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Access and Accommodation

Q1 Can you give me advice on how to find accessible housing?

Students with disabilities can face difficulties when looking for accessible accommodation. Unfortunately securing a college place does not mean securing accommodation. However some colleges do provide accessible on-campus accommodation units. To find out more information on how to go about securing a place in on-campus accommodation it is best to contact the Accommodation Office in the University or Institute of Technology. Alternatively the Disability/Access Officer may be able to provide you with advice in this regard. If your college does not provide accessible on-campus accommodation you should contact the Local Authority/County Council area where the college is located and request a list of accessible housing. You could also contact the Students Union who will be able to obtain a list of Landlords who provide accessible housing.

Q2 Is there wheelchair accessible transport available for students with disabilities attending third level?

In the Dublin area Vantastic run an accessible transport service for people with disabilities. Dublin Bus now has a fleet of low floor buses that are wheelchair accessible. The follwing routes are now operated using fully accessible vechicles: 1,2,3,10,10A,11/11A,11B,19A,32/32B,32A,32X,38/38A,39,42,49/49A,51B,59A,65,65B,67/67A,70,90A,103,104,123,127,129,150,747,748.

Q3 What kind of supports are available to students with disabilities while they are in college?

The kind of support that you need while in college may range from the provision of a note-taker to requesting the provision of a sign language interpreter. For more detailed information on specific supports the AHEAD guide Accessing Third Level Education in Ireland: A Handbook for Students with Disabilities and Specific Learning Difficulties tells you all you need to know.  For a copy of the guide contact AHEAD at 01 7164396.

Q4 What supports or accommodations are available to students with disabilities during examinations?

Once again there are a wide range of supports available depending on your specific requirements. The best advice is to let the Disability/Access Officer know as soon as possible about any supports you may need around examinations. This will make the organisation of accommodations all the smoother. AHEAD has produced a set of guidelines for Institutions of Higher Education focusing on Examination Arrangements for students with disabilities. For more information please e-mail us at ahead@ahead.ie.

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