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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.
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What Colleges Participate?Athlone Institute of Technology Cork
Institute of TechnologyDublin City UniversityDublin Institute of
TechnologyMater Dei Institute of EducationNational College of
Ireland
NUI GalwayNUI MaynoothPontifical University, MaynoothTrinity
College DublinUniversity College CorkUniversity College
DublinUniversity of Limerick
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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
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Disabilities eligible for consideration
Aspergers Syndrome/AutismADD/ADHDBlind/Vision
ImpairedDeaf/Hearing Impaired DCD Dyspraxia/DysgraphiaMental Health
ConditionsNeurological Conditions (Brain Injury, Epilepsy, Speech
& Language Disabilities)Significant Ongoing IllnessPhysical
DisabilitySpecific Learning Difficulty (Dyslexia &
Dyscalculia)
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I want to apply to DARE. Whats next?Review DARE Application
Guide with your parents or guardians.
Apply to CAO by 1 February 2013 .
Complete Section A of the Supplementary Info Form and apply to
DARE by 1 March 2013.
Submit academic reference and evidence of disability to CAO by 1
April 2013.
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How To ApplyStep 1Apply to CAO www.cao.ie by 17:15 on 1st
February 2013.Step 2No 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 3You
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.
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What is the Supplementary Information Form?A separate form which
gathers additional information on your disability.
The Supplementary Information Form has 4 separate sections:
Section A completed by you by 1st March 2013
Supplementary Admissions Routes you must opt-in to DARE by 1st
March 2013 by ticking yes to Q.5
Section B completed by the school and returned by 1st April
2013
Section C completed by the accepted Medical Consultant /
Specialist and returned by 1st April 2013
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Section A Applicant InformationSection 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
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Section B Second Level Academic ReferenceProvides 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
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Section C Evidence of DisabilityThis 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.
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Section C Evidence of DisabilitySpecific 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.
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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
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Section C Evidence of DisabilityThe form must be stamped by the
accepted Medical Consultant/ Specialist or accompanied by the
Medical Consultant/ Specialists 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
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DisabilityAccepted Consultant or SpecialistAge of
ReportAspergers Syndrome/ AutismAppropriately qualified
Psychiatrist OR Psychologist OR Neurologist OR Paediatrician who is
a member of his or her professional or regulatory bodyNo Age
LimitADD/ ADHDAppropriately qualified Psychiatrist OR Psychologist
OR Neurologist OR Paediatrician who is a member of his or her
professional or regulatory bodyLess than 3 years old (i.e. must be
dated after 1st Feb '10)Blind/ Vision ImpairedOphthalmologist OR
Ophthalmic SurgeonNo 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
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DisabilityAccepted Consultant or SpecialistAge of ReportDCD
Dyspraxia/DysgraphiaApplicants 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 ConditionPsychiatrist
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 TherapistNo Age Limit
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DisabilityAccepted Consultant or SpecialistAge of ReportPhysical
DisabilityOrthopaedic Consultant or other relevant Consultant such
a Rheumatologist or PaediatricianNo Age LimitSignificant Ongoing
IllnessDiabetes 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/RegistrarLess than 3 years old (i.e. must be dated after
1st Feb '10)
Specific Learning Difficulty(Dyslexia &
Dyscalculia)Appropriately qualified PsychologistLess than 3 years
old (i.e. must be dated after 1st Feb '10)
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Question 5: Supplementary Admissions RoutesTo 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
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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.
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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.
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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
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Next Steps in the Application ProcessYou 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.
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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
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Common Errors from 2012Failure to disclose a disability on the
CAO application formYou must indicate that you have a
disability/specific learning difficulty on your CAO application
form by 1st March 2013
Failure to apply to DAREYou must indicate your wish to be
considered for DARE by ticking Yes to Question 5 by 1st March
2013
Documentation not submitted on timeYou 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 professionalsYour
Evidence of Disability must be by the accepted medical
Consultant/Specialist
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Common Errors from 2012Documentation 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.
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Supports in CollegeYou dont 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 ProgrammesLearning Support Assistive
TechnologyLibrary SupportExam SupportNote-taking/Support
WorkerAcademic Tuition
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DARE 2013 Timeline1st February 2013You must apply to the CAO at
www.cao.ie1st 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 51st April 2013You must return the
completed Second Level Academic Reference (Section B) to the CAOYou
must return the completed Evidence of Disability (Section C) to the
CAOApril June 2013Screening of DARE applicationsJune 2013 (after
Leaving Certificate exams)Applicants notified of eligibilityJuly
2013DARE Application RecheckAugust 2013Leaving Certificate Exam
ResultsCAO Offers to eligible DARE applicantsAccept CAO offer
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More Information for Studentswww.accesscollege.ie
www.cao.ie
DARE Flyers and Application Guides were sent to schools
September 2012
Better Options Events22nd November 2012 Limerick Institute of
Technology28th November 2012 Dublin City University
DARE & HEAR Application Advice ClinicsNationwide, Saturday
12th January 2013
Individual college websites
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DARE & HEAR Information Sessions
Saturday 12th 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 BuildingMidlandsAthlone Institute of Technology
Limerick University of Limerick, Main Building Monaghan Glencarn
Hotel, Castleblaney
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