Resources for Disabilities and Chronic Illness

We all need help sometimes, and there is no shame in asking for assistance. When entering medical school, you might already know about accommodations that you need, or know that you want to be assessed for a condition. A thing about disability and chronic illness is that anyone can get it at any point in their life, so one might find out that they need more help during their studies.

Getting assistance and accommodations does not make it “easier” to study and does not give a person “privilege” - it simply provides them with necessary adjustments to give them the same conditions as their colleagues have.

According to the code of conduct of Charles University, the university must provide students with disability and chronic illness the same level of education as other students.

The place that deals with this is Carolina Centrum. They offer a various other services so take a moment to browse through their website.

To get assistance with your condition, you will need to:

1. Get a paper from the doctor stating your condition (in English or Czech)

2. Contact the contact person at our faculty - Mgr. Petra Fabingerová (petra.fabingerova@lfmotol.cuni.cz)

3. With her you will arrange a functional diagnostics with a specialist from Carolina Centrum. You will pick a day and have an interview, where you will find out which services and accommodations are available for you and decide which ones will work for you best. Before going, take a moment to think what you personally feel like will help you - you will have a chance to say it in your interview.

If you have any health issues that interfere with your studies, including physical (sight, hearing, mobility issues), learning (ASD, AD/H/D), psychological/psychiatric ones (anxiety, mood or psychotic disorders) etc., do not hesitate to go down this road. Be kind to yourself, and be kind to your colleagues using these services - we do not condone the misuse and mistreatment of these services or those who use them.