How to Apply for Reasonable Accommodations with the Disability Service
Applications for reasonable accommodations with the Disability Service can be broken down into 12 easy steps.
Applications for reasonable accommodations with the Disability Service can be broken down into 12 easy steps and most of the process takes place online at my.tcd.ie, your student portal, where you can also complete your registration for your chosen course and see your course and exam timetables.
Please note that if you have already applied for reasonable accommodations with the Disability Service in previous academic years there is no need to re-apply but please notify the Disability office by emailing askds@tcd.ie.
Steps to complete your application for Reasonable Accommodations
There are a range of supports available for disabled students in Trinity. To access these supports, the Trinity disAbility Service require you to submit evidence of your disability. The evidence of disability you provide is used to assess the impact of your disability and ensure you get appropriate support. It will be assessed by disability professionals in Trinity who have expertise and an in-depth knowledge of the impact of disability in the academic environment.
Evidence of Disability
When submitting your evidence of disability documentation, please submit documents that have been written by the appropriate medical professional for your disability as per the table below. If you are unable to access the appropriate medical professional, we encourage students to meet with the College Health Service, the Student Counselling Service, or their own private medical practice submitting the evidence of disability form for them to complete.
Support for students with a temporary disability
Students who experience a temporary disability may avail of temporary exam accommodations if they can provide appropriate medical documentation.
|
Type of Disability |
Appropriate Documentation |
Type of Professional |
Age of report |
|
ADHD |
Evidence of Disability Form OR Existing report |
Consultant Psychiatrist OR Psychologist OR Neurologist OR Paediatrician |
No age limit |
|
Autism Spectrum Disorder |
Evidence of Disability Form OR Existing report |
Consultant Psychiatrist OR Psychologist OR Neurologist OR Paediatrician |
No age limit |
|
Blind/Vision Impaired |
Evidence of Disability Form OR Existing report |
Ophthalmologist OR Ophthalmic Surgeon |
No age limit |
|
Deaf/Hard of Hearing |
Evidence of Disability Form OR Existing report |
An audiogram from an Audiologist OR ENT Consultant OR a Letter from a Deaf School Principal Confirming Attendance |
No age limit |
|
Developmental Coordination Disorder - Dyspraxia |
Evidence of Disability Form OR Existing report |
Occupational Therapist OR Neurologist OR Physiotherapist OR Paediatrician |
No age limit |
|
Mental Health Condition |
Evidence of Disability Form OR Existing report |
Consultant Psychiatrist OR Specialist Registrar |
Less than 5 years old |
|
Neurological Condition |
Evidence of Disability Form OR Existing report |
Neurologist OR Other relevant Consultant |
No age limit |
|
Physical Disability |
Evidence of Disability Form OR Existing report |
Orthopaedic Consultant OR Other relevant Consultant appropriate to the disability/ condition |
No age limit |
|
Significant Ongoing Illness |
Evidence of Disability Form OR Existing report |
Relevant Consultant/ Specialist appropriate to the disability/ condition |
Less than 5 years old |
|
Speech and Language Communication Disorder |
Evidence of Disability Form OR Existing report |
Speech and Language Therapist |
No age limit |
|
Specific Learning Difficulty (Dyslexia / Dyscalculia) |
Evidence of Disability Form OR Existing report |
Psychologist OR Special Educational Needs (SEN) Teacher and countersigned by Principal/Deputy Principal. |
No age limit |
Please do not begin your application until you have these documents ready to upload.
Step 1
Login to my.tcd.ie by entering your Trinity student username and password.
Step 2
Click on ‘My Disability Service’ Tab and click on ‘Reasonable Accommodations Application'.
Step 3
Read the instructions on the Welcome Page.
Step 4
Select your Primary and Secondary Disability from the drop-down Menu and add your support requirements.
Step 5
Read and agree to the Trinity Reasonable Accommodation policy.
Step 6
Read and agree to Trinity Consent to Disclose Disability Information form.
Step 7
Read about the support routes available to you.
Step 8
Choose yes or no to receiving exam accommodations.
Step 9
Select your Evidence of Disability to upload.
Step 10
Upload your Evidence of Disability.
Step 11
Finish the application process by clicking the submit option.
Step 12
A member of the DS will be in contact with you to arrange an appointment.
Step 1 - Login to my.tcd.ie
Firstly, go online via a web browser and in the address box please enter my.tcd.ie.
Login with your Trinity username and password; these are the same details you were given to complete your Trinity course registration.
Step 2 - Click on My Disability Service to start your application
Once you access my.tcd.ie, click on the ‘My Disability Service’ tab on the top of the screen under the Menu. You will be brought to the Disability Service Application page to start your online application process.
Step 3 - Read the instructions on the Welcome Page
Click on the link called: ‘Reasonable Accommodation Application '. You will be presented with information in relation to your online Disability Support application. Read the information provided and then click on the ‘Proceed’ button to continue with your application.
Step 4 - Select your Disability Category & support requirements
You will be asked to indicate the primary disability that relates to your application with the Disability Service.
You will be provided with a dropdown menu of 12 categories and will be asked to select the disability that applies to you and impacts on you the most. If you have a secondary disability, please select the category from the second drop down menu under Secondary Disability. This may not apply to you as you may only have one disability, and if so select 'None'. If you have more than two disabilities, indicate the two that impact on you the most.
In addition, supply a brief note (max 500 characters) in the text box to describe your disability support requirements and click on the 'Continue' button.
Step 5 - Trinity Reasonable Accommodation policy
The Reasonable Accommodation Policy outlines your rights and responsibilities as a student with a disability in availing of the supports provided by the Disability Service in Trinity. It is an important document, to read the Trinity Reasonable Accommodation Policy in full you should click on this link.
You need to confirm that you have read it and whether you agree to it. Tick ‘Yes’, if you have fully read it and agree to the points outlined within this document.
It is important to be aware that if you do not agree to the points outlined within the above linked policy, then you will be unable to continue with the application process and fully apply for reasonable accommodations with the Disability Service. This will delay your application to receive Reasonable Accommodations
If you have queries about the Reasonable Accomodation Policy, please contact a member of the Disability Service staff for more information.
Step 6 - Read and agree Consent to Disclose Disability Information
The next step requires you to read and agree to Trinity Consent to Disclose and Share Disability Information. This consent to disclose disability information form explains how we manage your information.
Once you have read the ‘Trinity Consent to Disclose Disability Information form’ you need to confirm that you have read it and whether you agree to it. Tick ‘Yes’, if you have fully read it and agree to the points outlined within this document.
It is important to be aware that if you do not agree to the points outlined within the Trinity Consent to Disclose Disability Information form, then you will be unable to continue with this application process. This will delay your application to receive Reasonable Accommodations.
If you have queries about the Trinity Consent to Disclose Disability Information form, please contact a member of the Disability Service staff for more information.
Step 7 - Support Routes
Read the text within the application page and make yourself aware of the two support routes available to students and click ‘Next’.
Once you have applied for Reasonable Accommodations online with the Disability Service a Disability Officer will review your evidence of disability. The Disability Officer will determine if your support can be confirmed by issuing you with a needs assessment report (called a LENS report) in your Trinity portal my.tcd.ie.
The Disability Officer may invite you to attend a group information session to provide you with additional details on specific types of support available. If the Disability Officer decides a meeting with you is required, they will contact you to carry out a one-to-one needs assessment. Typical supports you can access via the Disability Service may be:
- Access to assistive technology;
- Exam accommodations such as extra time;
The library supports such as additional borrowing privileges.
Specialist Disability Supports:
Students who may require specialist support will be invited to meet with a member of the Disability Service team on a one-to-one basis to discuss the support available. A full needs assessment will be carried out during this one-to-one meeting. Following this, a needs assessment report called a LENS report will be provided to you. Specialist Disability Supports include:
- Assistive Technology Support and Training;
- Respite room access;
- Access to Occupational Therapy supports;
- Individual set exam accommodations;
- Physical access accommodations.
Step 8 - Exam Accommodations
Choose ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ in the dropdown menu to receive exam accommodations and then click ‘Next’.
- If you require exam accommodations such as extra time, choose 'Yes'If you do not require exam accommodations, choose 'No'.
- Please review exam accommodation information by following this link.
Deadlines:
Please be aware of the deadlines for each semester and the reassessment period for the application and updating of exam accommodations.
Trinity has set examination deadlines for each semester and reassessment period as follows:
- Semester 1 assessments and Foundation Scholarship assessment: last Friday in October annually
- Semester 2 assessments: last Friday in February annually
- Reassessments: last Friday in June annually
Step 9 - Select your Evidence of Disability to upload
You are required to upload your Evidence of Disability at this stage. You must select the type of evidence of a disability that you are uploading from the dropdown menu at the bottom of the page.
Please check what evidence of disability applies to you on the Trinity Evidence of Disability Form form.
For all DARE students, please upload the evidence you submitted to the CAO.
If you do not have appropriate evidence of your disability you should forward the Evidence of Disability form to your medical consultant/specialist to be completed.
Once you have selected the evidence of disability to upload, then click ‘Proceed to Upload Document’.
Once you have selected the evidence of disability from the dropdown list provided click 'Upload Document’ to find and upload your document.
Scan and save your Evidence of Disability as one document on your computer as this will assist you when uploading it.
Step 10 - Upload your Evidence of Disability
Upload your evidence of disability, by clicking on the ‘Browse’ button and searching for the file on your computer. (Please be advised that your evidence should be scanned and saved as one document prior to upload). Then click on the ‘Upload File’ button. You will be informed when the upload is complete. If you have more documents to upload, select ‘Upload another Document’ and follow the same process.
Students may find the following app www.camscanner.com useful, it enables you to use your phone/tablet camera to scan a document and save it in PDF format.
This link also has useful information regarding apps that can provide tech support.
Step 11 - Submit Application
To finish your Application for Reasonable Accomodations, please click on the 'Submit Application' button.
Step 12 - Await Contact from the Disability Service
Your application for Reasonable Accommodations is now complete and all you need to do is wait to hear from a member of the Disability Service who will contact you, schedule an appointment to finalise your application and arrange Reasonable Accommodations with you.
You will receive an in-tray message to your my.tcd.ie portal to confirm that you have completed all the steps required.
You should also read our Student Handbook and familiarise yourself with the range of supports provided via the Disability Service.
