Code of Practice

The purpose of this Code of Practice for TU Dublin DSS is: 

• to outline to students their rights and responsibilities when engaging with the TU Dublin Disability Support Service. This includes receiving reasonable accommodations and engaging with supports from the Disability Support Service (DSS) in TU Dublin. 

• to define TU Dublin’s Disability Support Service’s rights and responsibilities to students registered with the service, and the Institute community. 

A reasonable accommodation in the context of disability in an educational setting refers to actions taken by educational institutions to help students with disabilities participate fully in their education.  

This can include providing interventions, facilities, or adjustments to the learning environment to alleviate a substantial disadvantage due to a disability. For example, this might involve offering assistive technology, providing Irish Sign Language interpretation, changing procedures, modifying the delivery of the course taken, providing additional services (e.g., examination arrangements, materials in large print), or adapting the physical environment.   

The goal is to ensure that students with disabilities can achieve their educational potential without facing barriers to participation.  

Appropriate reasonable accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis for each student through consultation with their Disability Support Service (DSS) support staff (Learning Support Officer, Assistive Technology Officer and/or Occupational Therapist where appropriate) in accordance with the student’s supporting documentation, academic policy and the resources available.    

How to Register With the Disability Support Service 

Reasonable accommodations for exams are determined through the process outlined above.  Recommendations are made by the DSS. The Exams Office facilitates the appropriate exam accommodations in accordance with exam policy and resources available.  Please note the Exams Office specify deadlines to facilitate written exam accommodations, it is important to note these published deadlines. 

Exam Accommodations policy 

Students have the right to: 

• Receive Reasonable and appropriate accommodations (adjustments and supports) and/or auxiliary aids determined on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the individual’s certified disability/specific learning difficulty in line with university academic policy and the resources available to the institution. 

• To be guaranteed appropriate confidentiality of disability records (files) and that disclosure of information will only happen with the student’s written consent. 

• Have information available in accessible formats. 

• Receive responses to queries, correspondence and requests for appointments with DSS staff in a timely manner. 

• Be treated with dignity and respect. 

• Express dissatisfaction in relation to supports and receive appropriate resolution (In the first instance discuss the complaint with the relevant DSS Staff member; if this is not satisfactorily dealt with, please contact the head of the Disability Support Service at geraldine.mccorkell@tudublin.ie ) 

Student’s responsibilities: 

• Students who obtain a place in TU Dublin through the Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) must register with the Disability Support Services (DSS). 

• Other students (non-DARE) who require reasonable accommodations must make contact and present to the DSS and provide appropriate supporting documentation/evidence of disability to register with the service. Guide to Providing Evidence of Disability     

• For students who require Exam Accommodations: Due to the deadline set by the Exam Office per each exam period, all students who wish to receive accommodations in exams must present for registration with the DSS before the above deadline set Exam Accommodations policy 

• Students who wish to register after the Exam Office deadline may still do so; however, their Exam Accommodations will start from the following Examination period. 
• Students who require additional supports must present for registration with the DSS at the earliest possible opportunity (being aware that some supports can take considerable time to be organised). 
• Students who wish to avail of the use of recommended Assistive Technology (AT) as part of their exam accommodations must demonstrate their ability to use the AT or attend mandatory AT training in the use of the software or device. Failure to attend can result in accommodation removal. 

• Students must advise the relevant Learning Support Officer of any change in their circumstances that may require alterations to accommodations in a timely manner. (For example, but not limited to Change of course, Deferral of Semester or Year, Changes/Updates of diagnosis). 

• Students are required to attend all lectures, tutorials, and labs as per their respective timetables. 

• Students who wish to avail of Assistive Technology (AT) must engage with their Assistive Technology Officer (ATO) to complete an AT assessment and agree to consent to TU Dublin’s usage policies where appropriate. 

• Students who require third party services, for example: a Note-Taker, ISL interpreter, or Personal Assistant should advise the relevant support personnel of any changes to their timetable in a timely manner (at least two working days in advance). 

• Treat the staff of the institute with dignity and respect. 

• Access their TU Dublin email daily as this is the primary means of communication between the University, the DSS and the student. Answering any email from the DSS promptly is crucial to ensure Reasonable accommodations and supports can be implemented.    

• Students should attend scheduled appointments with DSS staff or provide reasonable notice if unable to attend. 

• Students should take responsibility for communicating with their school staff/ lecturers where appropriate, with support from the DSS when required. 

• Students should use approved supports appropriately and notify the DSS promptly if supports are no longer required or are not meeting their needs.

DSS responsibilities: 

• Treat all students with dignity and respect.  

• Maintain TU Dublin’s academic standards and policies. 

• Assist students with disabilities who meet TU Dublin’s criteria for eligibility to receive reasonable and appropriate accommodations. Guide to Providing Evidence of Disability     

• Provide eligible students who request disability support and reasonable accommodations with the information they require to register with the DSS and the process involved. How to Register With the Disability Support Service 

• Maintain appropriate confidential student records and communication concerning students with disabilities. 

• Where disclosure is authorised by the student, provide information to relevant third parties.  

• Ensure learning support and access to Assistive Technology is available to students who request to avail of the same. 

• Communicate with students on a regular basis in relation to ongoing supports available. 

• Provide information to incoming Erasmus students and support on how to register with the TU Disability Service. 

• Make onward referrals to relevant and appropriate services (e.g., Health & Safety, Occupational Therapy, etc.) 

• Follow and disseminate the DAWN guidelines in relation to teaching, learning, and exams.  

• The DSS has the responsibility to only support accommodations verified by the appropriate documentation that identifies a specific diagnosis and/or functional limitation, with verification for the need of any requested service or accommodation. 

• The DSS has the responsibility to only support accommodations that are appropriate and reasonable, that do not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others, do not constitute a substantial change or alteration to an essential element of a course or programme, do not pose undue financial or administrative hardship on TU Dublin, or do not provide an unfair advantage to any student. 

• To guide students towards a resolution in the event of experiencing dissatisfaction in relation to supports provided by the Service. 

TU Dublin has the responsibility to: 

• Ensure that TU Dublin’s programmes, services, jobs, activities, and facilities, when viewed in their entirety, are delivered in the most integrated and accessible setting possible. 

• Provide to students with disabilities information regarding TU Dublin policies and procedures and ensure that it is available in accessible formats. 

• Provide reasonable and appropriate accommodations and/or auxiliary aids for students with disabilities upon a timely request by a student. 

• Maintain appropriate confidentiality of records and communication concerning students with disabilities except where the disclosure is authorised by the student. 

TU Dublin and the Disability Support Service have the right to: 

• Request the appropriate evidence of disability or supporting documentation completed by an acceptable professional source to verify the need for reasonable accommodations and/or auxiliary aids. 

• Discuss a student's need for reasonable accommodations and/or auxiliary aids with the professional source of his/her documentation if required, having obtained the student's signed consent authorising such disclosure and discussion. 

• Request additional documentation that supports any request for further accommodations by the student if such accommodations are not supported by the original documents provided.