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How to Apply

University of Galway Disability Support Service

Who can apply for Disability Support?

Students with evidence of a disability, ongoing physical or mental health condition, or a specific learning difficulty can apply to the Disability Support Service (DSS). You only need to complete your application once and this remains in place for the duration of your course. You can apply for disability support at any point during your studies; however, it is recommended that you apply as soon as possible after starting your course or receiving a diagnosis.

If you are returning from a leave of absence or a break in your studies please contact the Disability Support Service to check that your supports are in place.

Why apply for Disability Support?

Once your application to the DSS is approved, you will able to avail of reasonable accommodations throughout the duration of your studies in the University of Galway. The most common reasonable accommodations that students require are: exam accommodations; advice, support, and advocacy; learning support and more.

How to apply for Disability Support?

Please follow the three steps below to register with the Disability Support Service:

1. What you need in order to apply

To submit an application to the DSS you must provide verification of your disability. This could be an Evidence of Disability form ‌ ‌or a report confirming a diagnosis from an appropriate professional. Please see the table below for examples of the type of report accepted.

If you do not have the document listed below, you may be eligible to apply to the service with other appropriate supporting documentation. If you have any questions relating to supporting documentation, please contact the Disability Support Service for advice at: disabilityservice@universityofgalway.ie

Disability	Report
Autistic Spectrum Disorder	Consultant Psychiatrist OR Psychologist OR Neurologist OR Paediatrician
ADD/ADHD	Consultant Psychiatrist OR Psychologist OR Neurologist OR Paediatrician
Blind/Vision impaired	Ophthalmologist/Ophthalmic Surgeon OR Letter from NCBI OR attended school for the Blind
Deaf/Hard of hearing	Audiogram OR attended school for the Deaf
Neurological Condition	Neurologist OR relevant Consultant
Speech and Language Communication Disorder	Speech and Language Therapist
Physical/Mobility	Orthopaedic Consultant OR relevant Specialist
Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD) Dyspraxia/Dysgraphia	Psychologist OR Occupational Therapist OR Chartered Physiotherapist OR Neurologist
Mental health condition	Consultant Psychiatrist OR Specialist Registrar
Significant Ongoing Illness	Relevant Consultant e.g. Diabetes Type 1: Endocrinologist or Paediatrician
Specific Learning Difficulties (Dyslexia or Dyscalculia)	Educational Psychologist's report

2. Online Application Form

All students who wish to apply to the Disability Support Service must read this University of Galway DSS Data-protection Notice to understand the roles of confidentiality and consent when processing your personal information.

When you have read the Data-Protection Notice, please complete this online application form .

3. Needs Assessment

After you have completed and submitted the online form, a member of the DSS team will conduct a needs assessment and offer appropriate supports and accommodations.

Your supports and accommodations will be set out in a Learning and Educational Needs Summary (LENS) report which will be sent to you and to your College, School or Discipline. Supports and accommodations are approved on the basis of:

the nature and impact of your disability, health condition, or learning difficulty
the requirements of your academic course
national guidelines, for example: the Disability Advisors Working Network (DAWN) Guidelines to exam accommodations