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A summary of how staff can help support young adults with IBD
What is IBD?
It is very likely that several students in your university or college will suffer from Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn’s Disease, known collectively as Inflammatory Bowel Disease or IBD. IBD affects about one in 250 people in the UK population, and it is quite common for these illnesses to start in late teens and early adulthood. IBD can make student life more demanding. Some understanding of the physical and psychological effects of IBD will help you to provide the support and encouragement students with IBD often need to achieve their full potential.
The two most common forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) are Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease. These are life-long chronic conditions which can cause severe stomach pain, an urgent need to use the toilet, diarrhoea, extreme tiredness, nausea and loss of appetite. IBD can also delay growth and cause extreme thinness. Some children and young people with IBD also have joint pains, eye problems and mouth ulcers.
How can Universities and Colleges help?
Respect and understanding
Each individual is unique, and students with IBD are likely to have differing views about how they wish to deal with their condition while at university or college.
Access to Disability Services
Students with IBD may or may not consider that they have a disability. However, if they have severe UC or Crohn’s Disease they may have needs which mean they might benefit from the support offered by Student Disability Services
Accommodation
Many students with IBD consider ensuite accommodation a necessity. If this is not available then it helps if the student can have a room very close to a toilet and bathroom/shower. However, this is less satisfactory as without ensuite facilities there can still be the possibility of embarrassing accidents.
Other accommodation needs may include:
- living on or close to campus to help minimise travel needs
- convenient laundry facilities
- catering on site, or, alternatively,
- cooking facilities, which may make it easier for some students with IBD to meet their dietary requirements.
Departmental Support
Many students with IBD find it helpful to have someone within their academic department whom they can to talk to about their IBD and some of the difficulties it might cause. This can apply even if the student has a Study Needs Agreement or something similar.
Common IBD-related support needs
Students with IBD often have particular needs or difficulties such as the following:
- Urgency Problems
- Lateness
- Medication & Snack Breaks
- Feeling Unwell
- Missing Sessions
- Field Trips
- Coursework Extensions
- Exams
- Extra Curricular Activities
Download the full Information Sheet for how to deal with each of these support needs.
More Information:
If further information would be helpful, contact the Crohn's and Colitis UK Information Line: 0845 130 2233, open Monday to Friday 10am-1pm. There is an answerphone service outside these hours, or you may email
info@crohnsandcolitis.org.uk.
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