Code of Practice

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

• to outline to students with disabilities their rights and responsibilities in receiving reasonable accommodations in TU Dublin
• to define TU Dublin’s rights and responsibilities to students with disabilities, and the Institute community

For the purpose of this document and all TU Dublin policies relating to students with disabilities, please see the following definition of Reasonable Accommodation:

A reasonable accommodation might be any action that helps alleviate a substantial disadvantage. Making a reasonable accommodation might involve changing procedures, modifying the delivery of the course taken, providing additional services (e.g., examination arrangements, materials in large print), or altering the physical environment.

Reasonable accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis for each student, as part of the needs-assessment process and in accord with the student’s certified disability or specific learning difficulty.

Your 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 identify themselves and register with the DSS.
• All students who wish to receive accommodations or support must come forward for registration with the DSS in a timely manner, normally six weeks prior to exams.
• Students must provide documentary evidence of disability and meet the Learning Support Officer to complete a needs assessment in order to obtain reasonable accommodations and other supports e.g., learning support, exam accommodations.
• Students need to advise the relevant Learning Support Officer of any change in their circumstances that may require alterations to accommodations.
• Students should engage with all lectures, tutorials, and labs as per their respective timetables.
• Students who require the service of 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 24 hours in advance).

Our responsibilities:

• Assist students with disabilities who self-identify and meet TU Dublin’s criteria for eligibility, to receive reasonable and appropriate accommodations.
• 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 wish 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 integrate them into the Service.
• To make onward referrals to relevant and appropriate services e.g., Health & Safety.
• To follow and disseminate the DAWN guidelines in relation to teaching, learning, and exams.
  To adapt our service in line with prevailing COVID Government advice.

Every student with a disability has the right to:

• Reasonable and appropriate accommodations (adjustments and supports) and/or auxiliary aids determined on a case-by-case basis and in accord with the individual’s certified disability/specific learning difficulty.
• Appropriate confidentiality of disability records (files) and that disclosure of information will only happen with the student’s written consent.
• Have information be made reasonably available in accessible formats.
  Be treated with dignity and respect.

Every student with a disability has the responsibility to:

• Identify himself or herself in a timely manner as an individual with a disability when seeking accommodation.
• Complete a Needs Assessment and provide documentation from an acceptable professional source that verifies the nature of the disability.
• Register with the Disability Support Service and follow Disability Support Service and TU Dublin procedures if they wish to obtain reasonable and appropriate accommodations, examination accommodations, and/or auxiliary aids.
• Treat staff of the Institute with dignity and respect.
• Ensure all their exam supports are in place.

TU Dublin has the right to:

• Maintain TU Dublin’s academic standards.
• 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, having obtained the student's signed consent authorising such disclosure and discussion.
• Select from equally effective and appropriate accommodations and/or auxiliary aids in consultation with students with disabilities.
• Deny a request for accommodation and/or auxiliary aid if the documentation does not identify a specific disability and/or functional limitation, if it fails to verify the need for the requested services or if it is not provided in a timely manner.
• Refuse to provide an accommodation and/or auxiliary aid that is inappropriate or unreasonable, including any that pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others, constitute a substantial change or alteration to an essential element of a course or programme, or pose undue financial or administrative hardship on TU Dublin.

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 upon request.
• 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.
• More specifically, the TU Dublin Disability Support Service has the responsibility to:
• Assist students with disabilities to self-identify and meet TU Dublin’s criteria for eligibility to receive reasonable and appropriate accommodations and/or auxiliary aids determined on a case-by-case basis.
• Assure confidentiality (subject to the student signing the disclosure of information form) of all information pertaining to a student's disability.
• Make students on professional courses aware of any relevant Fitness to Practise or Fitness to Study policies.

What can you expect from us?

The TU Dublin Disability Support Service will endeavour to help and support you for the duration of your study to the best of our abilities and if for any reason we cannot, then we will refer you to another person who can.

We will:

• Provide up to six 1:1 learning support meetings (if required)
• Provide group sessions on learning strategies.
• Regularly give you up-to-date information

What do we expect from you?

• We expect that you will participate fully as a student of TU Dublin.
• We ask that you attend all lectures.
• That you will attend all tutorials.
• Attend study skills sessions.
• Attend all arranged appointments with the Disability Support team and contact the relevant staff member in a timely manner, if unable to attend an appointment.