Studying with a disability, chronic or mental illness: learning tips and strategies

Studying with a disability is often more than just studying. It means being courageous and not giving up, despite the disability. Those who complete a degree with a disability are not only optimally prepared for the job market, but have also proven to themselves and to everyone who doubted it that it can work. To ensure success and prevent the disability from forcing you to give up, it's wise to acquire specific learning and work strategies during your studies. Ideally, this shouldn't wait until difficulties in your studies make it absolutely necessary. Pain, concentration problems, fatigue, and other symptoms of an illness or disability, as well as side effects of medication, can sometimes make everyday student life quite challenging.

What to do

When exams are approaching, thorough preparation is essential. This includes figuring out when and for how long you can study effectively and with focus each day. Ask yourself specifically: What time of day is best for me to study—morning, midday, or evening? Let go of preconceived notions. Mornings aren't the best time to study for everyone, and you're not disorganized just because you study best in the late evening. How long can I study effectively? Students often tend to overestimate this time, but research shows that after 50 minutes at the latest, cognitive capacity drops significantly.

Avoid working overtime whenever possible, because, unlike students without disabilities, those with disabilities usually pay a higher price and are much less productive the next day. Establishing fixed working hours can help structure your day. Tasks should be completed within these times. Tackle larger or more challenging tasks first, prioritize, and avoid multitasking. Allow potential symptom exacerbations to be considered. Stress often worsens symptoms, especially during exam periods. Disabilities make studying more difficult. However, if you still have high expectations of yourself and your studies, you'll often end up overwhelmed. This should be avoided. Take breaks. It sounds obvious, but it's the only way to ensure long-term productivity. What good are one or two productive hours if you can't work for the rest of the day or the following days? Learning one or more relaxation techniques, such as yoga or autogenic training, can help reduce stress and improve concentration, not only in exam situations. It takes some time to find out which strategy works best for you and your specific needs. But the good news is: the successful strategies you learn during your studies will be invaluable in your professional life later on.