Student Handbook
2012 - 2013
http://www.tcd.ie/disability/
Student Handbook
Table of contents
Table of contents ........................................................................ 2
Welcome ..................................................................................... 3
Code of Practice for Students with Disabilities ............................ 5
Supports available to students .................................................... 6
Examination arrangements ....................................................... 11
ATIC – Assistive Technology and Information Centre ............... 13
UNILINK ................................................................................... 15
Fitness to Practice .................................................................... 20
Library Supports ....................................................................... 21
How to make contact with the Disability Service ....................... 23
Disability Service Website & Facebook ..................................... 24
Other Useful Addresses in College ........................................... 25
This booklet is available in other accessible
formats upon request and on our website at
http://www.tcd.ie/disability/
2
Welcome
Dear Student,
Congratulations on accepting your place at Trinity
College Dublin and welcome. The Disability Service
(DS) is here to support and assist you. This handbook
aims to give you an overview of supports and services
we offer. There is lots of additional information on our
website at www.tcd.ie/disability.
There is also a College orientation website which will
help you manage yourself in the first semester. This
provides lots of information on all services you need to
know about. This information is linked here:
www.tcd.ie/orientation/.
Wishing you the very best for the years ahead and just
remember - there are numerous people here to help
you should you need it.
Best Wishes,
Declan Treanor
Director of the College Disability Service
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Student Handbook
How many people are currently registered
with DS in Trinity?
The DS was established in order to facilitate the
academic support needs of students with disabilities.
Statistics indicate that 911 students have disclosed a
disability upon applying or after entering Trinity
College Dublin (2011-12). Our service is staffed by
experienced professionals with knowledge and
expertise in disability, access and equity issues. We
work closely with academic staff, tutors,
administrators, and other support services to ensure
College is as accessible as possible to all students.
Is there a policy in College for students with
disabilities?
Trinity is committed to a policy of equal opportunity in
education and to ensuring that students with a
disability have as complete and equitable access to all
facets of university life as can be reasonably provided.
http://www.tcd.ie/about/policies/equality-policy.php
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DS aims to assist and advise the College community
on issues associated with compliance with laws that
relate to students with disabilities, including the
University Act 1997, the Employment Equality Act
1998, the Equal Status Acts 2000-2004 and the
Disability Act, 2005.
Code of Practice for Students with
Disabilities
The Code of Practice is intended to provide a model for
a high standard of service to students with disabilities.
The College will take reasonable steps to ensure that it
does not place a student with a disability at a
substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled
student.
The Code of Practice has two main purposes
-
to outline for students with disabilities their
rights and responsibilities in receiving
reasonable accommodations while studying
at Trinity;
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Student Handbook
-
to define Trinity’s rights and responsibilities
to students with disabilities and the College
community.
All students registering with DS will receive a copy of
this code of practice to read and sign. The full
document can be downloaded or viewed on the DS
website at:
http://www.tcd.ie/disability/students/Current/Register
/Code-of-Practice.php
Supports available to students
Who works in the Disability Service?
The DS is managed by the Director of the Disability
Service, Declan Treanor. There are two full-time
Disability Officers (Alison Doyle and Declan Reilly),
three Occupational Therapists (Claire Gleeson, Kieran
Lewis and Lynn O’Toole) as well as a number of
administrative staff within the service. When you
register with DS you will be assigned a Disability
Officer who will assist you in obtaining the support you
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require in order to attain your highest academic
potential. For further information on DS staff see:
www.tcd.ie/disability/banner/Contact-us/index.php
How will I know what type of support I
require?
When you disclose your disability, we will discuss
which support requirements would be most beneficial
to you, and ensure that these are ready to be put in
place. A detailed needs-assessment will be carried out
by your Disability Officer, who will discuss whether you
have previously received educational support, (e.g.
during secondary school) and the type of support you
might require now. The level of support required will
differ between students, and even students with
similar disabilities, as each student brings with them
their own experience. There is a wide range of
educational supports available for students with
disabilities, including in-course, exam and library
support.
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Student Handbook
What Types of Supports are Available?
Students with a disability or specific learning difficulty
(including dyslexia) may require support whilst
studying at Trinity. This can take various forms
depending on individual requirements.
Examples include:
•
Exam Accommodations
•
Access to Assistive Technology
•
Extended Borrowing in the Library
•
Specialist tuition for students with dyslexia
•
Tuition for students with disabilities
•
Academic/ Library assistant
•
Specialist support for students with mental
health difficulties
•
Specialist tuition for students who are deaf
Much of the study-related support for students with a
disability is financed through the European Social Fund
(ESF) Student with Disability Fund. Trinity College
receives a per capita allocation based on the number
of students registering with DS seeking supports. The
National Access Office in the HEA administers
applications and decides who is eligible for funding
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under this scheme. For further information on this
fund, please read:
http://www.studentfinance.ie/mp7575/fund-forstudents-with-disabilities/index.html.
Further information
For more information on all funding available to
students in higher education see
www.studentfinance.ie Studentfinance.ie is a user
friendly comprehensive website that will help students
and their families navigate
through financial support
systems.
How academics are informed about what
supports I need?
This needs assessment report is called the Learning
Educational Needs Summary (LENS). The LENS
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Student Handbook
outlining your needs is written up and will be sent to
you to confirm you are happy with the content. Once
confirmed by you the LENS is made available to
academic staff. This report will outline the supports
you require - for example, it will tell academics your
additional exam supports.
If required, a meeting will then be organised with you,
your College Tutor and/or department and your
Disability Officer to discuss this report and to ensure
you get the supports outlined.
If you wish to change any of the details on your LENS,
you need to contact your Disability Officer and let
them know.
Further detailed information on all support services is
available on the DS webpage at:
http://www.tcd.ie/disability/services/
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Examination arrangements
Trinity currently offers a range of facilities at
examination time, including extra time allowance, rest
breaks, alternative examination venues, specialised
furniture and technology aids.
Students should make requests as early as possible in
the academic year and note that the following
deadlines are applied:
Michaelmas tests/examinations:
Friday 26th October 2012 - End of week 5.
Hilary tests/examinations:
Friday 15th February 2013 - End of week 5.
Annual examinations:
Friday 22nd March 2013 - End of week 10.
Supplemental examinations:
Friday 2nd August 2013
A full copy of the College’s guidelines on examination
arrangements is also available on the web, on disk,
and in alternative formats on request. A summary of
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Student Handbook
your responsibilities and other important information is
given below:
www.tcd.ie/vpcao/administration/examinations/assets
/pdf/guideexam.pdf
12
ATIC – Assistive Technology and Information
Centre
ATIC refers to various Assistive Technology Centres
located around the Trinity campus. Assistive
Technology (AT) can help/assist students perform
Information Technology (IT) functions that might be
otherwise difficult or impossible to achieve. AT can
give you confidence in using a computer or laptop and
help you enhance your course/project work.
What services does ATIC provide?
• Help and access to Technology & software that can
help you in your studies.
• One to one appointments to help you use the
technology provided.
•
Access to PCs with Assistive Technology
installed in ATIC areas.
Where are the ATIC rooms?
1. In the Berkeley Lecky Ussher (BLU) Library
Complex
2. In the Hamilton Library ATIC
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Student Handbook
All these facilities are available to students registered
with DS.
ATIC rooms have computers, scanners, printing
facilities, and many different software packages,
including:

Screen readers for visually impaired and blind
students.

Software that allows documents to be scanned
and read out by a computer.

Software that enlarges the screen or changes the
colours.

Software that allows ideas, projects and essays
to be planned visually and dictionaries,
thesaurus, word prediction, and homophone
support.
Need further information?
For further information please contact the AT Officer
Andrew Costello: Email atic@tcd.ie or call 8963111 to
make an appointment.
http://www.tcd.ie/disability/services/AT/index.php
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UNILINK
What is Unilink?
Unilink is a confidential, practical occupational
therapy support service for students who may be
experiencing mental health difficulties and/or
physical and sensory difficulties.
What can Unilink offer you?
The aim of the Unilink Service is to enable you the
student, to develop practical skills and strategies to
help you in your role as a student both academically
and socially. Unilink is a student-centered service, this
means that the sessions are guided by what the
student needs and wants to do. Additionally it is up to
the student whether they wish to avail of the service
or not. Unilink is available on a one-to-one basis
throughout your college career. The Unilink Service is
provided on campus and all Unilink offices are located
in the Arts Building.
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Student Handbook
What to expect from working collaboratively
with your therapist?
Individual meetings with your OT may focus on:
1. Developing a healthy balanced routine as a
student.
2. Developing organisational and planning skills
3. Goal setting
4. Managing the academic demands of your course
5. Developing Relaxation skills
6. Developing communication skills
7. Exploring leisure opportunities
How can I avail of the Unilink Service?
You can use the Unilink Service if you are a student at
Trinity College and are registered with the Disability
Service. To register with the Disability Service, please
call 01-8963111 or email disab@tcd.ie. If you are
already registered with the disability service, please
contact your disability officer and ask for a referral to
Unilink.
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Unilink is run by the Discipline of Occupational Therapy
in collaboration with the College Disability Service. All
staff members in the service are qualified occupational
therapists and are bound by the Code of Practice of
the Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland.
For further information:
Please see the Unilink Website at:
http://www.tcd.ie/disability/services/Unilink/index.php
or contact one of the Occupational Therapists at:
Email: unilink1@tcd.ie
Mobile: Kieran: 087 2743879 or Claire: 085 758 5835
Academic Support at DS
DS provides an online study skills resource to all
students: Skills4Study Campus.
This is an online
programme providing e-learning modules and is
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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Student Handbook
You will need to use your computer account username
and password to access http://www.tcd.ie/local/. Full
instructions on using Skills4Study Campus are
available in your orientation pack, and can also be
downloaded from
http://www.tcd.ie/disability/docs/General%20Word%2
0docs/How-to-access-Skills4Study-Campus.doc
Students are strongly recommended to utilise this
resource to assist with reading techniques, academic
writing, referencing and exam revision.
Academic support is also available as leaflets, podcasts
and in mp3 format from
http://www.tcd.ie/disability/services/AST/index.php
and can also be downloaded from TCD iTunes or
YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/user/DSServiceTCD#p/u and
One-to-one Academic Support is available to students
with significant needs registered with the Service.
Every reasonable effort will be made to support
students but this service is subject to the availability
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of tutors in specialist areas. Academic support is not
an editing, proofreading or 'quick fix' solution, but
aims to identify the strengths and weaknesses of your
writing and improve your skills.
Other sources of support at Trinity
Additionally, learning support is available for students
with specific learning difficulties through the College
Counselling Service. The learning support team offers
one-to-one appointments to students that can cover
study and organisational strategies, academic writing
skills, managing examinations, presentation skills, and
other topics related to academic study.
If you would like to make an appointment with one of
the learning support psychologists please contact the
Counselling Service (the entrance is on campus next
to the Health Centre). Alternatively you can call on
(01) 896 1407 to make an appointment.
Further information is available at:
http://www.tcd.ie/Student_Counselling/studentlearning/undergraduate/
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Student Handbook
Fitness to Practice
In April 2009 the College Fitness to Practice Policy was
approved by both Council and Board. See: College
Calendar or
www.tcd.ie/about/policies/fitness-to-practicepolicy.php
Professional courses demand that certain core
competencies are met by students in order to
graduate and practice professionally after qualification.
College has a special responsibility to ensure that all
students admitted to all professional programmes will
be eligible for registration by the relevant professional
body upon graduation. It is important to us that our
students are able to fulfill the rigorous demands of
professional courses and are fit to practice.
If you wish to clarify any issues or concerns you may
have, in relation to your disability, supports available,
disclosure or the demands of a course or on
professional practice after qualification, please contact
a member of the Disability Service staff. Contact
details are on page 22.
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Library Supports
In addition to Assistive Technology Centres there are
a number of other library supports available to
students with disabilities, these include:
Borrowing rights: Students with a disability
registered with the Disability Service may be entitled
to special borrowing privileges. Essentially, this means
that you can borrow up to 10 books for one month
from the open shelves and closed access areas. This
facility will be set up automatically within 2 weeks of
you registering with the Disability Service. It becomes
active the next time you present your student card to
borrow books. Contact the Disability Service if there
are any delays in this facility being set up for you.
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Student Handbook
Alternative formats: Reading material can also be
provided in alternative formats such as Braille or
audio.
Book retrieval: Readers with disabilities may request
a member of staff to fetch inaccessible books.
Personal Assistants: Students with disabilities
requiring a P.A. may bring their assistant into the
Library with them or alternatively, they, on production
of the student's ID card, may borrow on their behalf.
Photocopying: Readers unable to copy for
themselves should request assistance from counter
staff (please note that due to pressure at the counter
this service may not be instant).
For help and general advice on using the library see
the library website: http://www.tcd.ie/Library/usinglibrary/disabilities.php
and our podcast
www.tcd.ie/disability/services/Librarysupports/index.php
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How to make contact with the Disability
Service
You can call into the office in Room 2054 of the Arts
Building, on the entrance level past the Lecky Library.
Phone DS on (01) 896 3111 for an appointment, Text
086 3442322, or you can e-mail the Service at
disab@tcd.ie
Who works in the Disability Service?
Declan Treanor
Declan Reilly
Disability Service Director
Disability Officer across
all Schools
E-mail: dtreanor@tcd.ie
Tel: (01) 896 3475
E-mail: reillyde@tcd.ie
Tel: (01) 896 3776
Alison Doyle
Jennifer Maxwell
Disability Officer across all
Schools E-mail:
alison.doyle@tcd.ie
ESW Administrator
Tel: (01) 896 3014
E-mail: eswadmin@tcd.ie
Tel: (01) 896 3971
Andrew Costello
Carol Barry
Assistive Technology
Officer
Executive Officer
Email: atic@tcd.ie
Tel: (01) 896 2903
E-mail: disab@tcd.ie
Tel: (01) 896 3111
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Student Handbook
Kieran Lewis
Claire Gleeson
UNILINK Occupational
Therapist
UNILINK Occupational
Therapist
E-mail: unilink@tcd.ie
E-mail: unilink@tcd.ie
Tel: (087) 274 3879
Tel: (085) 7585835
Lynn O’Toole
UNILINK Occupational
Therapist
Tel: (086) 3209966
Disability Service Website & Facebook
We update information on our website regularly
and put up news on our Facebook site
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Tri
nity-College-DisabilityService/275203522472?ref=ts
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Other Useful Addresses in College
Admissions Office
Address:
Regent House,
Trinity College Dublin
Telephone:
00353 1 896 4444
Fax:
00353 1 872 2853
E-mail:
Web:
admissns@tcd.ie
www.tcd.ie/Admissions
Fees Office
Address:
5 College Green, Floor 3,
Trinity College Dublin
Telephone:
00353 1 896 1852
Fax:
00353 1 896 2576
Web:
www.tcd.ie/Treasurers_Office/fees/
Student Health Centre
Address:
House 47, Trinity College, Dublin 2
Telephone:
00353 1 896 1556
Web:
www.tcd.ie/College_Health/
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Student Handbook
Accommodation Office
Address:
West Chapel, Trinity College Dublin
Telephone:
00353 1 896 1177
Fax:
00353 1 671 1267
E-mail:
Web:
reservations@tcd.ie
www.tcd.ie/accommodation/
Senior Tutor’s Office
Address:
House 27, Trinity College Dublin
Telephone:
00353 1 896 2551
Fax:
00353 1 672 5089
E-mail:
Web:
stosec@tcd.ie
www.tcd.ie/Senior_Tutor/
Student Counselling Service
Address:
Third Floor,
7-9 South Leinster Street,
Telephone:
00353 1 896 1407
Fax:
00353 1 608 3464
Web:
www.tcd.ie/Student_Counselling
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Examinations Office
Address:
West Theatre,
Trinity College Dublin
Telephone:
00353 1 896 2345 / 3710
Fax:
00353 1 896 9260
E-mail:
Web:
exams@tcd.ie
www.tcd.ie/Senior_Lecturer/teo/
Student Union & Education Officer for Student
with Disabilities
Address:
House 6, Trinity College Dublin
Telephone:
00353 1 896 6545
Fax:
00353 1 6777957
E-mail:
Web:
osd@tcdsu.org
http://www.tcdsu.tcdlife.ie
Careers Advisory Service
Address:
7-9 South Leinster Street,
Telephone:
00353 1 896 1721/1705
Fax:
00353 1 6793295
E-mail:
Web:
careers@tcd.ie
www.tcd.ie/Careers
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Student Handbook
Useful information / Weblinks
TCD Orientation website for new students
http://www.tcd.ie/orientation/
Course information packs
http://www.tcd.ie/orientation/pre-arrival/packs/
Fresher’s Week
http://www.tcd.ie/orientation/freshers-week/
Student life in TCD
http://www.tcdlife.ie/
Student’s Union
http://www.tcdsu.org/
Senior Tutor’s Office
http://www.tcd.ie/Senior_Tutor/
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