Students with Disabilities

We welcome students with various disabilities including, and not limited to, the following:

• Asperger Syndrome/Autism

• Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia

• Physical disabilities

• ADD/ADHD

• Mental Health Conditions

• Blind/Vision Impaired 

• Deaf/Hearing Impaired

• Neurological Conditions

• Significant Ongoing Illnesses

Current documentary evidence of your disability must be provided.

Please see documents below that we will need to register students

ATU is a member of the Disability Access Route to Education (DARE), an alternative admissions scheme for school-leavers whose disabilities have had a negative impact on their second level education.

Click HERE for information about ATU and the DARE Scheme.

If you have indicated on your CAO application that you have a disability, and you haven't met the minimum entry requirements or the cut-off points for your course, our Admissions Committee will consider you for special case admission.

You will need to supply clear evidence that your disability impaired your examination performance or subject choices.

Note: An application with evidence will not guarantee admission.

Students with disabilities should contact the Access Office in advance of commencing their course or as early as possible in the Academic year so that we can put appropriate supports in place.

We offer the following supports:

• Alternative induction for students with physical or mobility disabilities or students with ASD

• One-to-one learning support, learning support tutors and academic tutors

• Independent learning unit

• Accessible classroom location

• Examination support and examination accommodations

• Electronic and class note-takers

• Educational support worker

• Alternative print format

• Assistive technology and assistive technology training

• Personal assistants

• Interpretation services

• Photocopying services

The library has a facility which is known as the Independent Learning Unit.

This room contains a large range of equipment and software intended to assist students with Disabilities or Specific Learning Difficulties.

The room also contains a photocopier and printer, and provides a peaceful quiet setting where students who are registered with the Access and Disability Office may study.

Services Available

• Specialist software for those with visual or reading difficulties

• Scanners to enable text enlargement and manipulation

• Equipment to help those with sensory disabilities to access print and computers

• Three high-spec PCs

• Photocopying

Specialist Equipment Available

• Aladdin Genie Pro personal reader

• Quicklink pen for scanning lines of text

• Olympia hand-held magnifier

• Large keys and Intellikeys keyboards

• Roller Ball Plus Range Trackball

• Roller Ball Plus Range Joystick

• Earpiece headsets

Specialist Software Available

• Kurtzweil 1000: An advanced scanning and reading solution for the blind and visually impaired.
• Kurtzweil 3000: This is a writing and learning solution for individuals of all ages with learning difficulties like Dyslexia, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and other literacy difficulties.
• Dragon Naturally Speaking Preferred Version 8: This is a dictation product which allows users to create documents, spreadsheets, open programmes, and surf the web by simply speaking. Users can train their voice on the system so that it lets you control what you type and work on by speaking in your normal voice.
• Text Help Read and Write and Text Help Read and Write Gold: This product will read aloud as you type or read any document. It works with word processing, spreadsheets, databases, email, and the internet.
• Zoomtext Level 2: This is adaptive software that integrates multiple technologies to achieve a total low-vision solution. It combines a fully integrated magnifier (which can be adapted to suit the level of low vision) with speech output, designed specifically for the low-vision computer user.
• Microsoft Office: All PCs have Microsoft Office suite including Word, Excel, and Access.

The Access and Disability Office can offer and organise a range of supports for students registered with Disabilities or Specific Learning Difficulties.

The following reasonable accommodations may be provided to students:

• Spelling, grammar and punctuation waiver 

• Extra time

• Own room/small room, accessible rooms, interpreters

• Reader

• Scribe, educational support worker assistance

• Alternative format paper

• Shared readers for foreign language

• Read/write software for students to use during exams

• Use of assistive technology

• WC facilities beside exam room

• Special desks/chairs

• Rest breaks & 10/20 minutes extra time per hour

It is vital that students requiring any service register with the Access Office, so we can approve readers, scribes, use of IT, extra time etc. in advance of the end of semester examinations.

The Access and Disability Office can provide Assistive Technology and software under certain conditions to students who fulfil eligibility criteria.

We can provide training for all the supports available at the Independent Learning Unit, including the following:

MindManager: This is mind mapping software which can be useful for students in order to organise their thoughts in preparation for a projects or assignments.

Pulse Pen: This is a computer embedded in a pen that captures handwriting and simultaneously records audio, synchronizing it to the writing. This is particularly useful for taking notes during a class. To replay what was recorded while writing a specific word, users simply tap on the word – they can’t miss anything from a presentation. Please note that the Pulse pen may be made available instead of note-taking. For more information about the Pulse pen, please see this video. 

Text Help Read and Write and Text Help Read and Write Gold: This product will read aloud as you type or read any document. It works with word processing, spreadsheets, databases, email and the internet.

Microsoft Office: We have access to the full Microsoft Office suite including Word, Excel and Access.