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7
Disclosing a Disability/Specific Learning Difficulty:
If you have a disability, a significant ongoing illness
and/or specific learning difficulty you are encouraged to
indicate this on the appropriate section of the Application
Form (although you are not obliged to do so). This will
allow HEIs to consider, in consultation with you, any
specific support needs you may have in a higher education
institution. If you do not wish to disclose your disability
and/or specific learning difficulty on the Application
Form, you may do so at any time on entering a Higher
Education Institution and reasonable accommodation will
be made at that stage.
Please note that disclosure of a disability and/or specific
learning difficulty will not adversely affect your
application in any way.
Supplementary Information
Form (SIF) : (SIF
You are asked to complete a Supplementary Information
Form (SIF) when you disclose a disability and/or specific
learning difficulty. The SIF requests additional
information on your disability and/or specific learning
difficulty and these details are then presented to the HEIs
to which you have applied. The SIF may be accessed on
the CAO website www.cao.ie from November 2009 and
has three sections:
1.
Section A is to be completed online by you, the
applicant.
2.
Section B is to be completed by your school Principal
and Guidance Counsellor or Teacher.
3.
Section C is to be completed by a Consultant (if you
do not already have a report verifying your
disability). Applicants with a specific learning
difficulty are asked to provide a psycho-educational
assessment completed by a qualified Psychologist, in
place of Section C.
SIF Online Applications:
(SI
When you submit your application online you will be
asked to complete Section A of the SIF online. You
should print Sections B and C, have them completed, and
return them to CAO.
You are encouraged to complete your application online.
If you are unable to do so alternative formats are available
on request.
Guidelines to assist you in completing the SIF are
available on the CAO website. If you require further
assistance, please contact the Disability Service in the
HEIs to which you are applying.
Applicants whose disability prevents them from
reading this Handbook or completing the online Form
should be told to contact CAO. An audio version of the
CAO Handbook is available to download from the
CAO website.
Supplementary Admissions Route for Applicants with
Disabilities:
Some HEIs take account of the impact of your disability
and/or specific learning difficulty on your educational
performance, through the provision of a supplementary
admissions route known as the Supplementary Admissions
Route for Applicants with Disabilities. In addition to
supports, if deemed eligible for the scheme applicants may
be entitled to a reduction in points for entry to participating
HEIs.
The following HEIs participate in the Supplementary
Admissions Route for Applicants with Disabilities:
Athlone Institute of Technology
NUI Galway
Cork Institute of Technology
NUI Maynooth
Dublin City University
Royal College of Surgeons
Dublin Institute of Technology
Trinity College Dublin
Galway-Mayo Inst of Technology*
University College Cork
Mater Dei Inst of Education
University College Dublin
Nat. Coll of Art and Design
University of Limerick
National College of Ireland
* This HEI does not apply the closing dates below.
Applying for Supplementary Admissions Route for
Applicants with Disabilities:
1.
Complete the CAO application online.
2.
You must disclose your disability and/or specific
learning difficulty in your online CAO
Application by 1st February 2010.
3.
You will then be directed to the online
Supplementary Information Form (SIF).
4.
Instructions will be given about the completion
and return of Sections B and C of the SIF to CAO
by 1st April 2010.
Note: There are particular requirements for Section C
of the SIF when applying for the Supplementary
Admissions Route:
1.
Students with a specific learning difficulty must
submit a psycho-educational assessment
completed by a qualified Psychologist since 1st
February 2007.
2.
Students with a mental health illness and/or a
significant ongoing illness must submit Section C
of the SIF or supply a report from a relevant
Consultant carried out since 1st February 2007.
3.
There are no age limits on reports for all other
disabilities.
Further information on Supplementary Admissions Route
for Applicants with Disabilities is available on
the CAO
website www.cao.ie and websites of the participating
HEIs.
General Information