Access/Disability News
Pathways to Education – Tracking Students with Disabilities across Higher Education Institutions.
At the recent “Better Options” information event for students with disabilities and specific learning difficulties hosted by UCC, a unique and interesting piece of research was launched. The research was commissioned by Pathways to Education, which is a joint access initiative of UCC & CIT and funded under the Strategic Innovation Fund – Cycle 2. The research was carried out under the guidance and support of the disability services in both institutions.
The report titled “Students with Disabilities Tracking Report – 2005 Intake. An analysis of their progression, retention and success through Higher Education Institutions” investigated the access, retention and success rates of students with disabilities across Ireland. It was launched by Ann Heelan, Executive Director of AHEAD (Association of Higher Education Access & Disability) who highlighted the success of students with disabilities in their third level studies.
The research is the first evidence based research relating to the success, retention and completion of students with disabilities across a number of Higher Education Institutes in any one academic year, in this case the 2005 intake and involved nine institutions. The data provides an interesting insight into the activity of students with disabilities during their studies at higher level.
Commenting on the research Mary O’Grady, Disability Support Officer and Head of Disability Support Service, University College Cork commented that - “This report will prove to be a valuable resource to the educational sector in addressing the challenges of increasing the access and participation of students with disabilities and specific learning difficulties in higher education in the future.”
Echoing these sentiments, Laura O’Rourke, Disability Support Officer and Head of Disability Support Service, Cork Institute of Technology commented that “This report also serves to educate and create awareness amongst academic staff as well as students, and so it is with great pleasure that CIT have become a part of this research project and welcome the findings.”
For further details, please visit www.pathwayscork.ie
