It is not always easy for those with functional impairment to live in a student room or apartment. An increasing number of universities and colleges are now offering them the possibility of staying at adapted accommodations with the aid of fellow students.

The Van Dale College is an imposing building on the peak of Naamsestraat in Leuven. Because of the character of the place the university chose to centralize her offices for student facilities here. Among them counts the housing service. It is here that Hella Debelder (35), assisted living advisor, waits for me after work hours.

“The Assisted Living Support project has existed for about thirty years, but we do not know exactly when it started. It also did not have the form it has now when it began; it started with one disabled student who wanted to come and study at the university.” Today there is a total of 18 assisted living groups spread over 10 university residences, one of which is the Van Dale College. An average of about 230 students take part in this project. The principle is simple: there is at least one person with functional impairment at a residence who is helped and supported by other students. Students who are assisted are often mobility impaired or have low vision or are hard of hearing.

ENLIGHTENED INVOLVEMENT

A noble project thus - but are students drawn to such involvement? “Each year is an exciting search for suitable support assistants,” admits Debelder. “This went on smoothly the previous year, but it is not always like this.” She does not believe that the present generation of students are less willing to commit. “I can imagine that they think about engagement more carefully nowadays... They consider what it means for them, but I do not want to pass any value-judgment on that.”

The assisted living support project is based on voluntary work but student-volunteers receive something in return for their efforts. “I would say that in assisted living you can learn a lot that you do not learn in the classroom. Things immensely useful not only for your private but professional life as well. In an informal context, you share in joy, sorrow, and experiences that you will take with you and—perhaps unconsciously—will reverberate in you for the rest of your life. But there are also other advantages. Students who do not qualify for a subsidized room can, via this project for example, benefit from a subsidized rent.”

THE FUTURE

Though the existence of the assisted living support project is perhaps, in a manner of speaking, veiled in mist, its future is clearer. “We should not assume that assisted living is the right answer for everyone.” As far as Debelder is concerned a whole range of possibilities can be explored. “Individual questions and requests can be worked out and we can take advantage of other initiatives that make accommodations for persons with disabilities possible.” At the moment there is nothing available to those with disabilities who finish their studies. “To develop this so as to make the transition easier is on my list. I therefore know that there is still much to be done!” she says laughing.

After our talk, I go to the first floor of Van Dale where an assisted living group of 25 students lives. Twenty-three students are responsible for Frank Sioen (19), who is doing his second year of political science and Jonas Claes (18), a freshman business student.

ODD-BALLS

Frank is on his second year at Van Dale and he absolutely does not want to leave. “It is really fun. We have a great group here. You know almost everything that is happening at the residence and to everyone so there is always something to talk about.” Because of lack of oxygen at birth his brain and leg coordination is not optimal and he uses a wheelchair for longer distances. He only needs help with cooking and vacuuming. Jonas, who is visually impaired, is only on his first year in Van Dale but he already feels at home there. “It is pleasant here and I can be sure that when something goes wrong, help will be available. Right now I see nothing but benefits, so I think that I will keep on staying here.”

Those who have volunteered to assist enjoy their “work” too. They were all looking for a form of communal living, but anyone who expects to meet oddballs or nature-freak types will end up feeling shortchanged. Mieke Geebels (21), a psychology student, says: “I do not think there is a typical assisted-living volunteer. We are people with different personalities. It is natural that everyone who lives here is ready to get involved in the same project.” |