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MEDIA RELEASE
6th October 2009
Drive to fill over 1000 higher education places for students with disabilities
The Disability Access Route to Education (DARE), aimed at all school leavers with disabilities, is being launched by the seven universities, Athlone IT, DIT, National College of Ireland and the Mater Dei Institute of Education. This supplementary admissions scheme recognises the impact of disability on educational attainment and on progression to higher education. Approximately 300 students accepted places through DARE in 2009. The eleven participating colleges aim to greatly increase this number in 2010 by offering on average 5% of first year places on a reduced points basis.
Significant improvements have been made to the DARE scheme through funding provided by the government’s Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF). The Disability Access Route to Education is now based on robust criteria, has a more streamlined application process through the CAO and is more student friendly. The purpose of the national launch is to make students, schools and organisations aware of the scheme and ultimately to encourage a greater number of applications. A dedicated website, www.accesscollege.ie, has been developed which contains full details of the scheme and will assist students in making their applications.
Due to the impact of their disability students may not be able to meet the leaving certificate points for their preferred college course. HEA figures confirm that in the 07/08 academic year, only 1,389 or 4.2% of all new entrants to higher education indicated that they had one or more disabilities. The DARE initiative will play a key role in driving towards the HEA target of doubling the number of students in 3rd level with sensory, physical and multiple disabilities by 2013. Current participation rates are estimated at 15 -17 % for people with sensory disabilities and 14-16 % for people with physical disabilities. These participation rates are well below the current national entry rates of 55%.
According to Maureen Dunne, spokesperson for the DARE scheme,
"Students with disabilities experience constant and complex challenges throughout their educational experience which makes it difficult for them to reach their full education potential. As well as health issues many students have low expectations of their ability to progress to higher education."
There has been a huge emphasis in higher education in recent years on providing equality of educational opportunity for students with disabilities through dedicated disability support services. These services focus on supporting the student’s transition from 2nd to 3rd level as well as the provision of supports based on individualised needs assessments to enable access and full participation by all students with a disability. These supports address the educational, technological and personal needs of the students and are funded by the HEA and the Department of Education and Science through the Fund for Students with a Disability, backed by the European Social Fund (ESF).
According to Vivian Rath, science graduate and former UCD Student’s union Vice President and Welfare Officer,
"With the help of the Disability Support Service once I began university I started to forget about my disability and focused on my many abilities. The support provided allowed me to participate fully in all the college activities such as debating, wheelchair basketball, student societies and the students union."
Support for the scheme:
"DARE is an excellent support scheme which helps students with disabilities engage in higher education so that they can realise their full potential. Access should be universal but sometimes it’s the little things that can get in the way. DARE assists prospective students in overcoming barriers in accessing education and in doing so helps create a more inclusive society which benefits everybody – able and disabled people alike".Caroline Casey, Social Entrepreneur, Founder of Kanchi and the O2 Ability Awards
Ends
For further information contact: Lia O’Sullivan,
Communications Manager, Irish Universities Association.
Telephone: 01 6764948, 085 7141414.
Email: lia.osullivan@iua.ie
Notes to the editor:
www.accesscollege.ie - full details on the scheme, facts and figures, FAQ’s, eligible disabilities.
School leavers apply for the Disability Access Route to Education as part of the CAO application process. Applications are open from 3rd of November 2009 until 1st of February 2010.
In the case of blind and visually impaired students, AHEAD research indicates that they are four times less likely to progress on to higher education than their peers.
(AHEAD Survey on the Participation Rates of Students with Disabilities in Higher Education for the Academic Year 2008/2009)
Better Options Events
Third Level Institutions will provide information on application procedures, course details and the various supports available for students with disabilities and specific learning difficulties. Students will also be in attendance to talk about their experiences.
- 28th October from 10am to 2.00pm in University of Limerick
- 17th November from 10am to 3.00pm in University College Cork
- 10th December from 11am to 3.00pm in University College Dublin
Feachtas le breis is 1000 áit ardoideachais do mhic léinn faoi mhíchumas a líonadh
Tá Bealach Isteach Míchumais ar Oideachais (DARE), dírithe ar lucht fágála scoile faoi mhíchumas, á seoladh ag na seacht n-ollscoil, IT Bhaile Átha Luain, DIT, Coláiste Náisiúnta na hÉireann agus Institiúid Oideachais Mater Dei. Aithníonn an scéim bhreise iontrála seo an tionchar a bhíonn ag míchumas ar shroicheadh oideachais agus ar dhul chun cinn chuig ardoideachas. Ghlac 300 mac léinn go neasach le háiteanna trí DARE i 2009. Tá sé mar aidhm ag na haon choláiste déag rannpháirteacha an líon seo a mhéadú i 2010 trí mheán de 5% d'áiteanna céad bliain a thairiscint ar bhonn pointí laghdaithe.
Rinneadh feabhsúcháin suntasacha don scéim DARE trí mhaoiniú a sholáthair Ciste Nuálaíochta Straitéisigh an rialtais (SIF). Tá an Bealach Isteach Míchumais ar Oideachais bunaithe anois ar chritéir láidre, tá próiseas iarratais níos sruthlíní trí CAO aige agus é níos áisiúla do mhic léinn. Tá sé mar chuspóir ag an seoladh náisiúnta mic léinn, scoileanna agus eagraíochtaí a chur ar an eolas faoin scéim agus dá réir sin líon méadaithe iarratas a spreagadh. Forbraíodh láithreán gréasáin tiomnaithe , www.accesscollege.ie, ar a bhfuil lánsonraí na scéime agus a bheidh mar chúnamh do mhic léinn agus iarratais á ndéanamh acu.
Mar gheall ar thionchar a míchumas is féidir nach mbeidh mic léinn in ann na pointí Ardteistiméireachta a chomhlíonadh dá gcúrsaí coláiste roghnaithe. Deimhníonn figiúir HEA ón mbliain acadúil 07/08, nár léirigh ach 1,389 nó 4.2% d'iontrálaithe nua san ardoideachas go raibh siad faoi mhíchumas. Beidh príomhról ag an tionscnamh DARE i dtaca leis an gcur chun cinn i dtreo sprice HEA , is í sin líon na mac léinn in oideachas 3ú leibhéal atá faoi mhíchumas céadfach, fisiceach agus il-mhíchumas a dhúbailt faoi 2013. Meastar go bhfuil rátaí rannpháirtíochta ag 15-17% maidir le daoine faoi mhíchumais chéadfacha, agus 14-16% i dtaca le daoine faoi mhíchumais fhisiceacha. Tá na rátaí rannphairtíochta seo i bhfad níos ísle ná na rátaí iontrála náisiúnta reatha de 55%.
Cuireadh an-bhéim i gcúrsaí ardoideachais le blianta beaga anuas ar sholáthar de chomhionannas i dtaca le deiseanna oideachais do mhic léinn faoi mhíchumas, trí sheirbhísí tiomnaithe tacaíochta míchumais. Díríonn na seirbhísí seo ar thacaíocht do thrasdul an mhic léinn ón dara go dtí an tríú leibhéal chomh maith le soláthar de thacaíochtaí atá bunaithe ar mheasúnachtaí riachtanas aonair chun rochtain agus lánpháirtíocht a éascú do gach mac léinn atá faoi mhíchumas. Téann na tacaíochtaí seo i ngleic le riachtanais oideachais, teicneolaíochta agus pearsanta na mac léinn agus iad maoinithe ag HEA agus ag an Roinn Oideachais agus Eolaíochta tríd an gCiste do Mhic Léinn faoi Mhíchumas, le tacaíocht ó Chiste Sóisialta na hEorpa (ESF).
Nótaí chuig an eagarthóir:
www.accesscollege.ie - lánsonraí ar an scéim, fíricí agus figiúir, FAQ, míchumais incháilithe.
Déanann lucht fágála scoile iarratas don Bhealach Isteach Míchumais ar Oideachas mar chuid den phróiseas iarratais CAO. Beidh iarratais oscailte ó 3 Samhain 2009 go dtí 1 Feabhra 2010.
Maidir le mic léinn dalla agus lagamhairc, léiríonn taighde AHEAD go bhfuil seans ceithre oiread níos airde ann nach rachaidís ar aghaidh chuig ardoideachas, i gcomparáid lena gcomhpháirtithe.
(Suribhé AHEAD ar Rátaí Rannpháirtíochta Mac Léinn faoi Mhíchumas in Ardoideachas don Bhliain Acadúil 2008/2009)
Imeachtaí Roghanna Níos Fearr
Soláthróidh Institiúidí Tríú Leibhéal eolas ar mhodhanna oibre iarratais, sonraí cúrsaí agus na tacaíochtaí éagsúla atá ar fáil do mhic léinn faoi mhíchumas agus iad siúd a bhfuil deacrachtaí áirithe foghlama acu. Beidh mic léinn i láthair freisin le labhairt faoina n-eispéireas féin.
- 28 Deireadh Fómhair ó 10rn go dtí 2.00in in Ollscoil Luimnigh
- 17 Samhain ó 10rn go dtí 3.00i gColáiste na hOllscoile, Corcaigh
- 10 Nollaig ó 11rn go dtí 3.00in i gColáiste na hOllscoile, Baile Átha Cliath