Funka – Support for students with disabilities
If you are a student at Södertörn University and have a permanent disability, you can apply for special educational support to help you with your studies.
How do we define a permanent disability?
In this context, the definition of a disability is based upon the Swedish Discrimination Act (2008:567):
“Permanent physical, mental or intellectual limitation of a person’s functional capacity that as a consequence of injury or illness existed at birth, has arisen since then or can be expected to arise”. Link to the Discrimination Act – opens in a new window External link, opens in new window.
Barriers to inclusion often arise in environments that function in specific ways, frequently without taking account of people’s differing abilities. Adaptations can therefore help you study and reduce the barriers to participation.
How accessible are the university premises?
How do I apply?
You can apply for study support via NAIS External link., the national application system for study support for students with disabilities. You need to be able to upload a certificate from a doctor, psychologist, speech therapist or other specialist to make an application. If you are being investigated for a neuropsychiatric disorder or dyslexia, you may also receive support while your investigation is ongoing. Upload your referral.
Apply for support
Apply for disability support
You need a medical certificate to apply for extra support if you have a disability. The application is easy to do online.
When should I apply?
Apply for support as soon as you know you have been admitted and will register for a course or programme to study at the university. If you need more support, such as educational interpretation, please apply even earlier.
Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an email invitation to a meeting to discuss your need for support. It will take approximately 30-45 minutes. There may be a waiting time of several weeks at the start of the semester.
What happens in the meeting?
During the meeting, you and the disability coordinator review your needs in relation to the support available at the university. You can prepare for it by reading about the support below. If necessary, we will also look the relevant syllabus, its learning outcomes and examination formats.
Following the meeting, NAIS will send you a notification of support and adaptations. Use this notification when you contact teachers/examiners and other staff at the university.
Talking books do not require a disability certificate
You do not need to apply for support via the disability coordinator for adapted course literature. You can contact the talking books service yourself. More information about talking books and other adapted literature is available at Library help and support for students with a disability.
Students at the university can also download Tortalk speech synthesiser to a private computer for free. Read more and download it from www.sh.se/english/sodertorn-university/student/opportunities-resources-and-rights/study-support-unit under “Want to listen to course literature?”.
However, to use Legimus during in-person open book exams you must have a certificate from Funka that grants this. It must be recorded in your certificate and in Student-Ladok External link, opens in new window. before registration for the exam closes.
Who can get support?
You are entitled to support if you have a permanent disability. In this context, the definition of a disability is based upon the Swedish Discrimination Act (2008:567):
"Permanent physical, mental or intellectual limitation of a person’s functional capacity that as a consequence of injury or illness existed at birth, has arisen since then or can be expected to arise”. Link to the Swedish Discrimination Act. External link, opens in new window.
A temporary injury or illness from which you are expected to recover is not defined as a permanent disability.
How does it work?
The university’s disability coordinator can decide on some types of support, and recommend that teachers and examiners grant other support. For example, a recommendation may be that you be granted more time to write a take-home exam. As a student, you are responsible for using the study support certificate issued by the disability coordinator to communicate your needs and access support. It is important that you understand that support is always subject to resources.
Other support is also available at the university, which all students can access. The Study Support Unit offers guidance, workshops and course in study techniques, academic writing, reference management and presentations. There is a course room in Swedish, Lyckas med dina studier External link, opens in new window., with videos and more information in these areas.
You can also turn to careers and study guidance, a counsellor or the university chaplaincy for support. Like the disability coordinator, they are bound by confidentiality.
How accessible are the university premises?
Read about accessibility and university premises.
Contact Funka
What support could I obtain?
Studying abroad if you have a disability
Studying abroad if you have a disability
Do you have a permanent disability and want to study abroad? You may be able to receive extra support during your exchange. If your exchange is part of the Erasmus programme, you can apply for extra financial support.
Sidinformation
- Page last updated
- 2025-12-11