What is DARE?

• The Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) is a supplementary admissions scheme which offers college places on reduced points to school leavers with disabilities.

• DARE has been established by a number of higher education institutions as clear evidence shows that disability can have a negative impact on educational attainment at school and progression to higher education.

What Colleges Participate?

• Athlone Institute of Technology

• Cork Institute of Technology

• Dublin City University• Dublin Institute of

Technology• Mater Dei Institute of

Education• National College of

Ireland

• NUI Galway• NUI Maynooth• Pontifical University,

Maynooth• Trinity College Dublin• University College

Cork• University College

Dublin• University of

Limerick

Who Should Apply?

• Applicants whose disability had a significant impact on educational performance in school

• Applicants who may not be able to meet the points for their preferred course due to the impact of disability.

• Applicants under 23 years as at 1st January 2013

Disabilities eligible for consideration

• Asperger’s Syndrome/Autism• ADD/ADHD• Blind/Vision Impaired• Deaf/Hearing Impaired• DCD – Dyspraxia/Dysgraphia• Mental Health Conditions• Neurological Conditions (Brain Injury, Epilepsy,

Speech & Language Disabilities)

• Significant Ongoing Illness• Physical Disability• Specific Learning Difficulty (Dyslexia &

Dyscalculia)

I want to apply to DARE. What’s next?

1. Review DARE Application Guide with your parents or guardians.

1. Apply to CAO by 1 February 2013 .

1. Complete Section A of the Supplementary Info Form and apply to DARE by 1 March 2013.

1. Submit academic reference and evidence of disability to CAO by 1 April 2013.

How To ApplyStep 1

Apply to CAO www.cao.ie by 17:15 on 1st February 2013.

Step 2

No later than 17:15 on 1st March 2013, you must disclose your disability and/or specific learning difficulty in your CAO application and fully and correctly complete Section A of the Supplementary Information Form (the SIF is a part of your CAO application). If you wish to be considered for the DARE scheme, you must indicate this on Section A of the fully completed SIF by ticking “Yes” to Question 5 by 17:15 on 1st March 2013.

Step 3

You must return the fully completed Second Level Academic Reference (Section B) and Evidence of Disability (Section C) to the CAO by 17:15 on 1st April 2013.

 

What is the Supplementary Information Form?

• A separate form which gathers additional information on your disability.

• The Supplementary Information Form has 4 separate sections:

1. Section A – completed by you by 1st March 2013

1. Supplementary Admissions Routes – you must ‘opt-in’ to DARE by 1st March 2013 by ticking “yes” to Q.5

1. Section B – completed by the school and returned by 1st April 2013

1. Section C – completed by the accepted Medical Consultant / Specialist and returned by 1st April 2013

Section A – Applicant Information

• Section A is completed by you and asks for specific information on your disability and the supports received in second level.

• You must also complete a Personal Statement which outlines, from your perspective, the academic impact of your disability or specific learning difficulty.

• Must be completed by 1st March 2013

Section B – Second Level Academic Reference

• Provides background information on your educational experience and helps to determine appropriate supports in 3rd level

• This form should be downloaded by you, completed by your school and returned to the CAO

• School teacher or Guidance Counsellor or Visiting Teacher AND school principal must complete the form

• The form MUST BE stamped

• The Second Level Academic Reference must be returned to the CAO by 1st April 2013

Section C – Evidence of Disability

• This form provides verification of your disability and helps to determine appropriate supports at 3rd level

• This form should be downloaded by you, completed by the accepted Medical Consultant/ Specialist and returned to the CAO

• All applicants must complete this form with the exception of the following:

• Applicants with specific learning difficulties ( Dyslexia and Dyscalculia) and applicants with DCD - Dyspraxia/Dysgraphia

• Applicants who have an existing report completed by the accepted Medical Consultant/Specialist.

Section C – Evidence of Disability

Specific Learning Difficulties - Dyslexia and Dyscalculia

•Students with specific learning difficulties must provide a full psycho-educational assessment completed by an appropriately qualified psychologist.

•The psycho-educational assessment must be less than 3 years old i.e. dated after 1st February 2010.

DCD - Dyspraxia/Dysgraphia

•Students with DCD - Dyspraxia/Dysgraphia must provide a full psycho-educational assessment completed by an appropriately qualified psychologist AND a report from an Occupational Therapist OR Neurologist who is a member of their respective professional or regulatory body.

•The psycho-educational assessment must be less than 3 years old i.e. dated after 1st February 2010.

•There is no age limit on the report from the Occupational Therapist/Neurologist.

Section C – Evidence of Disability

If submitting a report instead of the Evidence of Disability Form, please note that the report:

•Must have been completed by the accepted Medical Consultant / Specialist

•Must have been completed within the appropriate timeframe

•Must contain the same detail as the Evidence of Disability Form

Section C – Evidence of Disability

• The form must be stamped by the accepted Medical Consultant/ Specialist or accompanied by the Medical Consultant/ Specialist’s business card or headed paper

• If the form is not verified as outlined above it will not be considered and you will be ineligible for DARE.

• Evidence from a General Practitioner/ family doctor or support organisation will not be accepted as verification of a disability

• It is your responsibility to ensure that all sections of the form are completed.

• The Evidence of Disability must be returned to the CAO by 1st April 2013

Disability Accepted Consultant or Specialist Age of Report

Asperger’s Syndrome/ Autism Appropriately qualified Psychiatrist OR Psychologist OR Neurologist OR Paediatrician who is a member of his or her professional or regulatory body

No Age Limit

ADD/ ADHD Appropriately qualified Psychiatrist OR Psychologist OR Neurologist OR Paediatrician who is a member of his or her professional or regulatory body

Less than 3 years old (i.e. must be dated after

1st Feb '10)

Blind/ Vision Impaired Ophthalmologist OR Ophthalmic Surgeon No Age Limit

Deaf/ Hearing ImpairedStudents may apply under ONE of the following categories:(A) Applicants who have an Audiogram(B) Applicants who attend a School for the Deaf(C) Applicants with a Cochlear Implant

(A) Applicants who have an audiogram: Professionally Qualified Audiologist

(B) Applicants who attend a School for the Deaf: Principal of School for the Deaf

(C) Applicants with a Cochlear Implant: Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Consultant OR Cochlear Implant Programme Coordinator

No Age Limit

Disability Accepted Consultant or Specialist Age of Report

DCD – Dyspraxia/Dysgraphia Applicants with DCD - Dyspraxia/Dysgraphia must provide a full psycho-educational assessment completed by an appropriately qualified psychologist

AND

a report from an Occupational Therapist OR Neurologist who is a member of their respective professional or regulatory body.

Report from Psychologist must be

less than 3 years old (i.e. must be dated after

1st February '10)

There is no age limit on the report from the

Occupational Therapist/Neurologist

Mental Health Condition Psychiatrist Less than 3 years old (i.e. must be dated after

1st Feb ‘10)

Neurological Conditions (incl. Brain Injury, Epilepsy, Speech & Language Disabilities)

Neurological Conditions: Neurologist or other relevant Consultant.  Speech & Language Disabilities: Speech and Language Therapist

No Age Limit

Disability Accepted Consultant or Specialist Age of Report

Physical Disability Orthopaedic Consultant or other relevant Consultant such a Rheumatologist or Paediatrician

No Age Limit

Significant Ongoing Illness Diabetes Type 1: Endocrinologist or Paediatrician

Cystic Fibrosis (CF): Consultant Respiratory Physician or Paediatrician

Gastroenterology Conditions: Gastroenterologist

Others: Relevant consultant in area of condition or Consultant Registrar/Registrar

Less than 3 years old (i.e. must be dated

after 1st Feb '10)

Specific Learning Difficulty(Dyslexia & Dyscalculia)

Appropriately qualified Psychologist Less than 3 years old (i.e. must be dated

after 1st Feb '10)

Question 5: Supplementary Admissions Routes

• To be eligible for consideration under DARE, you must tick “yes” to Question 5

• You must do this by 1st March 2013

• If you do not tick “yes” to Q.5 you will not be considered under DARE

• If you do not tick “yes” to Q.5 you may still avail of supports in college

Question 6: Carrying forward DARE eligibility from 2012If you applied to CAO in 2012 and you were deemed eligible for DARE in

2012, then your DARE eligibility may be carried forward to your application for entry in 2013. In order to carry forward eligibility from 2012 to 2013 you must:

• Apply to CAO by 17.15 on 1st February 2013.• No later than 17.15 on 1st March 2013, you must disclose your

disability and/or specific learning difficulty in your CAO application and fully and correctly complete Section A of the Supplementary Information Form (the SIF is part of your CAO application).You must indicate that you wish to be considered for the DARE scheme by indicating this on Section A of the fully completed SIF by ticking ‘Yes’ to Question 5 by 17.15 on 1st March 2013.

• You must supply your correct 2012 CAO number at Question 6 of the SIF.

Question 6: Carrying forward DARE eligibility from 2012

• Applicants seeking to carry forward their eligibility do not need to supply supporting documentation Second Level Academic Reference (Section B) or Evidence of Disability (Section C) as part of the 2013 application to DARE. Applicants can contact a DARE representative if they require information about their 2012 DARE eligibility or the carry forward of DARE eligibility.

• Important: If you are applying to enter any HEI that is not participating in the DARE scheme then you must supply supporting documentation for 2013.

• In the event of being offered and accepting a DARE place in 2013, you will be required to provide the original supporting documentation which accompanied your 2012 DARE application.

How are Applications Screened for Eligibility?

• To be eligible for DARE your disability must have had a significant impact on your educational performance.

• Specific criteria have been developed to determine the significance of each disability and the impact on educational achievement.

• The criteria used for assessing the impact of disability were developed by Disability Advisory Boards, which included college professionals, consultants and specialists in each field of disability, representatives from professional/regulatory bodies and representatives from expert external organisations.

• Eligibility criteria are available on www.accesscollege.ie and the CAO website

Next Steps in the Application Process

• You will be informed of your DARE status in June 2013.

• If you are not eligible for DARE you will be informed of the reasons for your ineligibility.

• You can request to have your application rechecked if:

• you believe there was an administrative error in the screening of your application

OR

• your supporting documents were not received by the CAO. You must however have proof of postage and photocopies of the documents to prove that you sent them on time and to the correct location.

• If you are not eligible for DARE you can still get into college through the CAO if you meet the entry requirements for your course of your choice.

What College Places are Available?

• Each participating college has allocated a quota of places on a reduced points basis for students entering through DARE.

• The quota of places available through DARE differs from one institution to another.

• You must matriculate and meet specific course requirements.

• Details of quotas and admissions policies can be found on individual college websites and accesscollege.ie

Common Errors from 2012

• Failure to disclose a disability on the CAO application form• You must indicate that you have a disability/specific learning difficulty on your CAO

application form by 1st March 2013

• Failure to apply to DARE• You must indicate your wish to be considered for DARE by ticking ‘Yes’ to Question 5 by

1st March 2013

• Documentation not submitted on time• You must return the Second Level Academic Reference (Section B) and Evidence of

Disability (Section C) to the CAO by 1st April 2013

• Documentation completed by inappropriate professionals• Your Evidence of Disability must be by the accepted medical Consultant/Specialist

Common Errors from 2012

• Documentation out-of-date You must ensure that your Evidence of Disability is completed within the specified timeframe

• Evidence of Disability Form not stampedThe Evidence of Disability Form must be stamped by the accepted Medical Consultant/ Specialist

OR accompanied by their business card or headed paper

• Not enough information on reports verifying a disabilityYou must ensure that reports verifying a disability provide the same detail as the Evidence of

Disability Form. Students with SpLD, should download the Acceptable Report for SpLD and Summary Sheet.

Supports in College

• You don’t have to be eligible for DARE to get support in college

• A needs assessment is conducted to identify your specific support requirements.

• Supports may include:

• Orientation Programmes• Learning Support • Assistive Technology• Library Support• Exam Support• Note-taking/Support Worker• Academic Tuition

DARE 2013 Timeline

1st February 2013 You must apply to the CAO at www.cao.ie

1st March 2013 • As part of your CAO application you must indicate that you have a disability/specific

learning difficulty

• You must complete Section A (Questions 1-4) of the Supplementary Information Form

• You must indicate your wish to be considered for DARE by ticking ‘Yes’ to Question 5

1st April 2013 • You must return the completed Second Level Academic Reference (Section B) to the CAO

• You must return the completed Evidence of Disability (Section C) to the CAO

April – June 2013 Screening of DARE applications

June 2013 (after Leaving Certificate exams)

Applicants notified of eligibility

July 2013 DARE Application Recheck

August 2013 Leaving Certificate Exam Results

CAO Offers to eligible DARE applicants

Accept CAO offer

More Information for Students…• www.accesscollege.ie

• www.cao.ie

• DARE Flyers and Application Guides were sent to schools September 2012

• Better Options Events• 22nd November 2012 – Limerick Institute of Technology• 28th November 2012 – Dublin City University

• DARE & HEAR Application Advice Clinics• Nationwide, Saturday 12th January 2013

• Individual college websites

DARE & HEAR Information Sessions

Saturday 12th January 2013, 10am-2pm

Cork UCC, De Vere Hall, Student Centre Dublin DIT, Aungier St CampusDonegal Villa Rose Hotel Ballybofey Galway NUIG, Bailey Allen HallKildare NUI Maynooth, Phoenix BuildingMidlands Athlone Institute of Technology Limerick University of Limerick, Main Building Monaghan Glencarn Hotel, Castleblaney