens up a LOT of possibility. Experience, working with academics, DEVELOPING DOZENS OF CONTACTS that can then lead to job offers ....
Depending on your background, generating some sort of scholarship usually isn't too difficult, and there are quite a number of excellent state universities that are far more affordable than private institutions like Harvard.
You may be looking at $5,000 to $8,000 per semester for out of state tuition for some of the better state schools, and it can be lower for others that aren't so popular & need foreign students.
It's a balance between being a bit 'fussy' and available finances. Even small universities are quite good in the U.S. if you choose carefully. Some cities and regions aren't popular destinations and therefore have lower rates, but they may be a good match for what you want.
In your favor, the exchange rates right now (and for a year or two more, at least) are good from GBP to $$'s. You are the correct age for it. Also, universities around the world and especially in the U.S. are trying hard to attract foreign students .. largely for the larger tuition they pay.
But, there are grants and work-study opportunities to help with that. And, you know they 'want' you, so you can play it a bit cool during contact & negotiation and see if they are able to offer some incentives to help you.
Housing is one big one .. it tends to run more than tuition. Decent pay for work-study is another.
If you get into a British or EU university, you can go into an exchange program and get one or two semesters in the U.S. ... which will also get you that foot-in-the-door to leverage later on. Four or ten months of direct contacts in a university in a decent city (over 100,000 population, 400,000 or more is better) can make you a couple dozen friends, easily, who can be helping you from the States side of things.
The really cool thing is that you set yourself a three year or so planning range. That gives you a lot of options. Many people decide to go and then think they can do it next month some time.
Good luck!
the Admin
