Survey: about 21% of Dutch students face study barriers from special circumstances
About 21 percent of Dutch college and university students face barriers to studying due to special circumstances, including ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and other conditions, according to new findings from the Expertise Center for Inclusive Education (ECIO).
The annual National Student Survey (Nationale Studenten Enquête, NSE) collected responses from 258,133 students, up sharply from roughly 13 percent in previous years. The most common obstacles reported were concentration problems (19 percent) and anxiety or stress (18 percent).
While 65 percent of students experiencing difficulties report them to their institution, one in five non-reporters said they did not do so because they lacked trust that schools would act meaningfully.
Among those who reported, three out of four had a conversation with their program, and two-thirds received accommodations. Support was weakest for students with financial difficulties (55 percent), housing problems (53 percent), or transportation issues (52 percent). Students struggling with digital accessibility reported the lowest satisfaction with support.
“Although many students are positive about accessibility in education, it remains crucial that the other 10 percent also find education accessible,” ECIO researcher Benjamin Bremer said. “Accessibility has a direct impact on students’ ability to study successfully.”
Ten percent of students said their institution showed little understanding of their circumstances. Physical and digital accessibility remain major issues: one in four students with mobility impairments said buildings were partly or not accessible, while students with visual impairments struggled with online materials and digital learning platforms.
Researcher Marit Schreurs said the findings highlight “which specific actions by institutions need attention — showing understanding, handling special circumstances properly, improving accessibility, and arranging adequate facilities.”
