dcu president calls for students with disabilities to apply to university.
5 November 2003

As the European Year for People with Disabilities draws to a close, the president of DCU, Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski has called for a greater drive to encourage people with disabilities to consider third level education. "According to the National Disability Authority 10% of the population has a disability. However, only 2% of our student population are registered as having a disability.

This year there have been numerous events and initiatives to increase awareness and improve interaction between able-bodied people and people with disabilities. The highlight was, of course, the hosting of the Special Olympics. But, this has not fulfilled our responsibility to create a more inclusive society. It is crucial that we exploit the openness and goodwill generated this year to help people with disabilities meet their potential."

In 2002 the CAO received almost 66,000 applications. However, only 697 students with disabilities were offered places. Professor von Prondzynski pointed out that this 1% is a gross under representation. "However, we are witnessing a sea-change on the ground. Although the number of registered students with disabilities is small, an increasing number of unregistered students are approaching the disability service and are beginning to overcome the fear of stigma."

In many cases parents and teachers do not expect that students at secondary level should aspire to third level education. However, there are many State supports in place and most higher education institutions have disability services to assist those students through the learning and living challenges.

The president was speaking at a graduation ceremony, which included the conferring of BA Communication Studies on three students with disabilities, Emma Tracey, Cary Craig and James Brosnan. "These students are graduating because they are confident and determined. My hope is that they will inspire others to travel the same path." Said the president.

DCU has a comprehensive disability service, which provides support for a range of students. Some require assistance with taking lecture notes, or extra provisions during exams. The disability service organises examination support, computer and technology support, Assistive Technology, tutor assistance, study skills support, materials sourcing, classroom and laboratory assistance, funding support, physical access support and careers advice. Assistive Technology is a range of devices including computers, voice synthesisers, Braille readers, control devices and other equipment designed to support students in their everyday tasks. For students who are blind or partially sighted, software includes JAWS, Zoomtext, Duxbury as well as other relevant packages. For students with physical disabilities there is a range of control devices including adapted keyboards, speech-input systems and jellybean switches. Other AT devices are available in particular areas of the university including Braille embossers, loop systems, scanners and wireless network connections etc.

The university has fourteen wheelchair accessible apartments for undergraduates and three for postgraduates. Students with disabilities are given priority in the allocation of campus residences.

DCU also provides a sports service to encourage students with physical or sensory difficulties to take full advantage of the sporting facilities at DCU and to get involved in as many sporting activities as possible during their time at third level. The university has introduced a Goalball, which is played in the dark on a squash court using a ball that is detected by sound. All the players are blindfolded so that no player is disadvantaged by their degree of sight and it provides an excellent opportunity for students with a disability to meet and compete with other students, with or without disabilities. The 'twist' to this game is that sighted players have to learn how to play with a disability, rather than expecting the player with a disability to make the adjustment. Next year we will see the European Year of Education through Sport, as well as the Paralympic Games, due to be hosted in Athens.