{"id":142449,"date":"2022-08-03T11:55:47","date_gmt":"2022-08-03T09:55:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=142449"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:26:22","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:26:22","slug":"work-take-a-break-have-fun-and-more-study-tips-from-students-with-a-functional-impairment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2022\/08\/03\/work-take-a-break-have-fun-and-more-study-tips-from-students-with-a-functional-impairment\/","title":{"rendered":"Work, take a break, have fun! And more study tips from students with a functional impairment"},"content":{"rendered":"

Studying has its ups and downs, and students with a functional impairment sometimes need to work a bit harder. Fortunately, experts Letthe, Kyra, Hazem, Audrey and Linda have tips for you.<\/p>\n

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From top left to bottom right: Letthe, Hazem, Audrey, Linda and Kyra on a summer's day on the campus<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRonald van den Heerik<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

In the academic year 2021\/2022, Erasmus Magazine<\/em> followed five students with a functional impairment. You can read their stories here<\/a>. Linda was a first year, Letthe is a master student, and the others are in between. In short: they have quite a lot of study experience. They are keen to share that wisdom with new students. Here are the five tips:<\/p>\n\n\t

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    Arrange everything in time<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>

    \u201cIt can take a while before your requests are sorted\u201d, says Kyra. Due to a genetic disorder, she\u2019s in a wheelchair and speaks from experience. Like the other students, she has provisions like extra time in exams. Kyra has problems getting around the campus. She often sends e-mails to the university about it. Adjustments are slow, if they happen at all. \u201cI\u2019ve never experienced the ideal situation\u201d, she says<\/a>. \u201cThe university is a very bureaucratic environment.\u201d A lot can be done, say the students. Support for assignments, having the PowerPoint for the lecture sent to them \u2013 it\u2019s all possible, but you need to request it in time. Lethhe is hearing impaired and knows how early you need to start. She often mails months<\/a> in advance about things like subtitles for videos. \u201cDon\u2019t let them tell you things\u201d, says Letthe. \u201cYou know what you need and don\u2019t accept anyone telling you it\u2019s not possible or too expensive. A lot can be done.\u201d<\/p>

    Kyra has another piece of advice: \u201cBe realistic. Studying with a functional impairment is not easy, but life outside the university isn\u2019t always easy either. One university can do more for you than another, so explore the options. In some universities, a letter from the dean gets you priority on the waiting list for a room. There are not many rooms that are accessible for wheelchair users and not every university offers this.\u201d<\/p>

    2. Ask for help<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \u201cThere are study advisors and other people who are willing to help you,\u201d says Hazem with ADHD. \u201cSometimes you need to be prepared to ask for help.\u201d He knows what it\u2019s like to worry about the prejudices<\/a> relating to ADHD, but he also knows that some extra help can be very useful. \u201cBecause expecting the same of people with ADHD as of everyone else is like expecting a fish to be able to climb a tree.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Audrey has autism. Whatever you do, she advises you to visit the Studying with a Functional Impairment department. They helped her a lot. \u201cThrough them, I was given a peer coach<\/em> in my first year. She showed me what issues I might encounter and how to resolve them. And I can always text her if I need help. I also did a course about how best to learn, how best to read a text, that kind of thing. I can get overstimulated by needing to absorb too much information in a short space of time. Without that help, I would have been really confused.\u201d<\/p>\n

    3. Work and breaks<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \u201cMake sure that the university has priority\u201d, is the tip from visually impaired Linda who got no fails throughout her first study year. \u201cIf you keep up with the work, you won\u2019t need to cram everything into the days before the examinations. I see lots of people texting the group app at half past three in the morning. They\u2019ve been up all night studying.\u201d A break is a break, says Audrey. \u201cBut use it and don\u2019t do a bit of half-hearted studying at the same time,\u201d says Audrey. \u201cYou\u2019ll study better afterwards. You only perform optimally if you first look after yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

    4. Don\u2019t give up<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \u201cFinding your way at the university is a process, and processes have their ups and downs. You really will find your place here\u201d, says Hazem. Don\u2019t be afraid to learn, it\u2019ll be fine. \u201cAt the start of every study, every year, every course, you have a lot to learn\u201d, adds Letthe. \u201cTrust the process if you\u2019re worried that you\u2019ll never understand it. That learning curve will come.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cYou\u2019ll get there\u201d, says Linda. \u201cRemember that.\u201d<\/p>\n

    5. Have fun and explore your boundaries<\/strong><\/p>\n

    A good balance between studying and relaxation is essential, say all the students. \u201cThe university isn\u2019t a prison camp\u201d, Linda. \u201cYou need relaxation in the form of parties, for example.\u201d So be sure to join the activities of study associations or student societies, is a tip from Kyra. \u201cThat not only makes studying more fun and enjoyable, it also makes it easier to keep up.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Have fun, is Hazem\u2019s message. \u201cStudying is fun\u201d, he emphasises. \u201cDon\u2019t worry about prejudices or whether you can do it. Enjoy this time too!\u201d Try new things, even you feel a bit nervous about it, says Audrey. \u201cThose new experiences can do you good. If it worries you, do it with someone you trust.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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