• WAM Programme
  • LINK Project
  • Get Ahead Blog

Common Educational Supports for Students With Disabilities

Asthma and/or Cystic Fibrosis, Diabetes, Epilepsy, Psychological Disabilities, Significant Health / Medical Disabilities and Speech and Language Disability.

Students with any of the above disabilities may require one, or a combination, of the supports listed in this section.

Before starting college/university

Students with disabilities should check before the beginning of the academic year to find out what disability supports will be available to them.

EDUCATIONAL SUPPORTS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.

Students must bear in mind that to avail themselves of any of the supports listed below, they will have to negotiate for them with the lecturers, tutors or the Disability/Access Officer in the college/university.

Common educational supports include:

EXAMINATIONS

Examinations are central to the academic process and students with disabilities are encouraged to request appropriate supports and arrangements for the examinations at the beginning of each academic year. It is the responsibility of candidates with disabilities to apply well in advance to the appropriate college authority (Disability/Access Officer or Examination Office) for provision of facilities which best enable them to demonstrate their knowledge of the subject being examined. Candidates must have adequate working practice in any facility which they request to use in the examination. This is to safeguard against delays and errors during the examination.

The following examination facilities may be generally available for candidates with disabilities

Separate examination rooms and invigilators: this facility may be useful if the student is using assistive technology, or requires extra time, special furniture or aids.

Not all institutions provide all the facilities listed above. However, individual colleges are striving towards best examination practices for candidates with disabilities. Students must check what facilities are provided and negotiate for appropriate supports with the Disability/Access Officer and/or the Examination Office.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students

Before starting college/university

Deaf and hard of hearing students should check before the beginning of the academic year to find out what disability supports will be available to them.

Educational supports and facilities generally available

A range of different supports can assist a deaf or hard of hearing student participate in lectures and tutorials. Not all colleges can provide all the supports mentioned below, however, if one or a combination of the supports listed will be useful to you, you should request them from your college. Students must bear in mind that to avail themselves of any of the supports listed below, they will have to negotiate for them with the Disability/Access Officer and/or the lecturers and tutors.

Common educational supports for deaf and hard of hearing students include:

It is important to note that some lecturers speak from notes that are meaningless to anyone but themselves, whilst some may not use notes at all. Others may be unwilling for their own reasons, good or otherwise, to let anyone see their notes. Students must be prepared for these situations.

EXAMINATIONS

Examinations are central to the academic process and students with disabilities are encouraged to request appropriate supports and arrangements for the examinations at the beginning of each academic year. It is the responsibility of deaf and hard of hearing students to apply well in advance to the appropriate college authority (Disability/Access Officer or Examination Office) for provision of facilities which best enable them to demonstrate their knowledge of the subject being examined. Candidates must have adequate working practice in any facility which they request to use in the examination. This is to safeguard against delays and errors during the examination.

The following examination facilities may be available for deaf or hard of hearing candidates

Other Supports

some candidates may have specific requirements that are not known to the college authorities, in such instances, it is the responsibility of the student to inform the Disability/Access Officer and/or the Examination Office of these requirements.

Many deaf and hard of hearing students feel that sign-language is the most appropriate communication medium to use and that this option should be available to them for examination purposes. However, to-date third level institutions in Ireland have not provided this option at examinations, and there is on-going debate on the matter.

Students may request the facilities listed below, however, they should not expect that they are, or will be made, available to them.

Not all colleges provide all the facilities listed above. However, individual colleges are striving towards best examination practices for candidates with disabilities. Students must, however, check what facilities are provided and negotiate for appropriate supports with the Disability Officer and/or the Examination Office.

Blind and Partially Sighted Students.

Before starting college/university

Blind and partially sighted students should check before the beginning of the academic year to find out what disability supports will be available to them.

Before starting college/university they should:

Educational supports and facilities generally available

Research by AHEAD shows that provisions for blind and partially sighted students are relatively well advanced in colleges of higher education in Ireland. A range of different supports can assist a blind or partially sighted student participate in lectures and tutorials. However, not all colleges can provide all the supports mentioned below. If one, or a combination, of the supports listed will be useful to you, you should request them from your college. Students must bear in mind that to avail themselves of any of the supports listed below, they will have to negotiate for them with the Disability/Access Officer and/or the lecturers and tutors.

Common educational supports for blind and partially sighted students include

EXAMINATIONS

Examinations are central to the academic process and students with disabilities are encouraged to request appropriate supports and arrangements for the examinations at the beginning of each academic year. It is the responsibility of candidates with disabilities to apply well in advance to the appropriate college authority (Disability/Access Officer or Examination Office) for provision of facilities which best enable them to demonstrate their knowledge of the subject being examined. Candidates must have adequate working practice in any facility which they request to use in the examination. This is to safeguard against delays and errors during the examination.

The following examination facilities may be available for blind or partially sighted candidates:

Not all colleges provide all the facilities listed above. However, individual colleges are striving towards best examination practices for candidates with disabilities. Students must, however, check what facilities are provided and negotiate for appropriate supports with the Disability/Access Officer and/or the Examination Office.

Students with Specific Learning Difficulties (Dyslexia).

Before starting college/university

More and more students with specific learning difficulties are attending courses at third level. It is important that students with specific learning difficulties, who require specific supports, provide documentation supporting their disability. Students who do not have supporting documentation, should present themselves for assessment before commencing third level education. A qualified psychologist will be able to carry out a full psycho-educational assessment and prepare the necessary report for the college authorities. Most colleges will consider applications from students with dyslexia seeking an exemption on a third language requirement. In particular the NUI has a stated policy that the NUI is prepared to consider applications, for an exemption from the third language requirement from students who are certified by a qualified professional as having a serious dyslexic condition. Such applications are considered on an individual basis and may be presented to the University at any stage following completion of the Junior Certificate. Applications must be accompanied by a School Record Form completed by the Head of the School attended and professional certification of the condition. These forms are available from the National University of Ireland.

Educational supports and facilities generally available

If the student with a specific learning difficulty is already in third level but does not have documentation to support her/his disability, s/he should seek advice from the Disability/Access Officer or the college counsellor/psychologist. Students should bear in mind that to avail themselves of any of the supports listed below, they will have to negotiate for them with the Disability/Access Officer and/or lecturers and tutors.

Common educational supports for students with specific learning difficulties include:

EXAMINATIONS

Examinations are central to the academic process and students with disabilities are encouraged to request appropriate supports and arrangements for the examinations at the beginning of each academic year. It is the responsibility of candidates with disabilities to apply well in advance to the appropriate college authority (Disability/Access Officer or Examination Office) for provision of facilities which best enable them to demonstrate their knowledge of the subject being examined. Candidates must have adequate working practice in any facility which they request to use in the examination. This is to safeguard against delays and errors during the examination. The following examination facilities may be available for candidates with specific learning difficulties:

Not all colleges provide all the facilities listed above. However, individual colleges are striving towards best examination practices for candidates with disabilities. Students must, however, check with the Disability/Access Officer and/or the Examination Office what facilities are provided and negotiate for appropriate supports.

Students with Physical Disabilities

Before starting college/university.

Students who require wheelchair access should make direct contact with the college(s) of their choice to check how accessible the buildings are, and to give the college an opportunity to make the necessary modifications in time. Few, if any, of the Irish colleges are fully wheelchair accessible but efforts are being made by individual colleges to address this problem. It is useful to visit the college/university before the start of term for mobility orientation, as the first weeks on-campus are crowded and can be extremely disorienting for some students.

Accessible transport service.

Students with physical disabilities who require accessible transport to and from college should contact VANTASTIC, a fully accessible transport service to people with disabilities. To-date it has been mainly a Dublin based service, but it is now branching out to other parts of the country. For more information on this service contact VANTASTIC at 01-8304926 or 087-569628.

Educational supports and facilities generally available.

Students must bear in mind that to avail themselves of any of the supports listed below, they will have to negotiate for them with the lecturers, tutors or the Disability/Access Officer.

Common educational supports for students with physical disabilities include:

It is important to note that some lecturers speak from notes that are meaningless to anyone but themselves, whilst some may not use notes at all. Others may be unwilling for their own reasons, good or otherwise, to let anyone see their notes. Students must be prepared for these situations.

EXAMINATIONS.

Examinations are central to the academic process and students with disabilities are encouraged to request appropriate supports and arrangements for the examinations at the beginning of each academic year. It is the responsibility of candidates with disabilities to apply well in advance to the appropriate college authority (Disability/Access Officer or Examination Office) for provision of facilities which best enable them to demonstrate their knowledge of the subject being examined. Candidates must have adequate working practice of any facility which they request to use in the examination. This is to safeguard against delays and errors during the examination. The following examination facilities may be available for candidates with physical disabilities:

Not all colleges provide all the facilities listed above. However, individual colleges are striving towards best examination practices for candidates with disabilities. Students must, however, check with the Disability/Access Officer and/or the Examination Office what facilities are provided and negotiate for appropriate supports.

Mailing List

To receive the latest Ahead updates direct to your inbox, simply enter your email address below...

Cart  Online Shop »

Charter for Inclusive Teaching & Learning (PDF)

Charter for Inclusive Teaching & Learning (PDF)

Information Booklets & Fact Sheets

EUR 0.00