Information for CAO applicants with learning difficulties [Irish Independent]
- Published: 14 January 2009
By: Mary O'Donnell
Q: "I have a specific learning difficulty. Am I required to disclose this information in my CAO application?"
A: You have everything to gain by doing so. Applicants are not obliged to disclose such details, but the Central Applications Office (CAO) encourages them to do so. Higher education institutions (HEIs) are anxious to make provision for applicants who have difficulties with a medical or physical condition, or a specific learning disability. Indeed, HEIs have a legal obligation to support students in the "disabled" category.
After ticking the appropriate box provided on the application form, students who tick the box will be required to complete a supplementary form, which will be forwarded to the HEIs to which each student is applying.
This form may be viewed or downloaded from the CAO website. This year, applicants can complete Part A online, but they will have to print out Part B to be completed by their guidance counsellor or school principal, and their specialist/consultant or educational psychologist.
The form lists the types of difficulty that an applicant may have, and the evidence that will be required to support their application. Conditions may range from blindness, visual impairment, or deafness, to a physical or movement-impaired disability, or to conditions such as dyslexia, ADD, ADHD, Asperger's Syndrome, or head or traumatic brain injury.
Last year, around 2,000 applicants used the supplementary form for students with disability.
Q Do colleges differ in the special consideration they give to applicants with special difficulties?
A: They do. Some concentrate on providing practical assistance to applicants when they reach college -- assistive learning technologies, for example, or a personal assistant, or wheelchair access or accommodation -- depending on the conditions.
There is no uniform selection process for special- case applicants. One university may give a language exemption on the basis of an applicant's dyslexia, for example, whereas another university may deem it not serious enough.
Applicants with specific learning difficulties should always discuss their application with each college, and check the progress of their request.
A number of colleges operate a supplementary admissions procedure, and have agreed common criteria for the assessment of eligibility.
In 2009, the following colleges are participating in this scheme: Athlone IT, DCU, UCC, UCD, DIT, NUI Galway, University of Limerick, NUI Maynooth, the National College of Ireland, Mater Dei and Trinity.
All colleges have access officers to advise applicants what help the college can give.
INFORMATION SESSIONS: The Dublin Business School hosts an open day today from 2pm to 7pm in its Aungier Street campus.
Tipperary Institute hosts a CAO information session for parents and students tonight from 6pm to 8pm in its Thurles campus.
IADT -- the Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Kill Avenue, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin -- hosts two CAO information evenings: one today, and another, tomorrow, from 5pm to 7pm.
NUI Maynooth hosts a CAO information evening, at 7.30 tonight.
- Mary O'Donnell
