Disabled students attending 3rd level can avail free personal assistant/note taker

localstudies

hi,

Im attending UCD and availed of the following from Lucan Disability Action Group. thought others may be interested:

PERSONAL ASSISTANTS
We began this programme because there was no organisation in Ireland providing fully trained personal assistants, whose skills are particularly dedicated to supporting students with a disability in higher education. There was a huge difficulty for students requiring a personal assistant to enable them to study at 3rd Level. The providers at that time were funded by the Health Boards who didn’t have the resources, expertise or the personnel to offer this range of a personal assistant to students with a disability wishing to access higher education.

When we initiated the service in 2002, we had one student attending UCD. Today . We now provide the service to over 50 students with disabilities studying at NUI Maynooth, IT Tallaght, DCU, IT Blanchardstown, DIT’s - Aungier St, Bolton St, Rathmines, and Dun Laoire College of Futher Education.
It is estimated that only 7 in every 10,000 people with a disability are enrolled in 3rd Level Education. The main reasons cited for such low numbers are:

1. Lack of an expectation to aspire to 3rd Level
2. Lack of transportation
3. Lack of awareness for an availability of Personal Assistants and Note takers.

The relationship between Students and their PAs
The student is referred to as the leader, a person with physical or sensory disability, and who will instruct their personal assistant as to what they need to make their college life run smoothly.
Students who are academically capable of undertaking a University course quite often – Don’t – because they are not aware that support, in the form of a Personal Assistant, is available to them.

Each University has a disability support service that can arrange for the provision of a PA:

*AT NO EXTRA COST TO THE STUDENT.*

Raising awareness of this will help ensure that more people will avail of a third level education – thereby utilizing a right that can lead to an improved quality of life and social inclusion.
Exchange Students
LDAG also provide personal assistants to foreign students who come to Ireland to study. This eliminates the expense of students having to pay for a PA who otherwise would have to travel with them.
What is the role of the PA?

• To provide assistance and support to people with disabilities
• A personal assistant can make a huge difference to students in their level education wi ht their every day needs.
• This can mean anything from getting he student dressed in the morning, accompanying them to college, escorting them to lectures and taking or typing notes.
• A P. A. can also make a big difference to a student, by making them feel less excluded in college life.
• A personal assistant enables the student to live with dignity in as independent manner as possible.
• Third level education is easier and less stressful, when a student with a disability has a P. A.

Garda Clearance
Lucan Disability Action Group will run a Garda check on all perspective Personal Assistants. No Personal Assistant will be approved until Garda Clearance has been received.
Organising a P. A.
If you are a student with a disability in 3rd level education and are interested in availing of this service:
Please contact: Phil at LDAG Tel: 01-6100475
Fax:01-6218954 OR e-mail ldag@eircom.net

Mr Trade In

Is this service still available in Maynooth?