UnliMited-Students
Are you a student with a disability (like visual impairment), a chronic illness (like diabetes), or neurodivergence (like ADHD)? Then UnliMited Students is for you!
UnliMited Students is a supportive, student-led network at Maastricht University. We're a space for students with visible and invisible disabilities, chronic illnesses, psychological conditions or neurodivergence to connect, find community and feel understood. No need to explain yourself here— we see you and wholeheartedly accept you.
Join our UnliMited community
Fill in our online membership form to join! You'll receive regular updates about upcoming events and get access to our Whatsap community. No membership fees.
You can find all our events on Instagram @unlimited_students and sign up for certain events on Linktr.ee @unlimited_students. You can also email us at unlimited-students@maastrichtuniversity.nl
We hope to see you soon!
What we do
We focus on connection, support and advocacy. Together, we:
- foster a community of students who support each other
- offer an active WhatsApp group to keep our community connected
- host regular gatherings like movie screenings, book clubs, hikes, and cosy corner meetups
- provide peer-to-peer support through our buddy programme
- act as advocates during the development of UM policies, ensuring our voices are heard
We are also here to increase visibility and speak up for the 10% of UM students living with disabilities or chronic conditions — many of which are invisible.
Who we are: our stories
One of the ways we raise awareness about studying and working with a disability, is by celebrating the voices and contributions of our community members with disabilities.
Activities @ UnliMited-Students
UnliMited Connects Week 2025
The UnliMited Network organises activities to connect students, staff and PhD candidates with (in)visible disabilities, chronic conditions and neurodivergence and the wider UM community during the Connects Week in March (17-23)
UnliMited-Students Buddy Programme
- Students
Are you a student with a disability, chronic illness or neurodivergence?
UnliMited Students Book Club - reading 'Convenience Store Woman'
Join UnliMited Students in a book club discussing the novel Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata.
Our advocacy work: Nothing about us without us
When it comes to our advocacy work, UnliMited Students is guided by one principle: Nothing about us without us. This means that students with a disability, chronic illness or neurodivergence are included and consulted when decisions are made about us. It also means that students are consulted before problems have arisen, for example, during the implementation of new policies.
In addition to this, we actively gather stories from UM students about the challenges they face when studying with a disability, chronic illness or neurodivergence. We discuss these stories, anonymously if requested, with the Disability Support Office. They reach out to the departments involved to make improvements.
Our activities are supported by the Diversity & Inclusivity Office.
Social media campaign #YouDoNotHaveToExplainToUs
Check out posts from our #YouDoNotHaveToExplainToUs social media campaign!
The purpose of this campaign is to share what it means to us that within the UnliMited-Students network, we don’t have to explain why we do things the way we do (or don’t 😉).
For more updates and news about upcoming initiatives, follow us on our Instagram:
@unlimited_students
Meet our student employees
Estella
Estella is currently studying a bachelor's in Psychology. As a neurodivergent student who struggles with chronic illnesses, she knows first-hand how challenging student life can sometimes be. She looks forward to contributing to a community that empowers and supports students with a disability, chronic condition or neurodivergence. She aims to provide a safe space for students to connect to their peers and share their voice.
Amélie
Amélie is currently doing her bachelor's in European Law. She is passionate about disability awareness and creating a safe space for others. Being a neurodivergent student herself, she recognises what UnliMited members can go through. At the same time, she is committed to listening to her peers and learning about their unique experiences. Amélie used to be a volunteer at UnliMited-Students before she was hired.
A Dialogue on Inclusive Education with Prof. Dr. Pamela Habibović
What does it mean to be a student with an (in)visible disability, chronic condition, or neurodivergence at the university, and how can said experience be improved?
In 2020, UM signed the declaration of intent of the UN Convention to dedicate itself to improving inclusive education at UM. In June 2023, Prof. Dr. Pamela Habibović, our Rector Magnificus of UM, met UM students to discuss best practices, achievements, and improvement points regarding inclusive education. The values and future steps of the university were discussed.
ECIO (Expertise Centrum Inclusief Onderwijs) moderated the discussion about the values and improvement points at the university. The interview of the discussion with ECIO can be found here.
From left to right: Sigrid Péters from Disability Support, Sjoerd, John, and Carolina from UnliMited-Students, and Prof. Dr. Pamela Habibović, Rector Magnificus.
Archiving our beginnings: UnliMited-Students' first introductory video
This network would not exist without its volunteers and student employees!
We would like to especially thank Maartje van Diepenbeek, Hande Wevers, John Koch, Vincent Philippy, Fleur Driessen, Jo Haas and Denise Nijhuis as they were part of UnliMited-Students from the very beginning in 2021 and shaped the network into what it is today!
We also give special thanks to Sophia Yadzani Biuki and Carolina Bäckström, our former student employees. They were both student employees for two years - during the academic years '22-'23 and '23-'24, and have greatly assisted UnliMited Students' visibility, growth and achievements!
Our humble beginnings
Following up on the survey held in March 2020 about studying at UM with a disability, the Working group UnliMited organised online discussion groups for UM students from the disabled community beginning February 2021. Thereafter, 18 UM students indicated they would like to be actively involved. The first meeting with this group took place on Wednesday, 10 March 2021 and revolved around setting a structure for the network. Since then, the group has met multiple times to decide on the network's structure, visibility and awareness campaign, and drafting a strategy plan.
What comes next?
Currently UnliMited-Students is hard at work on finalising its structure and establishing a strategy plan. Moreover, events to get to know us and each other are being organised and will be shared on our social media channels. Continuously spreading the word by creating visibility and awareness through various offline and online initiatives - we are wholeheartedly ready to welcome you!
Join your community by becoming a member of UnliMited-Students!
Want to become even more actively involved in UnliMited-Students? We are currently looking for helping hands for our upcoming activities. Moreover, volunteers are always welcome to provide extra help and further cheer us on!
Email us with your details and interests: unlimited-students@maastrichtuniversity.nl
UM Offices that offer support
UM's Disability Support
For any accommodations during your studies at Maastricht University, please contact Disability Support by emailing them: disability@maastrichtuniversity.nl
You can check out the process of requesting specific accommodations by watching their latest video here.
UM Psychologists
For mental health support, you can contact UM's psychologists to make an appointment or get information about other available resources.
Learn more on the webpage UM Psychological Support
Wellbeing Movement
UM offers a variety of wellbeing initiatives and programmes, such as online and in-person lectures, workshops and training programmes.
Find our more on the Student wellbeing webpage
