Current students

You can apply in several ways: 

• Via Disability Services Connect click the option to register with Disability Support Services.
• Via email DisabilityServices@UL.ie
• During one of our Drop-in sessions in GLO – 036/040

Documentation

You must provide appropriate evidence of a disability, specific learning difficulty or ongoing medical/mental health condition in order to progress your application.

• Your DARE application if you were a DARE eligible CAO applicant
• A report from a relevant medical consultant/specialist with evidence of your disability, significant ongoing illness, mental health condition and/or specific learning difficulty. Type of Documentation Accepted (Please click the link to download)
• An Evidence of Disability Form completed by your GP/Health Professional/Specialist
• A copy of your RACE Accommodations for the Leaving Certificate exams.
• An Assessment of Need or School Statement from your secondary school

Code of Practice and Consent to Disclose

You will be asked to sign a code of practice which outlines your rights and responsibilities in receiving reasonable accommodations on application. All information provided by Students is completely confidential. Once permission to share information is received, this will only be sent to the relevant people/departments as outlined in the code of practice.  

Reasonable Accommodations Assessment

You will be invited to attend a Reasonable Accommodations Assessment with one of our Disability Support Staff. This can take place online or in person and is an opportunity to discuss and identify any reasonable accommodations or other support requirements. After checking personal details, staff will go through:

• Previous supports/resources/aids
• Strategies/compensatory skills and strengths
• Impact of a person’s disability/condition on daily life and education
• Course demands
• Any questions students may have. 

Reasonable Accommodations (RA) Report

Once your reasonable accommodations have been agreed at the Reasonable Accommodations Assessment, they will be available for you and your module leaders to view via Disability Services Connect . If you have been assigned an alternative location e.g. smaller shared venue, computer venue etc. for end of semester exams, this information can also be accessed via Disability Services Connect when the main UL exam timetable is released. It is vital that students check that all details are correct and should contact disabilityservices@ul.ie immediately if any adjustments need to be made

A reasonable accommodation (RA) is an adjustment to learning, teaching, research, or assessment that helps students with disabilities participate fully in their education.

How accommodations are decided

• Accommodations are tailored to each student and are agreed during a Reasonable Accommodation Assessment with a staff member.
• Decisions are based on the student's certified disability or specific learning difficulty.
• Accommodations at UL may differ from those provided by a student's home institution.
• Examination accommodations follow national guidelines from the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and DAWN (Disability Advisors Working Network).

Examples of reasonable accommodations

• Extra exam time (typically 10 minutes per hour)
• Use of a computer or assistive technology
• Access to a smaller shared exam venue
• Lecture slides provided in advance
• Permission to record lectures (audio only)

What accommodations may involve

Reasonable accommodations can include:

• Changes to procedures or course delivery
• Additional support services, such as exam arrangements
• Adjustments to the physical environment

Student rights and university responsibilities

Students with disabilities are legally entitled to reasonable accommodations. The university is supported by funding from the European Social Fund to help provide these services.

The university is committed to complying with:

• The Equal Status Act 2000, which prohibits discrimination in access to courses, facilities, and services
• The Disability Act 2005, which requires public service providers to support access for people with disabilities

For further details, see the university's Reasonable Accommodation Policy and Practice documentation.

Once your reasonable accommodations have been approved, the DSS will share this information with Academic Registry which has responsibility for arrangements during end-of-semester exams.

Steps for exam accommodations

Here are the steps to ensure correct end-of-semester exam accommodations are in place for you.

1. Complete all steps to register with the Disability Service via Disability Services Connect, including attending an assessment meeting if required by week 6.
2. Confirm your module registration in Week 1 on the student portal as required by the University
3. Ensure that the module registration information on Disability Services Connect is also correct. Email Disabilityservices@ul.ie immediately if there are any discrepancies. 

Academic Registry requires the DSS to provide all reasonable accommodation information by week 6 in each semester so that they can make suitable arrangements for end-of-semester exams. 

Reasonable accommodations cannot be guaranteed beyond this point. The onus is on students to ensure they have fully completed registration with DSS and that all information on Disability Services Connect relating to reasonable accommodations in exams is correct. For any further information, phone on 061-213478 or email Disabilityservices@ul.ie

If you need help with any of the below tasks, please contact a member of staff from Disability Support Services. We can only assist you if you inform us of a problem.

• Complete all tasks as instructed by Academic Registry
• Log on to a campus computer and activate your student email. Check your emails first thing every morning. All information which is disseminated throughout the university is done so through email.
• Print student timetable.
• Locate lecture halls and classrooms relevant to you.
• Disability Support Services will provide you with print credit at the beginning of the semester in order for us to do so you must activate your print account by printing one page on campus.
• Attend all classes/labs/tutorials
• Print or save course outlines. Course outlines are given out by each lecturer at the beginning of each semester. They outline important information for the module. Learning goals and expectations will be outlined in this document as well as course assessments. All contact details for the lecturer will be included here as well as the lecturer’s office hours. This is a vital document.
• Familiarise yourself with who your academic advisor is. Your academic advisor can help you with any academic issues you may have and their contact details can be found through the student portal.
• Become familiar with the library and the library website. Attend a tour and learn how to use the electronic catalogue.
• Learn how to type. A typing program is provided by Disability Support Services. Typing is one of the key skills needed by first-year students.

International students who require Reasonable Accommodations and/or Teaching and Learning supports during their time at UL can apply to register with the DSS.

Before you arrive

We advise all prospective students to contact DSS in advance of their arrival to UL, particularly if they require transport, a sight guide, technology, or personal assistant supports. 

These types of supports may take more time to arrange, and some services may not be available to all students. Prospective students can contact DSS directly at Disabilityservices@ul.ie or +353 (0)61 234847/202965 to discuss these requirements. We can also facilitate an online pre-arrival meeting if applicable.

Registering with DSS

Once a student has confirmed their place with UL, they can apply to register with  Disability Support Services (DSS). 

All students must attend a reasonable accommodations meeting (online or in person), and submit documentation evidencing their disability/condition to support their application. 

Documentation must be provided in English, however, documentation which has been completed in a language other than English can be submitted once accompanied by an English translation conducted by a legitimate translation service.

Reasonable accommodations (RAs)

A reasonable accommodation is an amendment to the student’s learning, teaching, research and assessment which enables students to participate fully in their education.  

RAs are determined on a case-by-case basis during an RA assessment meeting with a member of staff in collaboration with the student.

Please note that RAs provided to incoming international students at UL may differ from those offered by their home institutions. Examination accommodations are aligned with national guidelines provided by the Higher Education Authority and DAWN (Disability Advisors Working Network). For example, the standard provision for extra time during examinations is 10 minutes per hour. 

Examples of Reasonable Accommodations provided:

• Extra time: 10 minutes per hour during exams
• Use of a computer/assistive technology
• Access to a smaller, shared exam venue.
• Access to lecture slides in advance
• Recording of Lectures (audio only)

Student Health Centre

DSS encourages all international students to register with the Student Health Centre | University of Limerick as soon as possible on arrival. Students can also register with the Student Health Centre GP in their public practice location for out-of-hours services. 

Under Irish Law, a Service Dog/Animal is defined as a highly trained dog that has been specifically trained to assist a person with a disability. To be recognised as such it must be licensed by and registered with one of the following or an international equivalent:

• Irish Guide Dogs For The Blind
• Dogs For The Disabled (Cork)
• Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland
• My Canine Companion
• Canine Partners (UK)
• Dog A.I.D. (UK)
• Guide Dogs UK
• Hearing Dogs For Deaf People (UK)
• Medical Detection Dogs (UK)
• International Guide Dog Federation

At present, Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) are not accredited or legally recognised under Irish law and are therefore not permitted on campus.

University of Limericks Students Complaint Procedure