Tips for studying with a disability and/or chronic illness

Source: https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/studeren/support/studeren-met-een-functiebeperking-chronische-ziekte/tips-studying-disability-andor Parent: https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/

Maastricht University (UM) is happy to support you in studying with a disability and/or chronic illness. We offer a range of facilities and support services to help you succeed in your studies. On this page, you will find some tips and links to organisations that may be relevant when studying with a disability and/or chronic illness.

General tips

If you experience obstacles due to your disability, it is important that you let Disability Support and possibly also your student adviser know as soon as possible.
Apply for facilities as early as possible, so these can be arranged before the start of your studies. You can apply in the summer before you start your studies.
It is important that you take the initiative yourself.
Experience for yourself which way of studying suits you best. Also, take enough time for yourself and take moments of rest so you don’t become exhausted.
Share your condition with your fellow students and teachers if this can help you. This is to inform them of the obstacles you experience, so they can take this into account or support you.
In some cases, you can request a student buddy via Disability Support. You can also ask a fellow student if they would like to help you study.
Report to the study adviser as soon as possible if you expect to be or have been delayed in your studies. Together with the study adviser, you can make a study plan and see how you can prevent or limit study delays.

For more information on accessible education, see the website of the Expert centre on inclusive education (ECIO).

Contact Disability Support

Our open office and phone hours are Monday to Friday, 11.00 to 13.00 CET. We are also available at other times by appointment only.\ \ Student Services Centre \ Bonnefantenstraat 2, room B0.01 \ disability@maastrichtuniversity.nl\ +31 43 388 5272

Overview facilities per faculty\ Applying for support for studying with a disability\ Regelhulp, a guide (in Dutch) from the government for everybody who needs care and support \ Support for living with a disability in South Limburg \ UnliMited network

Studying with ADD/ADHD

What is ADD/ADHD?

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can cause, difficulty concentrating and being easily distracted (attention problems), making ill-considered decisions and acting too quickly (impulsivity), among other things. Global characteristics of ADHD include hyperactivity and impulsivity and/or problems with attention.

When you are studying at university, you may have a lot to deal with: a different environment, many new people and high expectations. As a result, you may face different obstacles than before.

Examples include:

difficulty completing things
difficulty meeting deadlines
procrastination
difficulty concentrating
difficulty with information processing, planning and organising
becoming easily distracted
being more easily overstimulated and having a full head
having too much or too little energy

Every student experiences different obstacles during their studies and in daily life.

Tips for studying with ADD/ADHD

Ask if someone can help you with study planning.
Provide structure/a set rhythm.
Break down tasks into clear, smaller steps.
Study together with someone else. This person may be able to help you keep an overview. You can also discuss the study material together.
Find a quiet place to study without too many distractions. You can also use earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones. This can help keep your focus.
Investigate what causes brain fog, or makes your head feel so ‘full’. What do you do in a week and which activities cost you a lot of energy? What can you change to avoid structurally overstepping your boundaries?
Find an outlet to process stimuli. This could be a sport, for example, or a creative hobby.
Use text-to-speech/read-aloud software. Taking in information in a different way (while listening) can improve your concentration. This software is available from Disability Support.
You can visit the ADHD Café Maastricht. There young people and adults with ADD/ADHD meet in an accessible way to exchange experiences.
At Disability Support you can request facilities such as extra exam time or a smaller exam room. In addition, your study advisor can help with study-related questions and making a study plan.

Read more about ADD/ADHD from HBO/WO Toegankelijk

Studying with an auditory disability

With an auditory disability, hearing is limited to some extent. Hearing impairment (reduced hearing in one or both ears) and deafness (complete hearing loss in both ears) are auditory disabilities. Some people with an auditory disability can perceive sound, but they do not always hear or understand everything. This can cause problems, especially when there is a lot of background noise. People who use hearing aids fall into this category.

Don’t hesitate to ask lecturers and others to speak clearly and calmly.
If lecturers use a microphone, you can use the induction loop. Please note: these are not present in all lecture rooms.
If necessary, request written notes before the oral presentations.

H-jong, an organisation for deaf young people\ Gehandicaptensport Nederland - Hearing impairment\ Stichting Hoormij NVVS

Studying with autism

With autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the processing of information in your brain is different than in someone without this disorder. ASD is different for every person. As a student with a form of autism, you generally need clarity and structure. And you may become overstimulated more quickly or have difficulty properly assessing social situations. This may affect your studies or internship.

In group work, clearly indicate what could help you, for example, to have a fixed task and clarity.
Ask the students you work with to confirm appointments and assignments by email so you can keep an overview.
Try to develop a study routine and adopt a fixed rhythm.
Look at what is important and make a priority list.
Make a year, week and day planning.
You may quickly become overstimulated.
Read tips for dealing with executive dysfunction (in Dutch).

Training course time management and study skills via the UM Psychologists\ Service Desk Autism (in Dutch)\ Jados Maastricht (in Dutch)

Studying with a visual disability

With a visual disability, vision is limited to some extent. This varies from reduced vision in one or both eyes (visual impairment) to substantial irreversible vision loss in both eyes (blindness).

Ask your lecturers if they have the teaching material in the form you prefer, for example digitally, printed in a large font or as spoken text. Sometimes presentations are also available digitally.
Request books, articles, journals and course booklets as far in advance as possible. Then they can be converted into another form.

Stichting passend lezen / appropriate reading (in Dutch)

Studying with dyslexia

Dyslexia is a congenital and hereditary learning disorder with a neurological basis, where the core of the problems lies in reading and spelling words fluently.

Request facilities from Disability Support, such as extra exam time, smaller exam room, written exams on A3 paper, a larger font for exams, or ReadSpeaker TextAid (dyslexia software with a reading function).
Ask lecturers to use clearly readable and digitally accessible teaching materials with sufficient contrast, large letters, little text per page and a clear layout.

Stichting passend lezen / appropriate reading (in Dutch)

Studying with a speech disability

With a speech disability, it is difficult to produce speech that is recognised by others or by speech recognition software. Reduced clarity or low volume of a person’s voice can make them difficult to understand.

Indicate clearly during lectures and in study groups that your speech is difficult to understand. Then lecturers and your fellow students can take this into account.
For oral exams, ask for a written alternative or extra exam time.

Nederlandse federatie stotteren (Dutch Federation of Stutterers)

Studying with limited arm-hand function

Limited arm and/or hand function can occur with neurological disorders, muscle diseases or trauma and can lead to problems during Activities of Daily Living (ADL) or participation.

Contact Disability Support to discuss which facilities are suitable.
Ask your fellow students if they would like to share their notes with you.

Studying with a physical disability

When someone has a physical (or motor) disability, the ability to move is limited. This diverse group of disabilities includes people with involuntary movements (spasms or tremors), coordination problems, paralysis, arthritis and people missing limbs.

Ask the lecturer for split assignments if it is too much of a burden.
In some buildings, there is a resting room that you can make use of.

Examples of physical or motor disabilities (in Dutch)

Studying with a psychological condition

If a psychological condition is an obstacle to you during your studies, you can request services or facilities via Disability Support. Psychological conditions vary and could include anxiety disorders, (long-term) depression, PTSD or bipolar disorder.

Make use of the free services of a UM Psychologist.
In many cases, it helps to talk with people about the things that concern you.
Make sure you have someone to fall back on when times are tough.

UM Psychologist\ Fonds psychische gezondheid [Mental health fund] (in Dutch) \ Lucertis - Ambulant Maastricht (in Dutch)\ 113 zelfmoord preventive (suicide prevention)