Disability Support
The ATU Sligo Access Office has a specific responsibility to support students attending the college who have a disability or additional needs due to chronic illness.
It is the responsibility of any student with a disability or additional needs to make contact with the Access Office at the beginning of each academic year so that their needs can be reviewed. ATU 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 Disability 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.
Register with Disability Support Service
Supports Available
The Disability Support Service acts as an advocate on behalf of the students with a disability, students with Autism or an additional need in ATU 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 ATU 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 ATU Sligo.
Specific procedures are in place to support students with disabilities or additional needs to perform on an equal basis as their class peers. Access The Policy Guidelines and Procedures for the Granting of Reasonable Accommodations in Examinations to Students with Disabilities.
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.
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 ATU Sligo
All courses will accept qualified DARE applicants, the courses that applicants are likely to study will reflect that popularity of courses in general.
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 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 ATU Sligo
The provision of supports to students with disabilities at ATU 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 ATU Sligo.
Contact
DARE, Disability Support or Autism Supports
Shelley Brady
Tel: +353 (0)71 9137355
Email: disability@nullitsligo.ie
Inclusion Support Worker (ISW)
Linda Mulligan
Tel: +353 (0)71 9135535
Email: inclusionsupport@nullitsligo.ie, or mulligan.linda@nullitsligo.ie
The Inclusion Support Service provides supports to neurodiverse students registered with ATU Sligo Disability Office.
The ISW will act as the local contact for students, as well as for staff involved in their education.
The ISW will also provide invaluable 1:1 or group sessions to support students in developing their skills in the areas of organisation, study, learning, meeting deadlines and communication skills, including any other specific need identified in the needs assessment process with the Disability Officer.
The ISW will also be working closely with the Disability Officer on the Autism Friendly Campus initiative.
