1. 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.

2. 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

3. 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 1 st January 2013

4. 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 )

5. 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.

6. How To Apply Step 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.

7. 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 1 st March 2013 1.Supplementary Admissions Routes – you must ‘opt-in’ to DARE by 1 st March 2013 by ticking “yes” to Q.5 1.Section B – completed by the school and returned by 1 st April 2013 1.Section C – completed by the accepted Medical Consultant / Specialist and returned by 1 st April 2013

8. 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 1 st March 2013

9. Section B – Second Level Academic Reference Provides background information on your educational experience and helps to determine appropriate supports in 3 rd 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 1 st April 2013

10. Section C – Evidence of Disability This form provides verification of your disability and helps to determine appropriate supports at 3 rd 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.

11. 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 1 st 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 1 st February 2010. There is no age limit on the report from the Occupational Therapist/Neurologist.

12. 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

13. 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 1 st April 2013

14. DisabilityAccepted Consultant or SpecialistAge 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 1 st Feb '10) Blind/ Vision ImpairedOphthalmologist OR Ophthalmic Surgeon No Age Limit Deaf/ Hearing Impaired Students 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

15. DisabilityAccepted Consultant or SpecialistAge 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 ConditionPsychiatristLess than 3 years old (i.e. must be dated after 1 st 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

16. DisabilityAccepted Consultant or SpecialistAge 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 1 st Feb '10) Specific Learning Difficulty (Dyslexia & Dyscalculia) Appropriately qualified PsychologistLess than 3 years old (i.e. must be dated after 1 st Feb '10)

17. Question 5: Supplementary Admissions Routes To be eligible for consideration under DARE, you must tick “yes” to Question 5 You must do this by 1 st 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

18. Question 6: Carrying forward DARE eligibility from 2012 If 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 1 st February 2013. No later than 17.15 on 1 st 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 1 st March 2013. You must supply your correct 2012 CAO number at Question 6 of the SIF.

19. 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.

20. 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

21. 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.

22. 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

23. 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 1 st March 2013 Failure to apply to DARE You must indicate your wish to be considered for DARE by ticking ‘Yes’ to Question 5 by 1 st 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 1 st April 2013 Documentation completed by inappropriate professionals Your Evidence of Disability must be by the accepted medical Consultant/Specialist

24. 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 stamped The 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 disability You 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.

25. 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

26. DARE 2013 Timeline 1 st February 2013You must apply to the CAO at www.cao.ie 1 st 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 1 st 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 2013Screening of DARE applications June 2013 (after Leaving Certificate exams) Applicants notified of eligibility July 2013DARE Application Recheck August 2013Leaving Certificate Exam Results CAO Offers to eligible DARE applicants Accept CAO offer

27. More Information for Students… www.accesscollege.ie www.cao.ie DARE Flyers and Application Guides were sent to schools September 2012 Better Options Events 22 nd November 2012 – Limerick Institute of Technology 28 th November 2012 – Dublin City University DARE & HEAR Application Advice Clinics Nationwide, Saturday 12 th January 2013 Individual college websites

28. DARE & HEAR Information Sessions Saturday 12 th January 2013, 10am-2pm Cork UCC, De Vere Hall, Student Centre Dublin DIT, Aungier St Campus Donegal Villa Rose Hotel Ballybofey Galway NUIG, Bailey Allen Hall Kildare NUI Maynooth, Phoenix Building MidlandsAthlone Institute of Technology Limerick University of Limerick, Main Building Monaghan Glencarn Hotel, Castleblaney