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To begin registration with the office you must log on to the student portal and click the option to register with Disability Support Services.
To complete your registration with Disability Services you must provide evidence of a disability which will support a request for any reasonable accommodation you may require at University. If you made a DARE (Disability Access Route to Education) application through the CAO the University of Limerick can access your evidence of disability so there is no need for you to supply your documentation again.
If you are supplying evidence of disability, please ensure that it is from a relevant medical consultant/specialist.
We now accept Evidence of Disability from your GP or other Health Practitioner. Please see the Evidence of Disability Form.
Students with Specific Learning Difficulties (e.g. dyslexia) should provide an educational psychologists report which clearly states that you have a specific learning difficulty and must include relevant test scores. (The report should preferably be not more than five years old)
If you would like to email your evidence of disability you may scan your documentation and send it to disabilityservices@ul.ie . Otherwise you can bring your documents to the Disability Services Administration office which is located in the main building (EM019)
If your documentation is sufficient you will be invited to a needs assessment to determine your supports. You will be expected to sign a code of practice which outlines your rights and responsibilities in receiving reasonable accommodations.
Need Assessment meeting will involve:
- Checking your personal details
- Gathering some relevant background information about you as a learner
- Discussing the demands of your course
- Discussing assistive technology needs
- Deciding on reasonable examination accommodations
- Discussing your social and personal needs
- Answering any questions you may have
Confidentiality
All information that you provide is completely confidential. With your permission information regarding your requirements will be sent to relevant people. Disability Services will not divulge the nature of your disability to anyone. In the case of medical alert conditions such as epilepsy we will expect that you allow us to make people aware with your permission.
Learning Educational Needs Summary (LENS)
Your accommodations will be agreed at the needs assessment and a LENS (Learning Educational Needs Summary) will be sent to relevant staff. It is vital that each student checks their LENS report to make sure all accommodations are in place. Here is an example of a file. Our exam file cannot be changed after week five of semester so checking the LENS information is extremely important to ensure that you are accommodated correctly. If you think an adjustment needs to be made you must inform the Disability Services office immediately.
Students with a disability are entitled, under law, to reasonable accommodations. The university receives funding through the European Social Fund to support students with disabilities. Please see related documentation regarding reasonable accommodation policy and practice within the university.
Making a reasonable accommodation might involve changing procedures, modifying the delivery of the course taken, providing additional services (e.g. examination arrangements), or altering the physical environment.
Reasonable accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis during a needs assessment and in accordance with the individual's certified disability/specific learning difficulty.
Please note we have a duty to comply with the Equal Status Act, 2000 which provides that an educational establishment cannot discriminate in relation to the access of a student to any course, facility or benefit provided by the establishment and the Disability Act 2005, which places a statutory obligation on public service providers to support access to services and facilities for people with disabilities.
Many universities provide services that focus on assisting students who experience academic difficulties. At UL we are broadening the range of services and in addition to the usual supports we have developed a programme that concentrates on social and other life skill difficulties. The ULEAD programme aims to address the requirements of students who are experiencing challenges socially, functionally and educationally.
ULEAD is an acronym for "yoU Learn Engage Aspire Develop." The programme is designed to facilitate the transition from the second level education environment to its third level equivalent. The key objective is to give students an opportunity to develop practical and functional skills which will enable them to participate fully in their third level educational experience.
ULEAD is a student-centred programme. Group sessions are run to help the student gain important college skills these sessions deal with subjects like; study skill, academic writing, note taking, using the library etc. Each student is provided with a tailored set of supports to suit their requirements, including on-going sessions with the Student Support Officer and a mentor.
While ULEAD can support students with a variety of requirements it is our experience that it is particularly beneficial to students who may want to develop their organisation and time management skills, their goal setting, motivation, social skills etc.
Engaging with the ULEAD programme
ULEAD is available to University of Limerick students who are registered with disability services. Registration and participation is a straightforward process. Disability Support Services undertakes a needs assessment and will support the student to develop an individual plan and practical support strategies.
The programme's focus on individual student needs pervades all aspects of its operation. Supports are guided by the student with the aim of developing organisational and social skills, goal setting and achievement abilities, and nurturing the student's personal development. The ULEAD program is really beneficial to students as it can provide support with academic work, social and personal development.
How can I avail of the ULEAD Programme?
Participants must register with Disability Services and registered students are guided through the programme by the designated staff.
After you register with the service, you will be invited for a Needs Assessment. DSS assess students’ needs for reasonable accommodations in their examinations during the needs assessment. DSS liaise with Academic Registry to facilitate reasonable accommodations in end of semester exams for students with a disability.
Here are the steps to ensure correct end of semester exam accommodations are in place for you.
- Confirm your module registration in Week 1 on the student portal as required by the University
- Your accommodations are confirmed at your Needs Assessment
- A LENS (Learning Educational Needs summary) will be issued outlining these accommodations.
On Monday, Week 2, DSS will download your data from SI. DSS cannot issue a LENS (Learning Educational Needs Summary) or put any type of support in place (including exams) if you do not confirm your registration in Week 1.
A LENS (Learning Educational Needs Summary) will be emailed to relevant staff (academic and administration) and to you by Friday Week 2 of each semester except the Autumn Semester, of your first year. It is extremely important that you check all the information on the LENS including module code and name, lecturer, semester and exam accommodations.
If there are any errors or changes to module registration in your LENS you must email michelle.hartnett@ul.ie immediately with relevant corrections. An updated LENS will be issued which you must check to ensure the relevant changes are made. This is the information that will be used for your end of semester exam accommodations, so it is vital that it is correct. No amendments will be made after Week 5. The onus is on you to check that all information relating to your exams is correct.
A specific disability related exam notification will be emailed from disabilityservices@ul.ie to you and relevant faculty by Friday of week 10. You must check that modules dates, time are correct and notify me immediately if they are not.
For any further information phone on 061-213478 or email michelle.hartnett@ul.ie
In Course Assessments
For in-class assessments or examinations not organised via Academic Registry, students should contact the lecturer concerned to apply the reasonable accommodations.
- If you need help with any of the below tasks please contact a member of staff from Disability Support Services. We can only assist you if you inform us of a problem.
- Complete all tasks as instructed by Academic Registry
- Log on to a campus computer and activate your student email. Check your emails first thing every morning. All information which is disseminated throughout the university is done so through email.
- Print student timetable.
- Locate lecture halls and classrooms relevant to you.
- Disability Support Services will provide you with print credit at the beginning of the semester in order for us to do so you must activate your print account by printing one page on campus.
- Attend all classes/labs/tutorials
- Become familiar with sulis/module or whatever resource the lecturer is using to provide notes to the class via Sulis or Moodle.
- Print or save course outlines. Course outlines are given out by each lecturer at the beginning of each semester. They outline important information for the module. Learning goals and expectations will be outlined in this document as well as course assessments. All contact details for the lecturer will be included here as well as the lecturer’s office hours. This is a vital document.
- Familiarise yourself with who your academic advisor is. Your academic advisor can help you with any academic issues you may have and their contact details can be found through the student portal.
- Become familiar with the library and the library website. Attend a tour and learn how to use the electronic catalogue.
- Learn how to type. A typing program is provided by Disability Support Services. Typing is one of the key skills needed by first year students.
International and Erasmus students are required to register with Disability Support Services in order for us to put academic and exam supports in place. Documentation regarding your disability should be submitted, a Needs Assessment will take place with Disability Service and reasonable academic accommodations will be agreed upon.
Ideally students should make contact with the Disability Support Service before they arrive in Ireland so that an appointment can be made with one of our staff.
If you have any other questions about Disability Support Services in the University of Limerick please contact:
Disabilityservices@ul.ie
Tel: 353 (0)61-213478
The Cooperative Education & Careers Division is responsible for the management and development of the Cooperative Education and Careers programmes. Some 2,000 students are placed annually under the Cooperative Education programme with a network of over 1,600 employers.
Careers
The Careers Service is part of the Cooperative Education & Careers Division. Their primary mission is to support students and recent graduates in developing and implementing successful career plans, and to facilitate the recruitment process for students and employers. Each School has Cooperative Education & Careers Division Manager. There is also a Employability Careers Advisor in Careers Service, these are their contact details: www.ul.ie/careers
Clinical Placements
Please contact your clinical placement officer for any queries you may have about your clinical placement. If you have any disability related queries please contact us
School Placement
Please contact your School Placement officer for any queries you may have about your School placement. If you have any disability related queries please contact us
University of Limericks Students Complaint Procedure