Visual disabilities
Visually impaired students can encounter problems with:
- written activities (such as examinations) during the course of the study programme
- the use of computers
- following lectures (taking in information, taking notes and attendance)
- participating in laboratory courses or tutorials (for example, due to the lack of non-verbal communication, reduced energy and/or safety)
- studying the material
- individual assignments
What can you do yourself?
Studying
- Use a voice recorder to take notes.
- Switch on extra lights while studying.
- Adjust the contrast on your computer.
- Check whether the lecturer has made transparencies/notes available prior to the lecture. If so, review them beforehand and bring them to the lecture.
- Use a digital calendar, such as Google Calendar.
- Request facilities such as a refreshable Braille display or a video magnifier (in consultation with the student counsellor if necessary)
- Follow lectures (again) through Collegerama
- Use BrowseAloud to have Blackboard and/or websites read aloud
- Make sure the people concerned know that you are visually impaired by telling them yourself or by using the services of the student supervisors.
- Make sure lecturers are informed in advance on how they can take your disability into account.
- Ask if you can copy your fellow students' (enlarged) notes.
- For lectures involving the use of video material, ask for a summary or an explanation.
- Find out to what extent your disability may affect you in carrying out possible professions.
- Find out about the accessibility of the building.
- Is it possible to do an internship on a part-time or dual basis?
Possible facilities
Studying
- Extra support. Ask your academic counsellor or student counsellor for information.
- Supporting software: TextAid, which enables you to listen to your study material. For more information, click on the flyer.
- A regular contact for schedule changes, for example through a study buddy.
- A regular partner for laboratory courses.
Examinations
- Extra time to complete an examination.
- The possibility of handing in an assignment at a different time.
- The possibility of taking examinations on a computer.
- The possibility of examinations/assignments in an enlarged font, in A3 format and/or with extra line spacing.
- The possibility of an alternative form of assessment, such as taking a written test orally.
- Spreading out modules/examinations.
Whether these facilities are available to you within your faculty will be determined in a consultation with your academic counsellor.
Financial assistance
If you have experienced a delay in the progress of your studies due to your disability, you could be eligible for financial assistance under the Profiling Fund (RPF) or a provision of DUO. You can find more information here.