Third Level Education
(Page 2)
Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) is a third level institution based in Galway and Mayo whose primary focus is providing science, technology and vocational education. The student body is very diverse and includes able-bodied and disabled students from all over Ireland and from foreign countries. GMIT is inclusive and has access to buildings, lecture halls, labs and rooms, disability toilets, disability officers, assistive technologies, special needs assistants, access courses for those lacking secondary school qualifications, and has opened many academic courses to disabled people. Here are some of their facilities for disabled students:
Disablity Office: This provides highly skilled disability officers, special needs asistants, tutor services, a library assistant, mentoring, study skills, exam skills, provision of assistive technologies for disabled students, special library areas for disabled people, information about access to buildings and rooms on campus. They also operate special facilities for exams to meet the needs of disabled students.
Website: http://www.gmit.ie/access-office/students-with-disabilities.html
Access Programme: The Access Office co-ordinates the delivery of pre-entry training programmes for adult learners who require preparation before embarking on a third level programme. These programmes are designed for adults who have been away from the educational environment for a period of time or who may have left formal education without a qualification. (Source: GMIT website)
Website: http://www.gmit.ie/access-office/
GMIT
GMIT, Galway Campus
Dublin Road, Galway, Ireland
Telephone: 091 753161
Fax: 091 751107
Website: www.gmit.ie
GMIT, Castlebar Campus
Westport Road, Castlebar,
Co. Mayo, Ireland
Telephone: 094 9025700
Fax: 094 9025757
Website: http://www.gmit.ie/castlebar/index.html
The Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) is a college and university admissions scheme which offers places on a reduced points basis to school leavers with disabilities. DARE has been set up by a number of colleges and universities as evidence shows that disability can have a negative effect on how well a student does at school and whether they go on to college. DARE is for school leavers who have the ability to benefit from and succeed in higher education but who may not be able to meet the points for their preferred course due to the impact of their disability. The following video provides a good description of DARE.
To speak to a DARE expert in the Disability Office of each of the participating third level institutions please use the following contact details:
Athlone Institute of Technology
Patricia Kearney
Email: pkearney@ait.ie
Telephone: 090 646 8141
Dublin City University
Anne O’Connor
Email: anne.oconnor@dcu.ie
Telpehone: 01 700 5160
Dublin Institute of Technology
Bob Ó Mhurcú
Email: bob.omhurcu@dit.ie
Telephone: 01 402 7658
Mater Dei Institute of Education
Carmel Carroll
Email: dare@materdei.dcu.ie
Telephone: 01 808 6502
National College of Ireland
Geraldine Feeney
Email: geraldine.feeney@ncirl.ie
Telephone: 01 659 9269
NUI Galway
Elizabeth Walsh
Email: elizabeth.walsh@nuigalway.ie
Telephone: 091 493 541
NUI Maynooth
Catherine Doherty
Email: dare@nuim.ie
Telephone: 01 708 6025
Pontifical University Maynooth
Sandra Norgrove
Email: sandra.p.norgrove@may.ie
Telephone: 01 708 4772
Trinity College Dublin
Declan Reilly & Alison Doyle
Email: disab@tcd.ie
Telephone: 01 896 3111
University College Cork
Mary O’Grady
Email: mogrady@reg.ucc.ie
Telephone: 021 490 2985
University College Dublin
Fiona Sweeney
Email: fiona.sweeney@ucd.ie
Telephone: 01 716 1658
University of Limerick
Brenda Shinners Kennedy
Email: brenda.shinners-kennedy@ul.ie
Telephone: 061 202 346
DARE website: http://www.accesscollege.ie/dare/what-is-access.php
The Open University provides high-quality university education to all. The Open University is open to people, places, methods and ideas. The courses are flexible and can be adapted to suit a person's needs and circumstances. For employers, employees, disabled people, unemployed, and individual students, whatever your learning and training needs, the Open university is available to provide information and advice to guide you onto the right course. The Open University confers degrees and diplomas at undergraduate and post-graduate level and these are recognised internationally.
In Ireland our dedicated staff will help you make that choice. The Open University in Ireland has 55 staff in the Belfast National Centre, 6 in the Dublin Enquiry and Advice Centre and 348 part-time tutors supporting over 7,500 local students. We provide flexible support, tailored to the needs of the individual student and their area of study.
Email: ireland@open.ac.uk
Website: http://www3.open.ac.uk/near-you/ireland/
Phone: +44 (0)28 90245025
Fax: 028 9053 6208
Address: 110 Victoria Street, Belfast BT1 3GN, Northern Ireland.
Distance Education and Night Courses
All Irish Universities and Institutes of Technology have distance education courses. It is possible for one to attend courses and lectures over the Internet or receive information and lecture material via post. You will need to contact these Irish Universities and Institutes of Technology individually or visit their web sites to see what distance education courses they operate. In Galway you can contact NUI Galway, GMIT, the VEC and see what distance learning courses are available. You can also visit the following:
http://www.dcu.ie/oscail/
FAS E-College
http://www.nightcourses.com/ and see what is available nationwide.
Most Irish Universities and Institutes of Technology run night courses. These require attendance at these institutions during the evening or at night and also at weekends. A listing of night courses around the country is provided at the following link: http://www.nightcourses.com/
AHEAD, Association for Higher Education Access and Disability is an independent non-profit organisation working to promote full access to and participation in further and higher education for students with disabilities and to enhance their employment prospects on graduation. AHEAD provides information to students and graduates with disabilities, teachers, guidance counsellors and parents on disability issues in education. AHEAD works with graduates and employers through the GET AHEAD Graduate Forum and the WAM Mentored Work Placement Programme. (Source: AHEAD website)
Address: Association for Higher Education Access & Disability,East Hall, UCD,
Carysfort Avenue,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.
Telephone: 01 716 4396
Email: ahead@ahead.ie
Website: www.ahead.ie