FAQ's
Who is eligible for disability support?
What supports are available if I register with the Disability Service?
Is my information confidential?
How do I apply to ITT?
How do I register?
When do I contact ITT?
Are there any other supports?
Who should I contact in the Disability Support Service?
Is the campus accessible?
What about accommodation?
What about Transport?
I feel I may have difficulty with my end of year examinations. Is there anything that you can do for me in this area?
Who is eligible for disability support?
The Institute, in keeping with the Equal Status Act, adopts a broad definition of disability, which attempts to encompass all conditions that can amount to a disability. The term disability will apply in the case of
• Physical disability
• Sensory disability
• Learning Disability
• Significant Health Condition
• Hidden Disability
• Mental Health Disability.
What supports are available if I register with the Disability Service?
The Institute is committed to supporting your progress through your studies and is continually working to enhance the facilities available. In response to a student’s individual needs and with the support of the ESF Fund for Students with Disabilities, students currently avail of some of the following supports:
• One-to-One Orientation of Institute Supports and Services
• Learning support needs assessment
• Individual Learning Requirements document to inform staff of support requested
• Library Access & Orientation
• Dedicated Equipment and Assistive Technology
• Specific Examination Accommodations e.g. extra time, special paper, own room
• Sign Language Interpreters
• Readers
• Scribes / Note-takers
• Personal Assistants
• Additional Tuition
• Supported Transport arrangements
• Financial Assistance in cases of serious financial difficulty
Is my information confidential?
The Institute respects the student’s dignity, independence and confidentiality in the provision of its support services
How do I apply to ITT?
Students who wish to apply for entry to 1st year of an undergraduate 1 programme must apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO). Although you are not obliged to do so, if you have a disability or specific learning difficulty you are encouraged to indicate this on the Application Form.
CAO will then contact you to obtain details of the supports that you require, medical evidence of your disability and, where available, an academic reference profiling supports received so far. The CAO will forward these details to the Institute. This allows the Institute to consider, in consultation with you, any specific support needs that you might have.
You may be assured that the declaration of a disability or specific learning difficulty is designed solely to enable the Institute to support access to higher education by students with a disability or specific learning difficulty. Disclosure will not adversely affect your application or your legal rights in any way.
How do I register?
Once you have been offered a place at the Institute, Students with Disabilities/Learning Differences are advised to complete and return the Services to Students with Disabilities Form, which is provided as part of the Student Registration Pack. This form is sealed in an envelope, which is then passed by the Admissions Office to the Access Office.
When do I contact ITT?
You are advised to contact the Access Officer or Dyslexia Support Tutor at the Institute at the earliest possible opportunity, even prior to applying through the CAO. This contact gives you the opportunity to explore the supports available at the Institute and to inform the Institute of your needs.
Are there any other supports?
IT, Tralee has developed a range of student support services to assist students with their academic development and with personal matters. We are dedicated to your education and our friendly support service plays a vital part in your success as a student. Our team can help with most enquiries and when we can’t we will point you in the right direction. The Student Services Office and the Students’ Union co-operate in the provision and development of student services. The Student Services Office co-ordinates all the activities on campus as well as offering advice and support. Services include:
• Student Orientation
• Health Centre
• Counselling Services
• Chaplaincy
• Accommodation Service
• Student Travel
• The Students Union and USIT Office
• International students liaison
• Careers Office
Who should I contact in the Disability Support Service?
Access Officer: Valerie Moore
Tel 066 7191682
Fax 066 7145605
Mobile 086 3682453 (with text)
email valerie.moore@ittralee.ie
Is the campus accessible?
THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
The Institute’s North Campus opened in September 2001. This building meets with the requirements of the current Building Legislation for access for people with disabilities. The South Campus buildings are in existence since the 1970s and in recent years significant work has been completed in the main student areas of the campus to render the buildings more accessible.
There is dedicated parking on each campus for students with disabilities and/or their drivers near each entrance to the Institute. Orientation is available to assist students to become familiar with the campus. Students are encouraged to make known to the appropriate staff and fellow students any obstacles which may obstruct their progress on campus.
NORTH CAMPUS
The Institute’s new North Campus on a 25-hectare site is an important addition in the Institute’s development, providing state-of-the-art facilities for our increasing student numbers. The new campus at Dromtacker provides major facilities in Business, Information Technology, Computing, Hotel, Catering & Tourism as well as the Solas
Centre for clinical studies, the Student Support Services Centre and a Business Incubation Centre.
Further phases of development include a dedicated Library, a Health and Leisure Studies building and all weather grass and playing pitches. Kerry Technology Park, which shares an integrated educational and industrial campus with the Institute, is already the focus of major new enterprise and employment initiatives. It is a particularly exciting time for students, staff and the community served by the Institute.
SOUTH CAMPUS
The Institute’s South Campus is based in Clash West. This campus provides excellent stateof-the-art, high-tech laboratories and lecture theatres for students taking courses in Engineering and Construction Studies, Health & Leisure Studies and Chemical and Life Sciences.
The SHAPE Centre with its top-of-the-range gym and weight equipment and special sports, fitness and leisure facilities, is based in the South Campus.
What about accommodation?
If you require information on accessible accommodation, then please contact the Chaplain, the Access Officer or Student Support Services at the Institute.
Besides your course of study, probably one of the most important aspects of life as a student is your accommodation. The range and quality of accommodation on offer to IT Tralee students reflects the needs of an expanding student population. The town’s proximity to the college means that there is a wide range of accommodation available to students nearby.
A number of accommodation facilities have been recently built in Tralee specifically geared for students. During the academic year 2004/2005, rent for houses, apartments and digs ranged from €40 to €90.
The Student Services Office produces an accommodation booklet listing suitable student apartments, hostels, houses, flats and digs.
The Office also issues an Accommodation Information/Advice Booklet. Booklets are available from the Student Services Office at the start of the academic year. Additional information on accommodation is provided through the Students’ Union Handbook.
What about Transport?
With improvements in transport and communications, Tralee is accessible from any part of Ireland. Road, rail and bus links to Tralee offer students a wide choice of travel options.
Tralee Bus and Rail Station provides links to all major provincial centres. Private bus services offer students alternative transport arrangements on a number of key routes and special provision is made at weekends with coaches travelling many routes not covered by scheduled bus services.
Kerry County Airport now provides an essential national, cross-channel and international air link for the whole southwest region. It is now a key element in developments relating to industry, commerce, employment and education for the region.
Through the Students’ Union USIT Office, students can avail of a range of national and international student travel concessions.
KERRY COMMUNITY TRANSPORT LTD - “YOUR COMMUNITY BUS”
Kerry Community Transport Ltd aims to provide an integrated, accessible and affordable public transport system that links individuals living in rural communities with local services and facilities. All services operate semi flexible routes throughout the county and can deviate up to 2 miles to collect customers at their own doors. Currently 40% of our services are provided by fully wheelchair accessible buses.
The cost of most services is €4 single or return. Free Travel Passes are accepted on all routes. For information on a service in your area please ring lo-call 1890 528 528 or 066 7147002 Monday to Friday (9.00am to 5.30pm).
I feel I may have difficulty with my end of year examinations. Is there anything that you can do for me in this area?
ITT will make Examination accommodations where the need is.
Institute of Technology Tralee, Clash, Tralee,
Co. Kerry, Ireland
Telephone: +353 (0)66 7145600 | Fax: +353
(0)66 7125711 | Email: info@staff.ittralee.ie