Applicants with Disability
As with every other student, Institute of Technology Sligo is committed to ensuring that students with a disability or medical condition are supported to achieve their true potential in their studies by providing every reasonable accommodation to meet their specific needs.
Applying to Institute of Technology Sligo as a person with a disability/ medical condition
Institute of Technology Sligo reserves a number of places on each course listed in the CAO handbook for applicants receiving special consideration on the basis of disability or medical condition. It is the Institute’s policy to shortlist applicants who indicate a disability / medical condition for this special consideration on the basis of information supplied through the CAO. Applicants may be offered a place on their chosen course(s) on (a) the standard leaving certificate points, (b) 110% of the points achieved or (c) the minimum entry requirements for any particular course.
Information supplied by applicants to the CAO by April 1st is forwarded to Institute of Technology Sligo and short listing follows this. Only applications that include a completed a) Evidence of Disability Form or Educational Psychological Assessment from within the past three years and a Second-level Academic Reference completed by the school are considered for short listing. Applicants who have already deferred a place or who are processed through the mature applicant applications are also omitted from this short listing. Short-listing is undertaken solely in relation to the disability of the applicant, no consideration is given to the order of preference of an application to Institute of Technology Sligo or the geographical location from which one applies. Shortlisted applicants are invited to interview in early May and informed of the decision of the interview panel within a few weeks. Offers are made through the CAO.
Preparing for entry into Institute of Technology Sligo
All applicants to Institute of Technology Sligo who have indicated a disability or medical condition will receive correspondence from the Access Office in relation to the disability services in the Summer before entry. Applicants with severe disability will also be invited to a support and information session (usually in July) where the supports that they require on entry to Institute of Technology Sligo will be identified. Applicants with dyslexia or a specific learning difficulty will receive this correspondence in the days following the first round of CAO offers and an information and support session takes place in the week prior to registration.
On entering Institute of Technology Sligo
It is the responsibility of every student with a disability or special need to make contact with the Access Officer at the beginning of each academic year so that their needs can be reviewed. The Institute of Technology Sligo cannot take responsibility for failing to support a student, where that student has not identified their needs to the Access Officer. Supports for students with disabilities are continuously being developed and it is important that students make themselves aware of these developments.
In registering with the Access Officer, student and the Access Officer will agree an individual support plan tailored to the specific requirements of that student with referrals to other members of college staff only as appropriate.
Supports provided by the Access Office to students with disabilities / medical conditions include:
- Development of an individual support plan in relation to a student’s participation at Institute of Technology Sligo
- Liaison with members of academic and examination staff
- Application as appropriate to the Department of Education and Science Fund for Students with Disabilities
- Ordering and maintenance of appropriate assistive technology equipment
- Organisation and provision of appropriate personal and additional academic support
- Dyslexia screening and learning support