Disability

Disclosing a Disability/Dyslexia/ Significant Literacy Difficulties OR Dyscalculia/ Significant Numeracy Difficulties

Although you are not obliged to do so, if you have a disability or Dyslexia/ Significant Literacy Difficulties OR Dyscalculia/ Significant Numeracy Difficulties you are encouraged to indicate this on the Application Form and supply details in the Supplementary Information Form which forms part of the CAO online application form. CAO will then supply these details to the HEIs. The purpose of this procedure is to allow HEIs to consider any specific support needs you may have in a higher education institution. If you do not wish to disclose your disability and/or Dyslexia/ Significant Literacy Difficulties OR Dyscalculia/ Significant Numeracy Difficulties on the Application Form, you may do so at any time on entering a Higher Education Institution and reasonable accommodation will be made at that stage.

Please note that disclosure of a disability and/or Dyslexia/ Significant Literacy Difficulties OR Dyscalculia/ Significant Numeracy Difficulties will not adversely affect your application in any way.

Supplementary Information Form (SIF)

You are asked to complete a Supplementary Information Form (SIF) when you disclose a disability and/or Dyslexia/ Significant Literacy Difficulties OR Dyscalculia/ Significant Numeracy Difficulties. The SIF requests additional information on your disability and/or Dyslexia/ Significant Literacy Difficulties OR Dyscalculia/ Significant Numeracy Difficulties and these details are then presented to the HEIs to which you have applied. The SIF may be accessed by logging on to your CAO application using the My Application facility.

The SIF has three sections:

1. Section A is to be completed online by you, the applicant.
2. Section B is to be completed by you and your school.
3. Section C is to be completed by a Consultant/appropriate professional (if you do not already have a report verifying your disability).

*Important note for applicants with Dyslexia/ Significant Literacy Difficulties or Dyscalculia/ Significant Numeracy Difficulties

A full Psychological Assessment Report OR Section D School Statement must be submitted for applicants with Dyslexia/ Significant Literacy Difficulties. In addition, applicants with Dyslexia/ Significant Literacy Difficulties must also have two literacy attainment scores at or below the 10th percentile (Standard Score of 81 or below) from testing carried out on or after 1 February 2023.

A full Psychological Assessment Report must be submitted for applicants with Dyscalculia/ Significant Numeracy Difficulties. In addition, applicants with Dyscalculia/ Significant Numeracy Difficulties must have one numeracy attainment score at or below the 10th percentile(Standard Score of 81 or below) dated after 1 February 2023.

These attainment scores can be from one (or a combination) of the following sources:

• Scores from school-based attainment testing
• Scores from attainment tests carried out by a psychologist.

Testing must have been carried out on or after 1 February 2023 and all applicants must submit an EIS completed by their school.

SIF Applications

When you submit your application online you will be asked to complete Section A of the SIF online. You should print Sections B and C and return them to CAO.

Guidelines to assist you in completing the SIF are available on the CAO website. If you require further assistance, please contact the Disability Service in the HEIs to which you are applying.

Applicants whose disability prevents them from completing the online Form should be told to contact CAO.

Supplementary Admissions Route for Applicants with Disabilities

Some HEIs take account of the impact of your disability and/or Dyslexia/ Significant Literacy Difficulties OR Dyscalculia/ Significant Numeracy Difficulties on your educational performance, through the provision of a supplementary admissions route known as the Supplementary Admissions Route for Applicants with Disabilities.

In addition to supports, if deemed eligible for the scheme applicants may be entitled to a reduction in points for entry to participating HEIs.

The following HEIs participate in the Supplementary Admissions Route for Applicants with Disabilities:

HEIs Operating individual supplementary admissions routes for applicants with a disability	HEIs operating a joint supplementary admissions route known as DARE
Carlow College	Atlantic Technological University Donegal Campus Galway Campus Sligo Campus
	Dublin City University
	Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology
	Dundalk Institute of Technology
	Marino Institute of Education
	Mary Immaculate College
	Maynooth University
	Munster Technological University Cork Campus Kerry Campus
	National College of Art & Design
	National College of Ireland
	Pontifical University Maynooth
	RCSI University of Medicine & Health Sciences
	St Angela’s College, Sligo
	South East Technological University Carlow and Wexford Campus Waterford Campus
	Technological University Dublin
	Technological University of the Shannon Athlone Campus Limerick Campus
	Trinity College Dublin
	University College Cork
	University College Dublin
	University of Galway
	University of Limerick

Full details on the Disability Access Route to Education (DARE), and other supplementary admissions routes can be accessed from www.cao.ie, www.accesscollege.ie, and the websites of the participating HEIs.

Applying for Supplementary Admissions Routes for Applicants with Disabilities

1. Complete the CAO application online.
2. You must disclose your disability and/or Dyslexia/ Significant Literacy Difficulties OR Dyscalculia/ Significant Numeracy Difficulties in your online CAO Application by 17:00 on 1st March 2025.
3. You will then be directed to the online Supplementary Information Form (SIF).
4. Instructions will be given about the completion and return of Sections B and C of the SIF to CAO by 15th March 2025.

Note: There are particular requirements for Section C of the SIF when applying for the Supplementary Admissions Route:

1. A full Psychological Assessment Report OR Section D School Statement instead of Section C Evidence of Disability form must be submitted for applicants with Dyslexia/ Significant Literacy Difficulties. In addition, applicants with Dyslexia/ Significant Literacy Difficulties must also have two literacy attainment scores at or below the 10th percentile (Standard Score of 81 or below) from testing carried out on or after 1 February 2023.
2. A full Psychological Assessment Report must be submitted for applicants with Dyscalculia/ Significant Numeracy Difficulties instead of Section C Evidence of Disability form. In addition, applicants with Dyscalculia/ Significant Numeracy Difficulties must have one numeracy attainment score at or below the 10th percentile(Standard Score of 81 or below) dated after 1 February 2023.
3. These attainment scores can be from one (or a combination) of the following sources:
   • Scores from school-based attainment testing
   • Scores from attainment tests carried out by a psychologist.
4. Testing must have been carried out on or after 1 February 2023 and all applicants must submit an EIS completed by their school.
5. Students with a mental health condition and/or a significant ongoing illness and/or ADHD/ADD must submit Section C of the SIF or supply a report from a relevant Consultant/appropriate professional carried out since 1st February 2022.
6. There are no age limits on reports for all other disabilities.

Further information on Supplementary Admissions Route for Applicants with Disabilities is available on the CAO website and on websites of the participating HEIs.