Disability Support

The Institute of Technology, Sligo Access Office has a specific responsibility to support students attending the college who have a disability or special needs due to chronic illness.  It is however the responsibility of any student with a disability or special needs to make contact with the Access Office at the beginning of each academic year so that their needs can be reviewed.  The Institute of Technology Sligo cannot take responsibility for failing to support a student where the student has not identified their needs to the Access Office.  Supports for students with disabilities are continuously being developed and it is important that students make themselves aware of these developments.

In registering with the Disability Support Service, the student and Asst. Access Officer will agree an individual support plan tailored to the specific requirements of that student with referrals to other members of college staff only as appropriate. 

Supports Available

The Disability Support Service  acts as an advocate on behalf of the students with a disability, students with Autism or (ASD)  or special need in the Institute of Technology, Sligo.  By registering with the Disability Support Service, supports can be requested and developed in relation to academic and physical requirements within the college on the student’s behalf.  An application can be made to the Higher Education Authority for funding to facilitate the student in his / her studies, purchase and loan equipment intended to assist the student during his / her studies at the Institute of Technology Sligo.  As it will take some time to develop some of the supports required by any student, students are urged to make contact with the Disability Support Service as soon as is possible following return to study at  Institute of Technology Sligo.

Register with Disability/Learning Support Services

Specific procedures are in place to support students with disabilities or special needs to perform on an equal basis as their class peers.  (The Policy Guidelines and Procedures for the Granting of Reasonable Accommodations in Examinations to Students with Disabilities LINK) can be accessed here.

In order to provide accurate supports and accommodations, the Disability Support Service requires medical documentation from the appropriate medical professional. Refer to the Guide to Providing evidence of your disability for support (link here.)

The Assistive Technology Suite offers students with disabilities a quiet room to study where they have access to printers and PCs with specific software. It is located on the first floor in the Student Support Services Centre.

DARE at IT Sligo

Course options available:  All courses will accept qualified DARE applicants, the courses that applicants are likely to study will reflect that popularity of courses in general.

Minimum entry requirements: All DARE applicants will have to meet minimum academic entry requirements in addition to DARE eligibility.  For Higher Certificate (Level 6) courses the minimum points required for entry through DARE will be 120 points.  For Ordinary Degree (Level 7) courses, the minimum points required for entry through DARE will be 150 points. For Honours Degree (Level 8) courses, the minimum points required for entry through DARE will be 200. Some courses also carry mathematics requirements which will also have to be met.

DARE and FETAC Entry:  DARE entry is for leaving certificate applicants only, however IT Sligo will be operating a supplementary entry route for FETAC applicants who meet the DARE eligibility criteria.  These will be given bonus points for entry, these places will be in addition to the 30 DARE places available in first year at IT Sligo.

Disability Supports at IT Sligo:  The provision of supports to students with disabilities at IT Sligo is separate from special consideration for entry provided through DARE, all students with disabilities should contact the Disability Support Service as early as possible to develop their individual support plan regardless of how they entered IT Sligo.