Dealing with rehabilitation
What is it?
As a result of (chronic) illness or accident, you may need to use a rehabilitation programme. This can be either clinical (rehabilitation during an admission) or outpatient (during a certain period of time, you go to the rehabilitation centre several times a week). Whatever form of rehabilitation you receive, it can start to have a lot of impact on your studies. An adjustment of your study programme is necessary in many cases. You can think about staggering your internship hours, taking only a few subjects. You may take longer to complete your studies as a result of your rehabilitation. By talking to your student coach, you can see what is possible in your situation.
If your studies are delayed and/or you need to make arrangements with your study programme, it is important to contact a student counsellor as well. A student counsellor can support you if you need to apply for facilities (such as staggering your internship hours) and see whether you are eligible for financial arrangements.
What can you do yourself?
It is important to keep a good balance for yourself. See what you can handle in a day and where you can take your breaks. Discuss matters with your student coach and student dean. Together with you, they can see what is possible in terms of adjustments and/or extra support. Think, for example, of the possibility of an adapted study programme, a relaxation of the compulsory attendance, but also, for example, the use of a lift or an adapted laptop.
Also think carefully about what you might want to share with classmates or project colleagues. You do not have to share specifics about your rehabilitation if you do not want to, but sometimes it helps if your fellow students know that you cannot always be present because of your rehabilitation. You can then, for example, make arrangements for you to do more at home, for example. (Some degree of) openness often creates understanding and your fellow students are often willing to think with you about solutions and possibilities.