College program for Chronic Illness

04Apr07

DePaul University in Chicago is, I believe, the only university or college in the country to have a specific program designed to help students with chronic illnesses finish their degrees. I think this is a very exciting, necessary program! I only wish there were more programs like this one, and that universities were more aware of the unique hurdles students with chronic illnesses face when trying to earn a degree.

DePaul’s program has no minimun course load requirement, no limit on the length of time needed to complete a degree, and they allow students to be inactive for a quarter or more if necessary, without losing their enrollment standing. I think this is so fantastic and wonderful, and I can imagine that it would make attending classes infinitely less stressful. Although I know very little about the university otherwise, I really respect DePaul for opening up doors to students like me that were previously quite bolted shut (and you can imagine how difficult it is to pry doors open when you are already exhausted).

Here is information about the program, from DePaul’s website.

Here is a brief article about a symposium DePaul is having about college and chronic illness.

Filed under: Health, dysautonomia, etc., fibromyalgia, pain, sleep   |