Students with Disabilities
There is no specific right to education for any pre-school children. There is an entitlement to certain health services which are related to education. The Health Services Executive (HSE) is responsible for providing psychological services and speech and language therapy services for pre-school children with disabilities who are assessed as needing these services. Children may be referred for such assessments by parents or doctors. This assessment may be carried out by the HSEs own psychologists or by arrangement with a voluntary organisation. When the children go to primary school, the responsibility for psychological services is transferred to the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) . There is a small number of special pre-school class units for children with autistic spectrum disorders attached to primary schools.
The Department of Education and Science is responsible for primary school services. Children in primary schools who have been assessed as having special educational needs are entitled to a response to their needs. The assessment is carried out by the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or, in some cases, by approved private assessors. The response to the childs assessed special needs may be provided in special dedicated schools, in special dedicated classes attached to mainstream schools or on an integrated basis in mainstream schools. While there is a range of special education provision available, the policy is to have integrated education as far as possible. Children with special needs have the right to free primary education up to age 18. The Health Services Executive is responsible for providing speech and language therapy services to primary school children.
Children with disabilities may be educated in mainstream second level schools or in special classes in such schools or in special schools. The policy is to provide mainstream education where possible and appropriate. Resource teaching posts, special needs assistant posts and additional teaching hours are allocated to second level schools to cater for pupils with special education needs. Each case is considered on its merits and additional allocations are made on the recommendation of the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS)
Looking at the history of education for people with disabilities in Ireland, it is clear that the inclusion of students with disabilities in higher education is a very recent development. The percentage of disabled students at third level was in 1993/4 a mere 0.65% of the total student body (AHEAD Research, 1993/4).
Research carried out by AHEAD indicates that the participation rates of disabled students have increased significantly since the previous survey in 1998/99 when it was 1%. It has since almost doubled in many universities and institutes of technology. The most important factor in this increase has been the recognition by the Department of Education and Science and the Higher Education Authority (HEA) of the additional cost in providing equity of access for disabled students. Achieving equity is not just about having the right to access a course but about having the resources to exercise that right. The allocation of HEA strategic funding has been pivotal in the development of an infrastructure of core disability support services and the introduction of broader teaching and learning strategies.
There are currently 2,732 students with disabilities or specific learning difficulties in tertiary education representing 2.175% of the undergraduate student population. However actual participation is not simply about getting a place in college, but more about having the accommodations that will ensure you get the same learning experiences as other students.
The participation rate of students with disabilities in the university sector has doubled from .88% in 98/99 to 2.38 in 2004. However, the same progress can not be recorded throughout the institute of technology sector where the participation rate has not increased and remains persistently low. This is due in no small way to the fact that the Institutes of Technology cannot access funding through the HEA strategic initiatives like their counterparts in the university sector. Therefore they can have difficulty in funding support services for students with disabilities.
Every student applying to go to college in Ireland must complete a Central Applications Office (CAO) form. There is, however, another route aimed specifically at students with disabilities. This is known as non-standard entry. This means of entry will be of particular interest if you feel that as a result of your disability you may not meet the required number of points for your course.
When you receive your CAO form it contains a question asking do you have a disability/specific learning difficulty, and asking you to tick the box if this is the case. Although it is not compulsory to tick this box, doing so is a means of letting a learning Institution know that you are interested in attending and giving them an opportunity to consider any support needs you may have.
Students who indicate a disability by ticking the box will receive a supplementary form from the CAO in March. This form should be completed and returned to the CAO. The CAO will forward completed forms to the colleges you have applied to. Colleges will then contact you directly if they wish to consider you for non-standard entry.
Non-standard entry takes into account any difficulties encountered because of your disability during your education. It will be necessary to provide medical information regarding your disability along with information on the kind of difficulties you have experienced in your education to date as a result of your disability. Such difficulties may include frequent illness and hospitalisation, difficulties accessing buildings and having limited availability of materials in alternative formats. Restrictions such as these may have caused gaps in your education and therefore you are educationally disadvantaged in comparison to your peers. Not all colleges offer a non-standard entry procedure. You should contact the Institutions you are interested in applying to to find out whether or not they offer this option.
