Policies, Procedures and Reports

University Legal Obligations – Trinity College Dublin

Trinity College Dublin is legally required to ensure that students with disabilities can participate in all aspects of university life on an equal basis with others. This obligation arises under the Equal Status Acts 2000–2018, the Employment Equality Acts 1998–2015 (in relation to staff and work placements), the Disability Act 2005, and Ireland’s commitments under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

In this context, Trinity is required to provide reasonable accommodations and to take a proactive, systemic approach to accessibility and inclusion.

This legal duty requires the University to:

• Take anticipatory action to identify and remove barriers before they disadvantage students, rather than responding only after issues arise
• Ensure equitable access and participation across teaching, learning, assessment, placements, services, and the physical and digital environment
• Provide reasonable accommodations that are necessary and appropriate, unless doing so would impose a disproportionate burden, in line with statutory provisions
• Ensure that accommodations are effective in practice, not merely available in principle
• Prevent discrimination, harassment, and victimisation on the grounds of disability
• Promote inclusive design and practice, reducing reliance on individual accommodations over time

These obligations apply across the full student lifecycle, including:

Admissions and pre-entry processes

• Teaching, learning, and assessment (including in-course assessment and examinations)
• Access to buildings, facilities, and campus environments
• Digital systems, platforms, and learning resources
• Placements, internships, and professional programmes
• Student services, supports, and wider university activities

Trinity recognises that compliance with legal obligations represents a minimum standard. The University is committed to progressing beyond compliance towards a Universal Design and whole-of-institution approach, embedding accessibility and inclusion within all systems, policies, and practices.

Reasonable Accommodations at Trinity College Dublin

At Trinity College Dublin, Reasonable Accommodations are modifications or adjustments designed to remove or reduce the impact of disability-related barriers, enabling students to participate in teaching, learning, and assessment on an equitable basis.

Reasonable Accommodations are formalised through the LENS (Learning, Educational Needs and Supports) report, which sets out the approved supports required by the student. These supports are implemented by Schools, Academic Registry, and relevant services as part of standard academic provision.

Reasonable Accommodations may involve adjustments to:

• Teaching delivery and learning environments
• Assessment format and conditions
• Access to physical and digital environments
• Provision of supports, including Assistive Technology or human support

Determining What is “Reasonable”

In the Trinity context, an accommodation is considered reasonable where it meets the following criteria:

Effectiveness: It demonstrably reduces or removes the disadvantage experienced by the student
Practicality: It is feasible to implement within the academic and operational context of the module or programme
Proportionality: It does not impose a disproportionate burden on the University
Academic Integrity: It enables the student to demonstrate achievement of learning outcomes without altering the required academic standard
Decisions regarding Reasonable Accommodations are made through a structured process involving the Disability Service, the student, and—where required—the relevant School or Programme.

Assessment-Specific Accommodations

Trinity recognises that most assessments can be adjusted to ensure accessibility. Common Reasonable Accommodations include:

• Additional time in examinations or timed assessments
• Alternative or low-distraction venues
• Adjustments to submission format (e.g. typed rather than handwritten responses)
• Use of support personnel, such as readers, scribes, or Irish Sign Language interpreters
• Access to Assistive Technology, including specialist software or equipment
• A Reasonable Accommodation is intended to ensure that an assessment measures the student’s achievement of module learning outcomes, rather than the impact of their disability.

Competency Standards and Professional Requirements

Certain module learning outcomes may constitute competency standards—core skills or knowledge that all students must demonstrate in order to meet academic or professional requirements.

At Trinity:

• Reasonable Accommodations may be applied to how a competency is assessed, but not to whether it is achieved
• Academic standards, including pass marks and learning outcomes, are not lowered or altered
• In professional programmes, competency standards may be regulated by external bodies, which can limit the extent of permissible adjustments
• Where such constraints apply, they are communicated clearly to students through programme documentation and engagement processes
• In some cases, it may not be possible to provide an adjustment where doing so would fundamentally alter a competency standard or breach professional accreditation requirements.

Illustrative example:
A Nursing student must be able to accurately measure, interpret, and document a patient’s blood pressure using appropriate clinical techniques. While adjustments may be made to the assessment environment or supports provided, the requirement to demonstrate this competence remains unchanged.

Position within Trinity’s Model
Reasonable Accommodations form part of a broader institutional approach that includes:

• Baseline LENS supports for consistent implementation
• Targeted specialist interventions for complex needs
• Universal Design approaches to reduce reliance on individual accommodations over time
• This ensures that accommodations are delivered consistently, while also advancing systemic inclusion across the University.

Evidence and Sources

• Equal Status Acts 2000–2018 (Ireland): duty to provide reasonable accommodation unless disproportionate burden arises
• UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), Article 2 and Article 24
• Trinity College Dublin Reasonable Accommodation Policy and the Disability Service policy frameworks (LENS model, Reasonable Accommodation processes)

If you are about to graduate or if you are transferring to another University and wish to have a copy of the information that you have provided to Trinity Disability Service, please ensure that you request this before you leave Trinity. Such information might include medical evidence or an educational psychologist's report.

Your request for release of information should be submitted in writing, signed by you, and should indicate the following:

• Documents to be forwarded
• Your date of birth
• Your Student number
• Your current/last address
• Your signature

The Disability Service encourage and support research projects related directly to the needs of students with disabilities in Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin. In order to ensure that research projects are well founded, ethical and have a clear benefit to the students who participate in them, please read the Trinity Disability Service Research Protocol 2024.

Disabled Involvement: Mandatory meaningful involvement of disabled individuals in the research design, demonstrating emancipatory practices is essential and evidenced in application.

Whilst the DS is aware that from time to time parents or guardians may have questions or concerns that they may wish to discuss with staff, it is important to acknowledge that a healthy working partnership between students and Disability Service staff, is based on trust. In the first instance, if you have concerns about your student or his or her progress in Trinity, the best person to discuss this with is your son or daughter. 

Legal obligations

Parents/guardians: Due to General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), information about your disability and your support requirements/arrangements will not be shared or discussed with your parents/guardians without your written consent. Please note that even if such consent is provided to share or discuss, parents cannot act, or request changes, on your behalf and that you retain responsibility for engaging with the Disability Service.

Trinity Consent to Disclose and Share Disability Information

A Consent to Confidentiality Waiver will need to be discussed with your Disability Officer and then completed in advance of any meeting taking place.

For more information please read the Disability Service Parent Handbook.

Trinity College Access Officer

As legislated for in the Disability Act 2005, the appointed Access Officer for Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin, is Mr. Declan Treanor, Director, Trinity Disability Service. He is available to help you with any queries that you might have or assistance you may require in relation to the accessibility of information and services provided by Trinity College Dublin. Declan can be contacted directly by e-mail dtreanor@tcd.ie or by phone (+353) 1 896 3475.

Inquiry Officers

The University has appointed Inquiry Officers to process complaints which disabled students, staff or visitors may have in relation to the services offered by Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin. The Inquiry Officer will investigate a complaint and report their findings in writing to both the Provost and the complainant.

• For Students:
  • Ms. Cristina Boccardo, 
    Undergraduate Student Support Officer,
    Senior Tutor’s Office,
    House 27
    Tel: 01 896 1417
    E-mail: ugsupp@tcd.ie
  • Mr. Martin John McAndrew,
    Postgraduate Student Support Officer,
    Senior Tutor’s Office,
    House 27
    Tel: 01 896 1417
    E-mail: pgsupp@tcd.ie

• For Staff and Visitors to Trinity:
  • Ms. Victoria Butler
    Secretary's Office, 
    West Theatre,
    Trinity College Dublin,
    Dublin 2.
    Tel: 01 896 4160
    E-mail: secretary@tcd.ie