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DS Ethos: At the Trinity College Dublin Disability Service, we believe in empowering our disabled students and staff to reach their full potential. We are committed to providing a transformative and sustainable approach to support, where disabled individuals play an active role in developing essential life skills and planning their educational and professional journey. By working together, we aim to create an inclusive and accessible environment that fosters independence and success for all.
DS Mission: To create an accessible, transformational, educational environment in an interdependent University community and provide a platform for innovation and inclusion.
DS Vision: Engage the wider University community in empowering students with disabilities.
DS Values: Inclusive, Advocating, Collaborative, Inquisitive, Pioneering, Positive disruptors, Dynamic.
The Disability Service Journey
The Disability Service (DS) has two principle functions, firstly is to provide support to Trinity’s disabled community (which comprises students and staff, and indirectly; visitors) and to recommend policy and procedural changes as required. Secondly, DS ensures Trinity is compliant with the Disability Act 2005 and other relevant legislation and codes of practice. The DS has evolved and developed since the last quality review in 2005, this evolution and description of the functions are outlined below.
Timeline on the development of the Disability Service in Trinity College Dublin
1995
Special Needs Committee established.
1996
Disability Liaison Officer, part-time academic, appointed to support students with disabilities in College.
2000
A full-time Disability Officer was appointed on 1st June 2000, and an office in the Arts Building, Room 2054 (previously a respite room) was provided for the Service.
2001
HEA Strategic Initiative funding was granted to develop assistive technology and information services.
2002
Provision of 9 accessible residence rooms in 3 houses in Botany Bay.
2003
The Assistive Technology and Information Centre (ATIC) opened in the new Ussher Library.
2004
The University’s Strategic Plan 2004-2007 stated that ‘Disabled students will find the College will have access to a learning and social environment which will be more appropriate to their needs.
2004
An Occupational Therapy support service was established in 2004 and was a unique collaboration with the Discipline of Occupational Therapy.
2005
The first external Disability Service Quality Review took place in May 2005. Some of the recommendations included; increased staffing; College needs to continue its inclusivity, and universal access principles need to be implemented.
2005
Disability Act 2005 enacted on September 1st 2005 resulting in a number of positive measures in College.
2006
The Pavilion bar was made fully accessible.
2007
A Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Disability Needs Assessment) was developed by the Disability Service with the School of Education; 22 students graduated from this programme.
2008
College received Strategic Innovation (SIF 2) funding for Trinity Inclusive Curriculum (TIC). The development of TIC was a partnership between CAPSL, access initiatives and the academic community, and ran from October 1st 2008 to 2012.
2008
College-wide physical access audit conducted in mid-to-late 2008.
2009
College Board approved the College Accessible Information Policy.
2009
An eGovernment Web Accessibility Award was presented to the Disability Service for its efforts to make the website accessible to disabled users.
2009
Ability Awards - Trinity College was selected as an Ability Company at the 02 Ability Awards in 2010.
2010
Tenth Anniversary of the Disability Service. The Disability Service held its first symposium with the launch of a student experience book.
2010
The pathways in Front Square were completed, allowing a fully accessible journey through the main square of the campus.
2010
The Unilink Service launched the Self-Management Programme for students with mental health difficulties.
2011
The Asperger’s Syndrome Support Service website was officially launched by the Minister for Health, Dr. James O’Reilly in November 2011.
2011
Unilink, in collaboration with TCD Equality Fund, the TCD Staff Office, and the Student's Union, developed the '5 A Day for Mental Health' booklet, leaflet, and website.
2011
Trinity received the UK JISC TechDis OASES Award for Institutional Progress on Equality using Technology.
2011
The Pathways to Trinity website was launched on 11th April 2011 to community groups, second level students, professionals / practitioner bodies, schools and guidance counsellors.
2011
Launch of the first DS Strategic Plan 2011- 2014; which aimed to develop clear and effective support systems at all stages in the student journey, from college entrance to graduation to employment was developed.
2012
The Disability Service held its 2nd Annual Symposium in June 2012.
2012
The Transition to employment website and booklet for students with disabilities was launched.
2012
The Unilink Service developed a shared service with Dublin City University, Dublin Institute of Technology, and University College Dublin. Tenders were awarded for each institution.
2013
DS received a significant grant from the Genio Trust to develop a Transition to Employment project supporting college students and recent graduates experiencing mental health difficulties, in their transition to employment.
2013
The Professional Placement Planning Process and Guide for students with disabilities on professional courses were launched at the Disability Service 3rd Annual Symposium.
2014
The Fatigue management booklet was launched in April 2014 by the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences; Prof. Mary McCarron.
2014
The Third Annual Disability Service Symposium is due to take place in September 2014 which will officially see the launch of the Genio-funded project- entitled ‘Career Pathways’.
2014
College committed significant funding of €1 million Euro to ensure compliance with the Disability Act deadline of December 2015, physical access priority works outlined and work plan agreed.
2014
The Pathways Volunteer Programme was launched in June 2014, with 48 students signing up to participate in this ambassador programme.
2015
Disability Service Student Ambassador Programme was established.
2015
Association of Higher Education Careers Services Employability Award presented for the Career Pathways project.
2016
National Ann Beckett Occupational Therapy Award was presented for the Career Pathways Service.
2016
Ambassador Accelerator Programme was established and rolled out with 12 Ambassadors over a 5 week period in the Summer of 2016.
2016
One-week Summer Programme for students with Asperger's Syndrome (Autistic Spectrum Disorder / Condition).
2016
Occupational Therapy Service formerly known as Unilink is changed to Occupational Therapy Support.
2017
Trinity Disability Service hosted the Ready, Steady Go Summer Camp for twenty secondary school students with disabilities.
2017
The Trinity Students with Disabilities Ambassador Programme expanded and recruited 15 new Ambassadors.
2018
The Trinity College Board adopted the Reasonable Accommodation Policy.
2018
Concealed wheelchair lifts were installed in front of entrances to the Exam Hall and the Chapel on Front Square.
2018
Not So Different Creative Ability Programme launched in Trinity.
2019
The Disability Service launched a new website www.autism-uni.org to help students with autism to make the transition from school to university.
2019
Trinity became the first Irish university to install a disabled cycle parking facility.
2020
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Disability Service moved online in March. Disability Service staff were available to meet with students remotely via MS Teams, phone, and email.
2020
The Trinity Ability Co_op, a collaborative initiative between students, staff and other stakeholders working towards inclusion in Trinity, was established in May.
2020
The TCD Forum for Staff & Ph.D Students with Disabilities was established in May.
2020
The Disability Service launched its own instance of the Student Information Desk currently used within Trinity in July.
2020
The Trinity Disability Service Strategic Plan 2020-2025 'Empowering Students with Disabilities was launched in December'.
2021
Trinity Neurodivergent Project was launched in July 2021.
2022
disAbillity Service moves to Printing House Square