School Presentation

• for entry autumn 2015

Would YOU like to

go to college?

Where would YOU like to go?

How do

I get there?

How do

I apply?

Have you heard of

DARE?

The Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) is a supplementary admissions scheme which offers college places on reduced points to school leavers with disabilities.

DARE has been set up as clear evidence shows that disability can have a negative impact on educational attainment at school and progression to higher education.

What is DARE?

Where can I go to

college? Universities

• Dublin City University

(incorporating Mater Dei Institute of

Education & St. Patrick’s College,

Drumcondra)

• Maynooth University

• NUI Galway

• University College Cork

• University College, Dublin

• University of Limerick

• Trinity College, Dublin

Other Colleges

• RCSI

• Pontifical University, Maynooth

• National College of Ireland

Colleges of Education

• Marino Institute of Education

• Mary Immaculate College

• St. Angela’s College, Sligo

• Church of Ireland, College of

Education

Institutes of Technology

• DIT

• Cork IT

• IT, Sligo

• Athlone IT

There is something for

YOU in college.

Arts…Science…

Business…. Engineering…

Health Sciences….Education….Medicine…

IT…..

Clubs & Societies…

Athletics…..Gaelic Football….MountaineeringDrama….Film..

Dance…

VolunteerMake a difference.

Meet new

friends.

Who Should Apply?

• Applicants whose disability had a significant impact on educational performance in school.

• Applicants who may not be able to meet the points for their preferred course due to the impact of disability.

• Applicants under 23 years as at 1st January 2015.

Benefits of DARE

Reduced Points.An example • If the Leaving Certificate points for a course is 360 points, an

eligible DARE applicant could be offered a place with a lower points score e.g. 350 points.

• Applicants need to meet entry and programme requirements to be considered for a DARE reduced points offer.

• The amount of points a particular course is reduced by is dependent on: o The overall number of places on the courseo The number of reserved DARE places on the courseo The number of DARE eligible applicants competing for these

reserved places.The reduction in points for DARE places can vary every year.

Benefits of DARE

• Orientation Programmes• Learning Support • Assistive Technology• Library Support

• Exam Accommodations• Educational Support Worker• Academic Tuition

• You don’t have to be eligible for DARE to get support in college.• A needs assessment is conducted to identify your specific support

requirements.

College supports may include:

Disabilities eligible for consideration

– Autistic Spectrum Disorders (including Asperger’s Syndrome)

– ADD / ADHD– Blind / Vision Impaired– Deaf / Hard of Hearing– DCD – Dyspraxia/Dysgraphia– Mental Health Conditions– Neurological Conditions

(Brain Injury, Epilepsy, Speech & Language Disabilities)– Significant Ongoing Illness– Physical Disability– Specific Learning Difficulty (Dyslexia & Dyscalculia)

Talk to your

parent /guardian.

How do I apply?

1. Apply to CAO at www.cao.ie by 1 February 2015.

2. Review your DARE Application Guide & Workbook with parents or guardians.

3. Complete Section A of the Supplementary Info Form and apply to DARE by 1 March 2015.

4. Submit academic reference and evidence of disability to CAO by 1 April 2015.

What is the Supplementary Information Form (SIF)?

Section A Completed by you by 1st March 2015.Answer Yes to Q1 to apply to DARE.

Section BCompleted by the school.Send to CAO by 1 April 2015.

Section C Completed by the appropriate professional.Send to CAO by 1 April 2015.

Section A: Applicant Information

1. Section A asks for information on your disability and the supports received in second level.

2. Complete a Personal Statement outlining the academic impact of your disability.

3. Complete online by 1 March 2015.

Section B – Second Level Academic Reference

Provides information on your educational experience and helps to determine supports in 3rd level.

1. Download form.

2. Ask your school teacher or guidance counsellor or visiting teacher or school principal or deputy school principal to complete the form.

3. The form MUST BE stamped by school.

4. Return to the CAO by 1 April 2015.

Section C Evidence of Disability

Provides verification of your disability and helps to determine 3rd level supports.

You can provide an existing report

Or

Complete Section C Evidence of Disability.

Get form completed, signed and stamped by the appropriate professional or accompanied by their business card or headed paper.

Section C Evidence of Disability

If you submit an Existing Report make sure it is:

• Completed and signed by the appropriate professional AND

• Contains the stamp of the appropriate professional or is on headed paper or is accompanied by a business card

AND• Contains the same detail as requested on the Evidence of Disability

Form 2015 AND

• Has been completed within the appropriate time limit.

Section C Evidence of Disability

For example, applicants with:

• ADD / ADHD• Mental Health Conditions• Significant Ongoing Illness• Specific learning difficulties (including dyslexia and

dyscalculia)• DCD - Dyspraxia/ Dysgraphia.

must provide a report that is less than 3 years old i.e. dated after 1 February 2012.

Section C Evidence of Disability

Applicants with• Specific learning difficulties (including dyslexia and dyscalculia)

must provide a full psycho-educational assessment dated after 1 February 2012.

Applicants with• DCD - Dyspraxia/Dysgraphia.

must provide a full psycho-educational assessment dated after 1 February 2012

ANDEvidence of Disability Form 2015 OR Existing report completed by Occupational Therapist or Neurologist (No age

limit)

Section C Evidence of Disability

Check out the guide to providing evidence of your disability on

http://accesscollege.ie/dare/documents

Helpful Tips

• Study the guide carefully with your parents / guardians.

• Complete the online application accurately.

• Request Evidence of Disability documents early.

• Send good quality copies of all pages of the correct documents completed by appropriate professionals.

• Submit all Evidence of Disability documents requested.

• Keep proof of postage.• Deadlines!

DARE/HEAR Timeline

DARE & HEAR closing date 1 March 2015Supporting documents closing date

1 April 2015

Notification of eligibility Late June 2015Application recheck July 2015HEAR/DARE offers August 2015College Orientation Late Aug /Early Sept 2015

Remember…

Submit it!

Check it!

Send it!

Remember

You can apply to both

DARE & HEAR

Saturday 10 January 2015

www.accesscollege.ie

Further Information

cao.ie

susi.ie

qualifax.ie

Further Information

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