DARE - Disability Access Route to Education

Applicants to DARE (Disability Access Route to Education) must meet SETU Carlow's Minimum Course Entry Requirements plus any specific course requirements. Successful applicants get a 30 point reduction for their chosen course when the DARE offers are made through the CAO.
 

Please note students with sensory disabilities (such as visual or hearing impairments) and students with physical disabilities will be prioritised when allocating DARE places.

DARE reduced points and own merit offers are made through CAO and are in round 1 and sometimes in round 2 if there are places still available.

If you get a DARE reduced points offer this will appear as a regular offer online through the CAO. You will then receive a letter to inform you that you have received a DARE offer and that if you accept the place you must register fully with the Access Office and attend the Access Office Orientation Programme as these are part of the conditions of your DARE offer.

SETU Carlow does not set place quotas for DARE applicants, with the exception of the following courses: SE936, SE901 where a quota of 2 reduced points’ places per course apply and SE905, SE903 where a quota of 1 reduced points’ place per course apply.

Types of Disability considered by DARE
  • Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  • Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
  • Blind/Vision Impaired
  • Deaf/Hard of Hearing
  • Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)
  • Mental Health Difficulty
  • Neurological Conditions (including Epilepsy & Brain Injury)
  • Physical Disability
  • Significant Ongoing Illness
  • Specific Learning Difficulty (including Dyslexia & Dyscalculia).
  • Speech and Language Communication Disorder

The provision of supports to students with disabilities at SETU Carlow is not related to their eligibility for DARE. All prospective students are encouraged to make contact with the Access Office as soon as they can to arrange academic supports.   

All new students with disabilities are entitled to a Needs Assessment to determine their academic support requirements. The Access Office in Student Services co-ordinates individual academic supports for full-time students with special requirements. These supports may include the provision of assistive technology, learning support, exam accommodations or equipment.

The Learning Support Tutor provides support for students with disabilities around their assignments, reports, exam preparation and research for their course. This can be both on an individual basis or in Workshops, assisting students with their assignment planning and writing skills, planning course assignments, and managing course deadlines. Learning Support also co-ordinates Assistive Technology to enable students to access and complete their academic work independently.

To access Learning Support, students must register their disability with the Access Office, and make an appointment in the Student Services Office for a Needs Assessment.

Contact Us

Angela Costelloe
Read/Write Gold Certified Trainer
T: 059-9175616
E: angela.costelloe@setu.ie

Aisling McHugh
Access Officer
T: 059-9175603
E: aisling.mchugh@setu.ie

For more information please visit DARE website.