Studying with a disability

UnliMited is a network for and by students and employees with visible and/or invisible disabilities or chronical conditions, under the umbrella of the Taskforce Obstacle-free studying and working at UM.

Would you like more information about or make an active contribution to the UnliMited network for and by students with a disability? Check out the UnliMited Network page.

Due to the consequences of the coronavirus, even UM students who are not in possession of a dyslexia statement can temporarily apply for a ReadSpeaker TextAid license. TextAid is an online tool that provides reading, writing, and studying literacy support. TextAid uses text-to-speech software. With this tool you have both a written and spoken version of your uploaded documents. There is a read-along cursor so that TextAid can support you both auditory and visual. Please send an email with the subject 'Request TextAid and your student ID' to Disability Support and mention if you have a disability or not.

‘Readspeaker TextAid’ is an online tool that can help students with reading and creating texts. ReadSpeaker TextAid uses text-to-speech software. For more information, see: www.readspeaker.com/textaid/. You can request an account via disability[at]maastrichtuniversity[dot]nl. Do not forget to send your dyslexia statement or another medical statement if you have not done that yet.

Have you incurred a study delay due to special personal circumstances, such as illness, family circumstances, pregnancy, a handicap or disability? Then you might be eligible for financial support from the UM 'Profileringsfonds' for students. One of the conditions is that you get Dutch study finance during the study delay.

For more information, please click here.

In some situations you can apply for extra financial support (check the factsheet, in Dutch).

Students with a disability or chronic disease may be eligible for housing with urgency (not for students with dyslexia). If special modifications are needed it is important to indicate in time which modifications you need, for example that the room must be wheelchair accessible. If no special modifications are necessary, only the registration time will be adapted.

An urgent request based on a medical indication will only be granted when you first contact Disability Support and submit an official statement. Disability Support will eventually submit your request to the Advisor & Mediator of Maastrichthousing.

More information about renting accommodation through an urgent request

For students with autism (ASS) there is also the possibility for a student room in the city centre via Stumass. Read more infornation (only in Dutch).

Having a disability impacts your (daily) life as a student. It can influence the studying itself, finding a job or living space, maintaining social contacts, etc. Your experiences with this are unique and very valuable. Patient as a Person Foundation (Dutch: Stichting Mens Achter de Patiënt) believes that more attention should be paid to the broad impact of illness.

They are therefore looking for young adult volunteers. The programme takes little time, including a telephone introduction and short instruction about 5 hours. You can participate more often, yet one-time participation is also fine. 

Do you want to know more? Take a look at this flyer  or send an email to info[at]mensachterdepatient[dot]nl.