DARE scheme help

xannax

I have adhd and want to apply to the dare scheme for the cao. Problem is my report saying I have adhd is out of date. The only other way I can see me being accepted is if the doctor that diagnosed me fills out the evidence of disability form. However we don't know if that's possible for him to do or for us to even get a hold of him. I can't really afford to get retested it'll cost €500+ which is rediculous. Does anyone have any advice on what I can do?

jayroitman

I had to get my report redone because it was out of date. You should probably try go to your GP and just ask if he'll fill it out. Ring and try get a hold of him. But to be honest I was told that I shouldn't bother applying unless I got retested so even though it's expensive, it might be a worthwhile investment..

To be honest it's very late in the year to start doing all this, it might be difficult to get all your documents in time for March 1st?

xannax

We saw that the GP can fill it out but it says that your gp needs the relevant documents within the date given and any documents my gp has are probably out of date as with the psychological report I have. Also I believe the deadline for DARE receiving your documents is April 1st, you just have to have indicated on your cao form that you're applying for dare by March 1st. So hopefully it is enough time. Didn't realise till now it would be this big an issue or I would have done this earlier.

jayroitman wrote: »

I had to get my report redone because it was out of date. You should probably try go to your GP and just ask if he'll fill it out. Ring and try get a hold of him. But to be honest I was told that I shouldn't bother applying unless I got retested so even though it's expensive, it might be a worthwhile investment..

To be honest it's very late in the year to start doing all this, it might be difficult to get all your documents in time for March 1st?

jayroitman

April 1st is still not that far away especially if you need to get retested which I think may be the case. I really hope you can get your documents in on time, but it's cutting it a bit fine. It took months for us to get all my documents for it and we're not even done yet... Good luck

xannax

Well to be honest I'm not going to get retested my parents have said they are no way paying for that. I'm going to try and get the evidence of disability form filled out and if they don't accept it then they don't accept it nothing I can do!

jayroitman wrote: »

April 1st is still not that far away especially if you need to get retested which I think may be the case. I really hope you can get your documents in on time, but it's cutting it a bit fine. It took months for us to get all my documents for it and we're not even done yet... Good luck

jayroitman

I totally understand why they wouldn't pay for it. it's a ridiculous price.
Best of luck

emersyn

That's what I hate about the DARE scheme, you have to jump through months' worth of bureaucratic hoops before even being considered, not to mention how unfair the price is for less well-off people who are entitled to avail of its services but simply can't afford it

jayroitman

Exactly! It's a flawed system and people who are disadvantaged but don't qualify being disadvantaged enough for the dare scheme are left behind, I think.

evolving_doors

How about talking to the guidance teacher/learning support co-ordinator/vice principal before giving up. It's worth noting that some schools might have an allowance for a few educational-psychologist visits. Our school has them all used up now as it was a case of first come first served, but it's worth a shot. The school might be a bit cagey about letting students/parents know that they have an allowance for visits every year (as there would be a queue at the principals door every september and it'd be the parents who shout the loudest who would be dealt with first!). But just ask (or even better get your folks to ask)... "does the school have an allowance for Educational Psychologist visits"?

You never though, your GP might be able to help. There might be a few professionals who wouldn't be as dear as €500... let the GP know you need an assessment from either.

Consultant Psychiatrist
OR
Psychologist
OR
Neurologist
OR
Paediatrician

Also the form can be completed by part of a professionals team if you have been with them in the last 3 years. So it might be a case of walking into their practice and leaving a letter to be signed with a secretary (but ask about cost first!). Maybe even if you haven't seen them for 4 years you might still be 'on their books'.

In cases where an applicant is in the care of a Consultant Psychiatrist, Neurologist or Paediatrician, the evidence of a disability can be completed by a Registrar who is a member of their team.

A GP might know someone they can refer you on to who isn't too pricey too.

P.S. you'll also need the school to fill out documentation to say how it has impacted on your learning. There's a criteria sheet here to jog teacher's/year heads memories rather than just asking them to complete a blank form off the top of their heads. (You have to fit the profile for at least 2 of those criteria)..HERE

spurious

At least one of the bigger ETBs has their own team of Educational Psychologists.

If the OP is in a large ETB, it might be worth asking.

xannax

Thanks so much!! I am doing this in coordinance with the school learning support teacher and we're filling out the educational impact form. As for the educational assessment I already got one done in 2nd year by the school (which is out of date) and the school psychologist is sick atm so they don't actually have one. It's so annoying considering the condition isn't something that will ever go away and I have an in date letter from the psychologist that diagnosed me saying I have adhd but apparently that's not good enough they need a whole report.

maracuja

My brother has Asperger's Syndrome and dyslexia, and also missed a lot of 5th and 6th year due to a medical issue. He's trying to apply for DARE but only has proof of the Asperger's and his illness that are in date. Does anyone have any idea if this will be enough? We can't afford to get a new assessment for his dyslexia.

xannax

maracuja wrote: »

My brother has Asperger's Syndrome and dyslexia, and also missed a lot of 5th and 6th year due to a medical issue. He's trying to apply for DARE but only has proof of the Asperger's and his illness that are in date. Does anyone have any idea if this will be enough? We can't afford to get a new assessment for his dyslexia.

I'd say so but you should phone them up and ask. I can't get any in date information that's good enough for their stupid requirements for my adhd so I probably won't be able to apply

xannax

Sorry I posted about this recently but the report I have for my ADHD is 6 weeks out of date and the psychiatrist that diagnosed me can't fill out the evidence of disability form. I got my doctor to do it but it turns out his information on file isn't in date either. Do I just have to accept that I can't apply? I have an in date letter from the psychiatrist saying I was diagnosed but I had phoned and asked them about that before and they said its probably not good enough. It's so stressful!

Fiona55

Yes the whole thing is a bit of a nightmare/racket.
But, if your GP has your diagnosis on file he should be able to help you if you are having difficulty getting what you need from the Consultant psychiatrist.Also if the Psychiatrist is in anyway decent he should be able to do the Medical Cert / Report for you based on his original diagnosis in a matter of minutes(they are doing it all the time,know the ropes & are making very good money out of it.But there is high demand at this time of year.
I know because I have been through it with my son & daughter.If you get it fine,if you don't,don't worry too much, just study hard & do your best (the cream will rise eventually) . You can still get good support in college even if you don't go in under the DARE scheme.My son (rightly or wrongly) didn't even use the place he was offered on DARE & opted for another course he had the points for !!