Spotlight on a program : the fragile health & disability grant
Visible or invisible disability, chronic illness, disabling health condition: at emlyon, more than 300 students deal every day with challenges that, without adapted support, can put their academic success at risk.
Talent should never be held back by health
Sensory or motor disability, chronic or psychiatric illness, language or speech disorders, including DYS-type learning disorders: the situations covered by the fragile health & disability grant are as varied as they are, very often, misunderstood.
In France, the proportion of students with disabilities at Grandes Écoles remains low. Several barriers explain this: a lack of reassuring information from high school onward about the support available, fear of being unable to keep up with a demanding course of study, the administrative complexity of obtaining the necessary accommodations, and reluctance to self-disclose for fear of being stigmatized.
At emlyon, more than 300 students have declared a disability — a figure that likely remains underestimated, as some do not dare to come forward, or wrongly believe they aren't eligible for support.
What the School already funds, and what remains to be covered
emlyon business school already funds its health & disability unit, academic accommodations, and the necessary infrastructure. But specific costs, directly linked to disability, still fall on the students concerned:
- adapted equipment (software, reading magnifiers, specific devices);
- note-taking assistance or French Sign Language (LSF) interpreting;
- mobility support, including for internships and exchanges abroad;
- everyday extra costs directly linked to a disability or health condition.
It is precisely to cover these needs — invisible, but very real — that the emlyon Foundation created the fragile health & disability grant.
Two paths, one shared determination
"As a student, I face challenges linked to an invisible illness, which is often poorly understood [...]. This condition affects several parts of my body, requiring regular medical follow-up, which leads to frequent appointments and, as a result, occasional absences from my coursework.
[This grant] allowed me, in particular, to fund my regular trips to the Paris region for medical appointments. It also made it possible to fund private accommodation during my exchange in Montreal, giving me access to a private bathroom and a fridge to store my treatment. [...] It has been a genuine lever, allowing me to continue my studies in calmer conditions.
Thank you for the opportunity you give students like me to keep moving forward despite the difficulties."
Kilien Burgos, Master's student in Finance
"A number of difficulties linked to my condition prevented me from pursuing my studies in the best conditions throughout my schooling. [This grant] gave me essential financial support for living in a large city such as Lyon or Paris.
Whether for food or housing, these expenses represent a constant source of stress for a student from a middle-class or working-class background. This support also helped me understand that the School, along with a number of partners, was there to give us a helping hand toward success.
I simply want to thank the donors and point out that gestures like these help restore confidence in students who sometimes lack the financial means to fully enjoy student life, don't always feel legitimate, and can end up holding themselves back. I'm also grateful for the connections it has created, which serve as a first contact and can later lead to future collaboration or a job offer."
Driss Soualmi, student in the Grande École Program
These two testimonials illustrate the same reality : it is very concrete expenses — medical travel, adapted housing, equipment — that, without financial support, add to the already heavy burden of studying.
The 2025 figures
- 31 students received a grant, selected through a call for applications — twice as many beneficiaries as in 2024.
- A 20% increase in the total amount allocated to the program.
These are real gains — but the needs remain significant.
The impact of your donation
By supporting the fragile health & disability grant, you help a student with a disability pursue their studies in adapted conditions, you help a young person devote themselves fully to their studies rather than to a job incompatible with their health, and you become a key player in a more inclusive, more attractive School.
The Foundation's goal: to provide targeted, effective, high-impact support by helping more than 50 students, through an annual fundraising target of €100,000.
Support a student in a vulnerable situation
The four emlyon Foundation programs you can support: living-expense grants, the emergency fund, fragile health & disability grants, and the Tour de France des Oraux.
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