Disability Support Service
Supports
BCFE, as an equal opportunities Further Education and Training (FET) college, welcomes applications from students with additional needs.
BCFE will endeavour to provide appropriate supports and services for all students with disabilities or specific learning difficulties to access its courses, within the limits of available resources. Funding may be available from the Department of Education and Skills (DES), An tSeirbhís Oideachais Leanúnaigh agus Scileanna (SOLAS) and the European Social Fund (ESF) under the SOLAS Fund for Students with Disabilities.
Students with a wide variety of disabilities are supported including those with a visual impairment, deaf/hard of hearing, physical disability, mental health conditions, specific learning difficulties, such as dyslexia, developmental co-ordination disorders such as dyspraxia and significant ongoing illnesses. Applicants to the Fund for Students with Disabilities must meet certain nationality and residency criteria. The services and supports available to individual students will depend on the grant allocated by SOLAS.
Needs Assessment Form
A Needs Assessment Form for students with additional needs will accompany this document and is available at www.bcfe.ie under the Student Information tab. Documentary evidence verifying the student’s disability / specific learning difficulty must be provided with the completed Needs Assessment form. Completed forms should be returned to the Disability Officer, Aine Nally (via email only) (aine.nally@nln.ie) as early in the academic year as possible.
In summary there are three steps to apply for this additional funding and support:
- The student completes the Needs Assessment form and returns it to the Disability Officer, Aine Nally at aine.nally@nln.ie
- The student makes an appointment (via email or telephone at 087 406 7762) with the Disability Officer to discuss their completed assessment form and application.
- The Disability Officer will apply to the Fund for Students with Disabilities on the student’s behalf.
For more information about Categories covered by the Fund for Students with Disabilities, Evidence required as part of your application, Useful Contacts & Exam accommodations please view the Information for Students with Disabilities, Health Conditions and or Specific Learning Difficulties document.