Disability Services
Disability Support Service for students with
disabilities/medical conditions
The aim of the Disability Support Service in CIT is to encourage the participation and access of students with disabilities into third level education. Every student with a disability has the right to reasonable and appropriate accommodations determined on an individual basis according to the student’s certified disability. The Disability Support Service in CIT operates a strict confidentiality policy with all students’ records and disclosure of information is only with the student’s consent.
Contact:
Laura O’Rourke, Disability Support Officer
T: 021 433 5107 (direct) / 021 433 5138 (Access Service)
E: disability@cit.ie
Location: The Disability Support Service is located in the Access Service, ground floor of the Student Centre, CIT, Bishopstown, Cork.
Registering with the Service
Students registered with the service include students with dyslexia, dyspraxia, ongoing illnesses and medical conditions, mental health issues, physical disabilities, Asperger’s syndrome, ADD/ADHD, hearing and visual impairments.
We would urge the students that need to use the service to make contact with the Disability Support Officer as early in the academic year as possible. If you have already indicated a disability/medical condition on your CAO form, the Disability Officer will have this information and documentation if provided. Please make sure you fill out the yellow student disability/health form at your course registration, or you can contact the Access Service for the disability/health form. You must provide suitable documents as evidence of your disability to fully register with the service.
The Disability Support Officer will meet each new student who has submitted documents in a one to one meeting to confirm what supports they are entitled to.
Supports available for CIT students
Students need to register fully with the service and they can get access to supports such as:
- Personal assistants
- Sign language interpreters
- Note takers
- Speed text/Stereotype operators
- Photocopying
- Additional tutorial support
- Exam accommodations
- Assistive Technology
- Alternative Media Formats
- Open Access Lab
- Liaise with Academic staff on behalf of or with students (with consent)
Examinations Support
The Disability Support Service liaises with the Examinations Office to provide exam support to students with disabilities for their assessments and end of semester examinations. CIT has a Disability Administrator in the Exams Office who arranges these supports in partnership with the Disability Support Officer. The supports include:
- Provision of a scribe
- Provision of a reader
- Extra time (usually 10 minutes per hour)
- Access to laptops / assistive technology
Ruth Murphy
Disability Administrator
Exams Organisation Office, ground floor Administration Building, CIT, Bishopstown, Cork.
T: 021 433 5049
E: examsmgt@cit.ie
Access Learning Support Service
The Access Learning Support Service is only for students who are registered with the Disability Support Office in the Access Service. The aim of this service is to provide support for students with learning difficulties and a range of other disabilities regarding their assignments, reports and research for their course. The tutors are based in the Assistive Technology Service on the ground floor of the Student Centre. They work one to one or with groups, assisting students to develop sound research, planning and writing skills, proofread, edit and organise course work, and manage deadlines and priorities required for their course of study.
You can make a morning, afternoon and evening appointment with tutors in the Access Learning Support Service by emailing:
accesslearningsupport@cit.ie
Please leave your name, year and course of study, and contact details, as well as details of the kind of support you would like, and one of our tutors will contact you.
Assistive Technology
The Assistive Technology Service is on the ground floor of the Student Centre, next to the Bank of Ireland, on the main Bishopstown campus. Assistive Technology (AT) is software or equipment that can help you read, write or study. There are 17 computers and a scanner available to scan in notes and handouts. We have a wide range of software such as Read, Write Gold, and equipment plus a sound proof booth and the AT Officer provides information, training and workshops.
The AT Service is open Monday – Friday 10.00 –12.00 and 13.00- 18.00
Mark Burleigh, Assistive Technology Officer,
T: 021 433 5125
E: mark.burleigh@cit.ie
Fund for Students with Disabilities
There is a fund available to full-time students with disabilities called the Fund for Students with Disabilities which can provide supports for studying such as equipment and tutorials. To apply for funding the student must provide relevant documentation as evidence of a disability e.g. educational psychologist report, audiologist report etc. NB Please note that letters from a GP are not accepted as evidence of a disability. Students attending full time courses in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, the UK and the EU are eligible to apply for the fund.
The Disability Support Officer makes applications to the Fund on behalf of an eligible student after an assessment of need with the student. Students cannot apply directly to the Fund. The Disability Support Officer is also responsible for the management of the funding approved for eligible students. The National Access Office assesses all applications and deems who is eligible for the funding.
The Fund for Students with Disabilities and the Student Assistance Fund is funded by the Irish Government and part-funded by the European Social Fund under the Human Capital Investment Operational Programme 2007-2013.
Contact the Disability Support Officer for more information at 021 433 5107 or email disability@cit.ie
Prospective Students with Disabilities – CIT and DARE
CIT is now part of the DARE (Disability Access Route to Education) national scheme – for more information about applying to DARE, please check the Access College website: www.accesscollege.ie
We would encourage all applicants with disabilities or medical conditions who apply through the CAO to indicate and give details of your disability or medical condition. Giving this information will not adversely affect your application in any way. The application will also be considered on the basis of points as with any other applicant.
CIT is committed to helping such students to avail of its courses. It is advised that before choosing a course, applicants should contact the relevant department to discuss the suitability of the course and check any minimum entry requirements such as levels of Maths and number of Honours subjects required and any other requirements of a particular course such as a portfolio or interview (details are available in the prospectus or on CIT website).
Contact the Disability Support Officer for more information by T: 021 433 5107 or email dare@cit.ie
