Disability Access Route to Education

Disability Access Route To Education

DISABILITY ACCESS ROUTE TO EDUCATIONFOR ENTRY AUTUMN 2014

www.accesscollege.ie | www.facebook.com/accesscollege | www.twitter.com/accesscollegeie

DARE ApplicAtion

ADvicE clinicsnationwide saturday

January 11th 2014

See www.accesscollege.ie

for locations and times

AND WORKBOOKGUIDEAPPLICATION

HEAR APPLICATION

ADVICE CLINICSNationwide Saturday

January 11th 2014

See inside for locations

and times

FOR ENTRY AUTUMN 2014www.accesscollege.ie

www.facebook.com/accesscollegewww.twitter.com/accesscollegeie

Hello and welcome to our autumn edition of Access Centre News.

Welcome to all our new 1st year students - we hope you are settling in well to university life. Also, we’d like to send a big congratulations to all of our HEAR students and students with a disability who graduated this summer!

In this edition of the newsletter find out the latest HEAR and DARE news and read about the 50 Access Centre students who have embarked on a very exciting student leadership development programme.

You’ll also hear about experiences some students have had while taking part in the Voluntary Student Tutoring Scheme, which is now in its 14th year!

Over 230 Access Centre students participated in orientation activities and academic skills workshops. Dr. Lisa Padden, Academic Skills Co-ordinator reports on the DARE Orientation and student feedback from it.

UCD Access Centre NewsAutumn 2013

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Disability Access Route to Education

Disability Access Route To Education

DISABILITY ACCESS ROUTE TO EDUCATIONFOR ENTRY AUTUMN 2014

www.accesscollege.ie | www.facebook.com/accesscollege | www.twitter.com/accesscollegeie

DARE ApplicAtion

ADvicE clinicsnationwide saturday

January 11th 2014

See www.accesscollege.ie

for locations and times

AND WORKBOOKGUIDEAPPLICATION

HEAR APPLICATION

ADVICE CLINICSNationwide Saturday

January 11th 2014

See inside for locations

and times

FOR ENTRY AUTUMN 2014www.accesscollege.ie

www.facebook.com/accesscollegewww.twitter.com/accesscollegeie

230 HEAR students accepted their UCD course offer and attended a pre-registration orientation programme.

The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) and the Disability Access Route (DARE) admissions schemes were set up by a number of higher education institutions because of evidence which shows that being socioeconomically disadvantaged and/or having a disability can have a negative impact on a student’s education and whether or not they go on to college.

Since these alternative admissions schemes were rolled out on a national basis in 2010, the number of entrants to UCD has continued to grow year on year.

In 2013 Round one offers, 175 DARE and 270 HEAR offers were made. This is a 21% increase on HEAR offers and a 32% increase on DARE offers compared to last year.

230 HEAR students accepted their UCD course offer and attended a pre-registration orientation programme. DARE entrants availed of a variety of skill-based workshops and orientation activities.

This year 119 DARE students accepted their UCD offer and registered for support with the Access Centre.

The evaluation of both schemes has been completed by Dr. Delma Byrne of NUI Maynooth and the final report will be available shortly.

The Colleges of Education have now joined the DARE scheme, which brings the number of colleges participating in the scheme to 18 while 16 colleges participate in the HEAR Scheme. Details of the participating colleges are available at www.accesscollege.ie.

Application Advice Clinics for students and their families will be held nationwide on 11th January 2014 from 10am to 4pm in Athlone, Cork, Dublin, Donegal, Galway, Kildare, Kilkenny, Limerick, and Monaghan. Further details can be found on www.accesscollege.ie.

HEAR and DARE News

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I am a second year student in UCD studying Food and Agribusiness Management. I always knew I wanted to attend college but having been diagnosed with dyslexia from a young age I was not sure as to whether I would achieve the points needed to obtain a place at third level. I have always been very open about my disability.

I attended a small school and the supports that I received were excellent and it was there that the school guidance councillor introduced me to the Disability Access Route to Education (DARE). With the help of the resource teacher and my parents I filled out the necessary paper work and was successful in my application.

I received enough points in my Leaving Cert. to obtain my first choice on my CAO. However, coming from a very small school, I was daunted by the prospect of attending such a large university. However, within a few days of accepting my offer I received an invite to attend the UCD Access Centre’s Orientation Programme which took place over three days.

In this orientation I met other students who had come through the DARE process.

Student ProfileAnne Hayden

We were shown around the campus and given the necessary skills and know-how to make the smooth transition from secondary school to third level. During this orientation we were given talks on the services available to us. We were shown different methods for taking notes and how to organise our time effectively so as to get the most out of college life. The learning supports that I required were also put in place during the orientation.

I found these three days to be very helpful as I made great friends and it gave me a chance to settle in to college and to get used to the environment before the college term started. This orientation put my mind at rest to any of the worries that I had about attending UCD.

Disclosing your disability is a personal choice; however, I would recommend it. Through disclosing my disability I have meet some amazing people and I have received more help and support that I could have imagined.

The DARE scheme has for me opened so many doors and it has made my transition into third level possible. The supports that I received as a result have helped me to achieve excellent grades. This scheme has helped me to realise my full potential in UCD and I would happily recommend it to anyone who is thinking of applying to the DARE scheme.

I found these three days to be very helpful as I made great friends and it gave me a chance to settle in to college.

Disclosing your disability is a personal choice; however, I would recommend it.

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On Wednesday 9th October three first year UCD students were awarded the ACE (Accessing College Education) Tallaght Bursary. The students (pictured) participated in the ACE programme during their Leaving Cert. year.

ACE, which was established in 1998, is a programme which includes intensive after-school academic activities and weekend language schools and pre-exam revision classes. It is funded by the Department of Education and Science. The Institute of Technology Tallaght and UCD both run on-campus academic activities.

Familiarisation events in both of these higher education institutions form an integral part of the pre-entry programme.

On average about 75% of participants progress to third level education. The Access Centre would like to congratulate Maria, Kelly and Leona on their achievement!

Maria Tully (1st year Arts, UCD), Kelly O’Toole (1st year Arts, UCD) & Leona Ennis (1st year Arts, UCD) pictured at the ACE (Accessing College Education) Tallaght Bursary Awards.

Congratulations!

On average about 75% of participants progress to third level education.

UCD Students awarded ACE Tallaght Bursary

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UCD Students awarded ACE Tallaght BursaryThe UCD Access Centre is delighted to welcome on board 50 new Access Leaders to the team. These students have been recruited to work as leaders and role models on pre and post-entry activities for the UCD Access Centre. They are currently taking part in our Leadership Development Workshops which include training in areas of communication, problem solving, leadership, team work, delivering campus tours, child protection and HEAR and DARE supports.

We’re very much looking forward to working with all the leaders over the coming academic year and we hope that you enjoy meeting them when you visit UCD next time!

UCD Access Centre recruits 50 students as Access leaders

Some of our Access Leaders at the Leadership Development Workshops

communication

problem solving

leadership

team work

child protection

delivering campus tours

HEAR and DARE supports

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The campus tour was the first activity and students reported that they felt it was particularly helpful in making them feel comfortable on campus. Students also especially enjoyed the assistive technology session where they learned about the Livescribe pen and Texthelp literacy software.

We are delighted with the success of the DARE orientation programme and look forward to supporting these students throughout their time in UCD!

The 2013 DARE Orientation took place on August 26th to 28th this year. Students with Specific Learning Difficulties, Dyspraxia, and/or ADD/ADHD were invited to attend the orientation. The programme focused on assisting these students in making a successful transition from second to third level. Orientation activities included a campus tour, introduction to UCD supports such as the Maths Support Centre and Academic Writing Clinics, introduction to module registration, study skills, a campus tour and a session from UCD careers.

The students who attended the orientation programme were from various programmes. The students were grouped based on their area of study and each group was assigned a student leader from their programme area. These student leaders were all students registered with the Access Centre for disability support and many either worked as student leaders last year or attended the 2012 DARE Orientation as incoming students.

Feedback from the students was overwhelmingly positive. All students reported that they felt the orientation had helped them to successfully manage their transition into UCD and each session received positive feedback.

DARE Orientation 2013

ArtCommerceNursingSocial ScienceEngineering

ArchitectureScienceHealth & PerformaceFood Science

Students from a wide range of programmes attended the 2013 DARE Orientation

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The 14th annual Voluntary Student Tutoring Scheme began on Tuesday September 24th. This scheme is one where UCD students volunteer to tutor Junior Cert. or Leaving Cert. pupils on a one-to-one basis in their own school from 6.30pm to 8.30pm, for eight tutoring sessions (eight weeks). Each of the six schools involved are in either Crumlin or Ballyfermot. Eighty-nine UCD students and eighty-nine school pupils are taking part this year. Coaches bring the UCD students from the Belfield campus to the schools and back again.

The Scheme was advertised on UCD Connect, on plasma screens around campus, on UCD Blackboard, by e-mail, via InfoHub and on various UCD Facebook pages. For the first time, all students had to apply online and there was a student surplus well before the closing date, highlighting the huge number of students wishing to volunteer. School pupils were similarly keen to take part with a reserve list in operation.

The Tutoring Scheme ended on the 19th of November, when participants received a certificate for taking part.

Feedback from both schools and tutors has been very positive.

Tutors provided some feedback on their experience of the Scheme so far:

Voluntary Student Tutoring Scheme

‘I’m really enjoying making the course material easier to tackle, and I found I’ve learnt a bit myself’. Eimear McCarthy – Kylemore College tutor

‘This Scheme has been a great experience. Seeing my student’s improvement in her studies has been highly rewarding’. Gráinne

‘I put my name forward and although I was

happy to be picked I was a little overwhelmed

at the idea of taking on a student. But now

I’m more than delighted I put my name

forward – it’s been an all-round positive

experience’.

Paul Codd – Kylemore College

‘(It’s) highly rewarding and a lot of fun’. Jonathan Rudden – St. Dominic’s

‘I’m really enjoying the tutoring so far. I’m finding it easier than I thought I would and I’m getting on so well with my student. It’s a great feeling to think that you are making a difference to their studies and it’s so rewarding to see their progress week on week’. Niamh Murray – Kylemore College

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THANK YOUThe UCD Access Centre could not operate without the support of private donors and State funders. Your contribution to it ensures that we can provide a high quality service to our linked schools, as well as effective supports and financial assistance to our undergraduate students.

The UCD Access Centre receives significant State funding through the Higher Education Authority and the NDP/ESF Student Assistance Fund and the Fund for Students with Disabilities.

A number of key private donors also contribute. They include:

ARUP Consulting Engineers

UCD Alumni (UCD/AIB Affinity Credit Card Scheme)

Citibank International (Citigroup Foundation)

Women Graduates’ Association

Boylan Sisters Limited

AIB Bank

Irish Life and Permanent

UCD Alumni Scholarships

Phyllis Purcell (A scholarship in the name of her parents)

Bank of Ireland for the Bank of Ireland UCD New Irish Communities Scholarship

The Google Inc. Charitable Giving Fund of Tides Foundation

If you would like to support any element of the UCD Access Centre, please contact Fiona Sweeney, Access Centre Manager, at 01 716 1658.

If you would like to view this document in an alternative format,

please contact the Access Centre team.

EVENTS 4th December 2013 (10:30 – 14:00)

Better Options College Fair for Students with Disabilities & Specific Learning Difficulties Venue: National College of Ireland, Mayor Square, IFSC, Dublin 1 www.ahead.ie/betteroptions2013

11th January 2014 HEAR & DARE application clinics. Various locations nationwide. See www.accesscollege.ie for full details.

16th January 2014 HEAR & DARE Wexford application clinic

18th & 25th January & 8th February 2014. UCD Access Centre Leaving Cert Workshops. For Access Centre-linked schools. Applications via school guidance counsellors.

1 February 2014 CAO/HEAR/DARE closing date.

1st March 2014 HPAT test. See www.hpat-ireland.acer.edu.au for more details.

5th March 2014 UCD Access Centre Shadowing Day. For Access Centre-linked Dublin & Bray schools.

6th March 2014 UCD Access Centre Shadowing Day. For Access Centre-linked rural schools. Credits: Margaret MacDonagh & Lisa Padden

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