DARE/HEAR

DARE Applications in BGS 23/24

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3 Main Steps when applying for DARE

  1. Section A (apply online to DARE via CAO application) December/ January

2. Section B = arrange to meet with Resource teacher or Mr. Kearney (if you don’t have a Resource teacher) to fill out Section B for you to send to the CAO. January/ February. Deadline is March 15th

3. Section C = Report/ Evidence of Disability to be posted to CAO. Arrange as soon as possible. Send by post to the CAO by March 15th Evidence of Disability Form

  • It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all supporting documentation (including your Evidence of Disability and Educational Impact Statment) are posted to the CAO.
  • Send your Educational Impact Statement and Evidence of Disability documentation to the CAO, Tower House, Eglinton Street, Galway by 15 March 2024. Please number each page and write your CAO application number, name and the date on the front of each page.
  • Keep the originals of all documents and proof of postage.
  • You can get a certificate of postage from An Post. For your convenience, there are four certificates of postage slips pre-printed on the back cover of the CAO Handbook. Just ask the teller in An Post to stamp one of the certificates when you are sending your documentation.

DARE Further Information.. This has the up to date information…

DARE Handbook and Documents

Further Information on DARE Process

DARE Clinics

Pre-DARE Application

September to December

  • Have you checked accesscollege.ie for the required documentation for your application?
  • Evidence of Disability in place?
  • If you have a Resource teacher, you will complete Section B with them. If you don’t have a Resource teacher, you can ask Mr. Kearney (guidance@bgsmail.ie) For applicants with an Specific Learning Difficulty (such as Dyslexia) your application will need a report of any age and further testing with Ms Kelly who does testing in 6th year. You can email Ms Kelly as ckelly@bgsmail.ie
  • Have you attended one of the DARE clinics which are run by UCC and CIT? You should attend one of these clinics regardless of which college you intend on applying to. Dates and locations are listed on accesscollege.ie for example:

DARE Application (as part of CAO application)

December

  • Have you applied online to the CAO to receive a CAO number?
  • On your CAO application, have you answered YESto Question 1 on your CAO and clicked the SUBMIT button on the Supplementary Information Form (SIF) which reads “Do you want to be considered for the Disability Access Route to Education” by 1 March 2024? This is Section A of your DARE application. Further Details on Section A below.

January

Have you contacted your Resource Teacher or Guidance Counsellor, Mr, Kearney (guidance@bgsmail.ie), to go over your CAO application and complete Section B (Educational Impact Statement)? Mr. Kearney will send this section to your home to be posted to the CAO.

Sections B & C Deadlines

  1. Return the Section B (EIS) to the CAO to arrive by 17:15 on 15 March 2024.
  2. Download Section C Evidence of Disability, and have it completed by the appropriate medical professional (only if you do not already have a report verifying your disability that meets the DARE criteria). Return it to the CAO to arrive by 17:15 on 15 March 2024.

The Supplementary Information Form (SIF) Section A – Applicant Information

Section A is filled out by you, the applicant, and asks for information on your disability, the supports you received in second level and how your disability impacted on your education. Section A must be completed by 1 March 2024.

Question 1 – Do you wish to be considered for DARE?

This question is very important, as you must tick YES and click the Submit Button before 1 March 2021 to be considered for DARE. Ticking Yes, that you want to be considered for DARE, also means that you have read and accept the DARE Terms and Conditions (click here for T&C). If you select NO to Question 1, your application will not be considered for DARE even if you submit supporting documents. You may still avail of disability supports in college should you get an offer and accept it.

Question 1 (b) – Carrying forward DARE eligibility from 2020 to 2021 (for information click here)

Question 2 Your Primary Disability

Question 2 asks you to indicate your primary disability. If you have more than one disability, you should consider your primary disability as the one that has had the greatest impact on your educational experience. You can only tick one primary disability.

Question 3 – Your Other Disabilities

Question 3 asks you to indicate if you have any other disabilities. This is important as all of your disabilities can be assessed for eligibility under DARE in the event that you supply the correct documentation for each one. For this question, you can tick more than one disability.

Question 4 – Supports

Question 4 asks you to list the supports you received in second level and those you may require in third level. Please only tick the supports you actually received in second level and those you feel are necessary in third level.

Question 5 – Personal Statement

This is an opportunity for you to tell us about your experience of being in school and the challenges you faced. This can include (but is not restricted to) your examination performance, access to texts/ materials, memory/ concentration issues, meeting deadlines, attendance, engagement with extracurricular activities and/or the supports you needed for the educational impact of your disability. You may use bullet points if you wish.

What is my personal statement used for?

The personal statement is primarily used by the Disability Support Staff in the colleges to help determine what supports you may need in college. It can also be used by DARE to complement the information you and your school provide as part of the Educational Impact Statement.

Sample Personal Statement: Dyslexia

“Having dyslexia has had a big impact on my time in school. I study every night but
don’t get results that reflect the amount of work I put in. This is really frustrating for
me, especially when I see my classmates doing better than me.
I work a lot slower than my classmates. I often spend four hours doing my homework
which leaves me little time to study. I am a slow reader and I usually have to re-read
the same page three or four times before I understand what I’m reading.
Class tests are difficult because it takes me longer to read a question and understand
it. Also, when I’m under pressure my writing becomes very untidy and difficult to
read. I spell lots of words wrong and so lose marks.
I’ve been granted a Reader and Scribe for the Leaving Cert but still feel my
results won’t be as good as they should be”.

Sample 2: Depression

“Ever since I was fourteen I’ve been struggling with depression. I’ve missed a lot of
days here and there as a result. It got really bad in fifth year and I was hospitalised
for four weeks. Settling back into school was difficult because I had missed a lot of
work and found it really hard to catch up.
Sixth year has been a real challenge for me. I’m on heavy medication and it’s hard
to concentrate in class. Sometimes when I go home, I’ve no idea what happened
that day. My Psychiatrist changed my medication to help improve my concentration
but the new medication made me very sick. I’ve already missed a couple of weeks
this year because my depression has been getting worse.
I’m not getting extra support in school and I’m finding it hard to revise on my own. I
feel like I’m falling behind and won’t do as well in the Leaving Cert as a result”.

DARE 2020 in Bandon Grammar School

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DARE Application Information

The Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) is a third level alternative admissions scheme for school leavers whose disabilities have had a negative impact on their second level education. DARE offers reduced points places to school leavers who, as a result of having a disability, have experienced additional educational challenges in second level education.

Advice Clinics

Details below in relation to DARE in UCC and CIT. All DARE applicants can attend DARE advice clinics in CIT or UCC regardless of where they are applying to.

UCC DARE Clinics 2019

The Disability Support Service in UCC are running DARE clinics which will provide information on the DARE scheme, how to apply and the documentation needed to apply.

These sessions are designed for students, parents, guidance counsellors and other educators.

There are three sessions listed below which will cover the same information so you do not have to attend all three. Please use the link beside the date you wish to attend to book you place. As places are limited please be sure to book in advance.

A presentation will begin at 6pm each evening which will go through the process of applying to DARE, after the presentation there will be an opportunity for a question and answer session with staff from the Disability Support Service.

Should you have any questions about the DARE clinics please contact the DSS on dssinfo@ucc.ie or phone 021-4902985.

should you have any questions in relation to DARE please email dare@ucc.ie

 

Date Time Venue Link to book a place
Wednesday October 16th 6pm-8pm Room G04 Western Gateway Building https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/dare-clinics-2019-tickets-74091891843

 
Tuesday November 5th 6pm-8pm Room G03 Western Gateway Building https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/dare-clinics-2019-tickets-74092148611

 
Thursday November 21st 6pm-8pm Room G04 Western Gateway Building https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/dare-clinics-2019-tickets-74092256935

 

DARE

DISABILITY ACCESS ROUTE TO EDUCATION SCHEME

CIT is part of the DARE (Disability Access Route to Education) national admissions scheme which can allocate reduced points places to eligible school leavers under 23 years old with  learning differences, health conditions and disabilities on first year undergraduate courses.

 

  • CAO – Please call the CAO helpdesk for information about your application on 091 509800  /  www.cao.ie
  • For specific CIT DARE/DSS queries, please read the information below on how the number of DARE places available and how DARE offers are made in CIT.
  • Email CIT DARE queries to dare@cit.ie  (please make sure to provide your name, date of birth and CAO number)

 

HOW DO I APPLY FOR DARE?

For information about the process of applying to DARE and HEAR including the deadlines and criteria, please check the Access College website: www.accesscollege.ie

  • Please make sure to check the deadlines for each stage of the DARE application process.
  • We would encourage all applicants with learning differences/health conditions/ disabilities who apply through the CAO to indicate details of your learning difference/health condition/ disability on your CAO online application. Giving this information is confidential and will not adversely affect your application in any way.
  • We would also advise students and parents to attend a DARE application information session which goes through the application process for that year (see below).
  • CIT is committed to helping students to avail of its courses. Before choosing a course, applicants should contact the relevant department to discuss the demands of the course and check any minimum entry requirements of each course, such as levels of Maths, number of Honours subjects required, or any other requirements of a particular course such as a portfolio, entrance test or audition. Details are available in the CIT prospectus or at: www.cit.ie/courses
  • DARE applicants are informed by email in June (details also in your online CAO application) if they are eligible or not for the DARE scheme. Full details of the Review and Appeals process is on the DARE website: http://accesscollege.ie/dare/making-an-application/dare-review-and-appeals/
  • CIT is also part of the HEAR Scheme (Higher Education Access Route) scheme which offers places on reduced points and extra college support to school leavers who have experienced socio-economic disadvantage, and who are resident in the Republic of Ireland. See http://accesscollege.ie/hear/ for more information or email hear@cit.ie

WHAT DARE PLACES ARE AVAILABLE IN CIT?

There is a guideline quota of 5% of reduced points DARE places and 5% of reduced points HEAR places on all first year full-time Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) undergraduate courses.

Download this document to see the guideline number of places available on each individual CIT course:

 

HOW DO CIT MAKE DARE OFFERS?

CIT has admissions criteria and procedure for making Reduced DARE offers. Below is a summary of the criteria – please read the full criteria document here (PDF) for more information.

Please note that being eligible for DARE does not mean that you automatically gain points or a reduced points place – you are considered with other DARE eligible applicants for a reduced points place. Most DARE students get enough points for the course of their choice each year.

  • Applicants must be eligible for DARE.
  • Applicants must matriculate – they must meet the minimum entry requirements for each courselisted on each individual course description: www.cit.ie/courses.caocourseslist
  • Applicants are considered for Reduced DARE reduced points places if they are within a band of 50 points below the cut-off point on the date the DARE offers are made and only the applicant’s Leaving Certificate points will be considered.
  • Applicants must achieve a minimum of 200 CAO points.
  • Eligible DARE applicants under the Physical disability, Hearing impairment and Visual impairment categories will be offered priority Reduced DARE places.
  • Applicants who are eligible for both DARE and HEAR will also be eligible for priority places.
  • DARE reduced points and merit offers are made through CAO in Round 1, and some reduced points offers are made in Round 2 if there are places still available.

Conditions of accepting a DARE reduced offer:

  • Applicants who accept a DARE reduced place MUST apply for suppports with the CIT Disability Support Service as a condition of their offer.
  • Applicants who accept a priority HEAR/DARE reduced points place MUST apply for suppports with the CIT Disability Support Service and attend the compulsory HEAR orientation and engage with their HEAR advisor in the CIT Access Service as a condition of their offer.

 

CAN I STILL GET SUPPORTS IN CIT EVEN IF I AM NOT ELIGIBLE FOR DARE?

  • It is important to note that DARE is an admissions scheme and students may be eligible for supports even if they are not eligible for DARE.
  • We recommend that those students who are eligible for DARE and get enough points for their course should still apply for supports with the Disability Support Service (DSS).
  • Please note if students declare themselves through the CAO that they have a learning difference, health condition or disability, they must still apply for supports with the DSS if they come to CIT.
  • More information about the DSS support and applying for these is available here and in our DSS Guide to supports ***

 

DARE APPLICATION ADVICE SESSIONS 2019/20

CIT DSS gives information and advice on DARE at different events in the year:

  • CIT DARE 2019 Application Information Session – Tuesday 5th November 2019 6.30pm – 7.30pm. IT3, Berkeley Building, CIT Bishopstown. Booking is essential through Eventbrite: https://citdssdare2019.eventbrite.ie
  • CIT Open Day 2019 – Friday 15th November 2019 10am – 2pm. CIT DSS will be running sessions on  DARE/DSS supports throughout the day and there will be a DARE/CIT DSS information stand in the CIT Nexus, Student Centre, Bishopstown campus (www.cit.ie/openday)
  • CIT DARE Application Information Session  – Wednesday 4th December 2019 6.30pm – 7.30pm. IT3, Berkeley Building, CIT Bishopstown. Booking is essential through Eventbrite: https://citdssdare2019.eventbrite.ie
  • CIT DSS staff will be at the drop in  Cork DARE/HEAR Application Information Day, Saturday 11th January 2020, 10am- 2pm @ Devere Hall UCC. http://accesscollege.ie/dare/events-dare/2017/09/19/dare-hear-advice-clinics-2019/
  • CIT DSS will have short DSS/DARE information sessions at the CAO Information Evening in May 2020 6.00-8.00pm in CIT Bishopstown.

Please sign up to our mailing list to be alerted on the CIT DARE Application Information sessions running every year.

VI: DARE Applications 2019/20

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DARE Application Information and Checklist

Double-check all information on http://www.accesscollege.ie

The Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) is a third level alternative admissions scheme for school leavers whose disabilities have had a negative impact on their second level education. DARE offers reduced points places to school leavers who, as a result of having a disability, have experienced additional educational challenges in second level education.

 

Reduced Points
If you apply to DARE and meet the application criteria (that is, are deemed eligible for DARE), you may be offered a place even if you do not have enough Leaving Certificate points for your preferred course. Each participating college and university has a reserved number of places to offer eligible DARE applicants at lower or reduced Leaving Certificate points.

An example of a reduced points offer is that the Leaving Certificate points for a particular course is 366 points. An eligible DARE applicant could be offered a place with a lower points score, e.g. 356 points. This applicant would also, like all other applicants applying to college, need to meet the minimum entry requirements and any specific programme requirements before being considered for a DARE reduced points offer. The reduction in points for DARE places can vary every year.

The number of points a particular course is reduced by is dependent on a number of factors, such as

  • The overall number of places on the course.
  • The number of reserved DARE places on the course.
  • The number of DARE eligible applicants competing for these reserved places.

Information on the number of reduced points places available per course and the method used by colleges for selecting eligible DARE students for those places is available on HEI websites and on each of the participating colleges’ page on this site.

Prioritisation of Applicants Eligible for both DARE & HEAR

Research has shown that students with disabilities from disadvantaged backgrounds face the greatest obstacles when it comes to progression to higher education. In order to increase the numbers of students facing this ‘double disadvantage’, colleges participating in DARE and HEAR have agreed to prioritise this group when allocating reduced points places.

Prioritisation of Eligible DARE Applicants with a Physical or Sensory Disability

Research has identified that students with physical and sensory (Blind/ Vision Impairment and Deaf/ Hard of Hearing) disabilities are particularly underrepresented in higher education in Ireland relative to all students with disabilities. In order to increase the numbers of DARE students with physical and sensory disabilities being admitted to higher education, the DARE colleges have agreed to prioritise these two groups when allocating reduced points places.

College Supports

You don’t have to be eligible for DARE to get support in college. All students with a verified disability, regardless of whether they come through DARE or not, can avail of a variety of academic, personal and social supports while studying at third level.

College supports may include:

  • Orientation programmes.
  • Learning support.
  • Assistive technology.
  • Library support.
  • Exam accommodations.
  • Educational Support Worker.
  • Academic tuition.

 

Further Info: https://accesscollege.ie/dare/making-an-application/steps-to-making-an-application/

 

Making a DARE Application

The applicant is responsible for their own application. Section B is done in conjuction with your Guidance Counsellor, Mr. Kearney, who will print and stamp it for you to send to the CAO.

 

Pre-DARE Application

September to December

  • Have you checked accesscollege.ie for the required documentation for your application?
  • Was your Evidence of Disability documentation completed by the appropriate medical/ educational professional within the last 3 years if you are applying under ADD/ ADHD, Mental Health condition and/ or Significant Ongoing Illness?
  • Is your Evidence of Disability documentation signed and stamped by the appropriate professional OR on headed paper OR accompanied by a business card?
  • For applicants with an SLD, have you submitted a full psychological assessment report of any age AND attainment scores dated after 1 February 2017 (if not, Mrs Harte will do further testing)?

 

  • Have you attended one of the DARE clinics which are run by UCC and CIT? You should attend one of these clinics regardless of which college you intend on applying to. Dates and locations are listed on accesscollege.ie

 

DARE Application (as part of CAO application)

December

  • Have you applied online to the CAO to receive a CAO number? You will practice this in Guidance classes.
  • On your CAO application, have you answered YESto Question 1 on your CAO and clicked the SUBMIT button on the Supplementary Information Form (SIF) which reads “Do you want to be considered for the Disability Access Route to Education” by 1 March 2020? This is Section A of your DARE application.

January

Have you contacted your Guidance Counsellor, Mr, Kearney (guidance@bgsmail.ie), to go over your CAO application and complete Section B (Educational Impact Statement)? Mr. Kearney will send this section to your home to be posted to the CAO.

Have you checked Section B for any possible mistakes and contact Mr. Kearney to update them?

Have you sent Section B to the CAO, Tower House, Eglinton Street Galway  by 1 April 2020?

  • Has your Evidence of Disability documentation been completed by the appropriate medical/ educational professional?
  • Have you sent your Evidence of Disability documentation to CAO by 1 April 2020?
  • If you are applying to carry your DARE eligibility forward from 2019 to 2020 have you completed the steps to do that as detailed here?

 

V/ VI: DARE/ HEAR Clinics

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The DARE and HEAR processes are the same no matter what relevant institution you are attending. The clinics in UCC and CIT are free.
Date: Saturday January 16th 2016

Time: 10am – 2pm

Drop in anytime between 10am and 2pm for information on the HEAR and DARE Schemes

  • Talk to DARE and HEAR advisors about your application.
  • Information Videos will be shown hourly throughout the morning.
  • Applicants, parents, guardians, teachers, guidance counsellors all welcome
  • Download the Application Advice Clinic Promotional Poster
Cork: UCC, De Vere Hall, Student Centre (10am-2.00pm)
Cork
Aula Maxima, UCC
6-8pm
DARE HEAR Parent Information evening (UCC)

CIT DARE Clinics

CIT Disability Support Service is hosting its DARE Clinics for 2016 entry on:

  • Tuesday 10th November 2015
  • Tuesday 1st December 2015
  • Tuesday 9th February 2016

Venue:  CIT, Bishopstown
Time: 6:30pm – 8:00pm

Booking essential– please email Christine.Nolan@cit.ie to reserve a place on a clinic.

Parents and students welcome!

Bishopstown Community School

D.A.R.E. (Disability Access Route to Education) in Bishopstown Community School this  Wed. 13th January 2016 at 7.30 pm.

Guest Speaker is Ms. Siobhan Colclough (Advisor to Students with Specific Learning Difficulties, U.C.C.)

 

Admission €10.00.  Parents, Teachers, Students – all welcome.

http://www.cit.ie/dare

VI: DARE Application

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DARE Information

It is advised that before choosing a course, applicants should contact the relevant department to discuss the suitability of the course and check any minimum entry requirements such as levels of Maths and number of Honours subjects required and any other requirements of a particular course such as a portfolio or interview.