Disability Awareness Week
Written by Eoghan Healy
|
30 November 2011
Disability Awareness Week
Monday 5th December to Thursday 8th December 2011
UCC Students’ Union
&
Disability Support Service
Collaborating to Raise Awareness and Understanding of the Needs of Students
with Hidden Disabilities
Monday 5th December: Deaf Awareness
Wednesday 7th December: Dyslexia Awareness
Thursday 8th December: Epilepsy Awareness
The Disability Support Service (DSS) supports over 700 students with disabilities. The majority of
these students registered with the DSS because of the implication of the hidden disability/ learning
difficulty in the learning environment. The aim of the DSS is to empower students with disabilities to
achieve their academic and vocational goals. The DSS organises a range of educational, technological
and personal supports based on an assessment of each student’s need depending on the impact of the
disability/learning difficulty in the educational environment.
Deaf Awareness---- Monday 5th December
Students who are Deaf / Hard of Hearing make up approximately 6% of all students registered with
the DSS. These students may find the transition to college life difficult as they need to adapt to a
new learning environment where lecture theatres are very large and assessment processes may include
participation in group projects and oral presentations in some module areas. In UCC, Deaf / Hard of
Hearing students are supported by a dedicated disability advisor who assesses their needs for supports
in the context of the degree programme they are pursuing. Supports can include provision of Irish Sign
Language interpreters, alternative examination arrangements, assistive technologies and notetaking /
Speed Text services. Speed Text is a specialised software programme which allows for computer to
computer interaction. A notetaker transcribes the content of a lecture onto a laptop while the student
reads the information from the screen on their own laptop.
The Cork Deaf Association will host a stand outside the Boole from 12 – 2pm. An information session
will be held Monday night from 6 – 8pm in Boole 1. Mr. Graham O’Shea, a graduate of UCC who is himself
Deaf, will be the speaker on the night. An Irish Sign Language Interpreter will also be present to
facilitate communication with the audience. Graham is currently running FETAC accredited Irish Sign
Language Classes for academic and administrative staff of UCC and he also works as a tutor for Deaf
Dyslexia Awareness—Wednesday 7th December
Approximately 48% of students registered with the DSS have a Specific Learning Difficulty of Dyslexia.
Dyslexia is a language based learning difficulty and students experience problems with specific skills
such as memory, information processing, reading, spelling and organisational skills. Dyslexia affects
students in different ways depending on level of dyslexia experienced. Students with Dyslexia are
supported by dedicated staff at DSS who assess their needs in managing their studies in the higher
educational environment. The DSS encourages all dyslexic students to become IT and AT literate.
Dyslexic students are trained in the use of specialised software called Read and Write Gold which
enables them manage their difficulties and become independent learners. Other supports available
to dyslexic students include alternative examination arrangements, some subject specific tuition, and
notetaking support in cases where students’ experience major difficulties due to impact of dyslexia.
The Dyslexia Association of Ireland will host a stand outside of the Boole Library between 12.00 and
2.00pm on Wednesday 7th December.
Janet Thomas, Dyslexia Advisor in the DSS, will host an information session on Dyslexia from 6 – 8pm
in Boole 1. Janet has worked with the DSS for many years and has valuable insight into the difficulties
experienced by Dyslexic students at third level. The Dyslexia support team in the DSS also support
students with other learning difficulties such as Dyspraxia, Dyscalculia, ADD/ADHD and Asperger’s
Epilepsy Awareness—Thursday 8th December
Students with Epilepsy count for approximately 2% of all students registered with the DSS in UCC.
Many of these students need to take medication to control their seizures. Some of the side effects of
this medication include drowsiness, nausea, dizziness, disorientation and difficulties with concentration
and memory. Seizures themselves result in absences from lectures and students need recovery time
which is dependent on the severity and frequency of the seizures. Moving on to third level can be a
daunting experience for students with epilepsy especially if the condition is volatile. The DSS has a
dedicated disability advisor for students with significant on- going illnesses which includes epilepsy. The
educational supports required by students that live with epilepsy vary from one student to another and
depends on the impact and severity of the condition. These supports may include some subject specific
tuition and alternative examination arrangements.
Brainwave (The Irish Epilepsy Association) will host a stand located outside the Boole from 12 – 2pm.
Mary Lawlor from Brainwave will speak on the topic of Epilepsy on Thursday night from 6 - 8pm in Boole
All are welcome to attend these talks.
For further information please contact
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