DkIT believes that all students make a valuable contribution to our community – none more so than students with a disability. We extend a warm and supportive welcome to such students and will do everything we can to help you fulfil your potential.

We are committed to the provision of an equitable learning environment for our students and through our inclusive policies, we passionately promote active participation and seamless integration into college life which is aimed at supporting all students to become independent learners and skilful graduates.

What services do we provide?

The Disability Office provides important academic and personal assistance to students with a disability, this includes any student with a physical, sensory or learning difficulty or who has a medical or mental health condition that impacts negatively upon their learning process.

We are committed to the provision of an equitable learning environment for our students and through our inclusive policies we passionately promote active participation and seamless integration into college life which is aimed at supporting all students to become independent learners and skilful graduates. 

Additional supports may be available for all registered students with disabilities (including physical/learning/sensory disabilities, significant ongoing illness and mental health difficulties). Each student’s needs are assessed individually, taking into account their particular requirements. 

To avail of these supports, you must be registered with the institute’s Disability Service. Supports include note takers, personal assistance, learning support, assistive technology and reasonable accommodations in examinations.

We support a wide range of students and students need to apply for Disability Service supports first before they can access any of the supports listed below.

• Exam accommodations/supports
• Assistive Technology
• Learning Support
• Academic staff liaison on behalf of or with students (with consent)
• Personal assistants
• Note takers/use of Assistive Technology in lectures
• Access to buildings

Who do we support?

We support full-time and part-time DkIT students with the following confirmed learning differences/ health conditions/disabilities (including DARE students):

• ASD - Autism Spectrum /Asperger’s
• ADD/ADHD
• Blind/Vision impaired
• Deaf/Hard of hearing
• Development Coordination Disorder (dyspraxia/dysgraphia)
• Mental Health conditions, e.g. depression, bipolar, anxiety
• Neurological conditions, e.g. epilepsy, brain injury, Speech and language communication difficulty
• Significant Ongoing Illnesses, e.g. diabetes type 1, cystic fibrosis, chronic fatigue
• Physical Disability, e.g. arthritis, cerebral palsy
• Specific Learning Differences (including dyslexia and dyscalculia)

Support for students who have a short-term or temporary Injury / Illness / Disability

Students who experience a short-term or temporary disability, illness or injury are generally supported by other DkIT Student Services, e.g. Health Unit, Counselling Service, Student Learning and Development Centre and temporary exam accommodations from the Examinations Office.

Autism & Uni Microsite:

For all the latest information, advice and services for students with Autism please visit our dedicated microsite: Autism & Uni.

Visit Autism&Uni

New & Prospective Students:

Students who disclosed their disability in their CAO application will be contacted by the Disability Service and invited to meet for a Needs Assessment meeting after accepting a place at DkIT, expect an email to the email address used on your CAO application shortly after the date for Round 1 Acceptances.

New and prospective students who have complex support requirements are encouraged to make contact with the service as early as possible (prior to the commencement of the academic year and the receipt of the email above) in order to discuss in confidence any Reasonable Accommodations with regard to facilities and supports they may require during their course of study so that arrangements for supports can begin for them well in advance of the new academic year. You can arrange a meeting by contacting:

Geraldine Kneel,
Student Disability Officer
F111, Student Services Centre, Faulkner Building.

T: +353-0429370237 ext. 2832
E: geraldine.kneel@dkit.ie

Current Students

For current DkIT students, the link below to the Student Support Hub in Moodle contains lots of advice, links, articles, guidelines and general information relating to disability queries and services that you will find useful. This should be your first point of reference otherwise please email disability@dkit.ie with your query.

Visit Us On Moodle

Continuing Students:

Students who are continuing in DkIT and are currently receiving supports from the Disability Service will have those supports continued for the duration of their programme.  If they need to meet with the DS to discuss or alter their supports, please email for an appointment to disability@dkit.ie, there is currently no drop-in service available on campus due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Students can register with the Disability Service to apply for support at any time during their programme of study.

FSD - Fund for Students with Disabilities

The Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) allocates funding to third level colleges for the provision of services and supports to students with disabilities. The fund aims to ensure that students can participate fully in their academic programmes and are not disadvantaged by reason of disability. The FSD is part supported by the Irish Government and the European Social Fund (ESF) as part of the ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning 2014-2020.

Students are advised to register for support with the service as early as possible, so that they can access supports through the fund. Students must meet particular criteria in order to qualify for support and students will be informed of these when they register with the service.

Further information on the FSD is available at www.hea.ie/funding-governance-performance/funding/student-finance/fund-for-students-with-disabilities/.

How to Apply - The Disability Access Route (DARE)

The Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) is a third level alternative admissions scheme for school-leavers whose disabilities have had a negative impact on their second level education. DARE offers reduced points places to school leavers who as a result of having a disability have experienced additional educational challenges in second level education. 

More about admission routes for applicants with a disability