Guide to Providing Evidence of Your Disability for Support
University College Cork provides a variety of supports for students with disabilities or learning difficulties. To access Disability Support, you need to submit evidence of your disability.
Below is a guide on how to provide evidence of your disability for support.
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) | Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Type of Documentation Needed:
Evidence of Disability Form or Existing Report.
Appropriate Professional:
A report from an appropriately qualified consultant Psychiatrist or psychologist or Neurologist or paediatrician providing a diagnosis of add/ADHD.
Autistic Spectrum Disorder (including Asperger’s Syndrome)
Type of Documentation Needed:
Evidence of Disability Form or Existing Report.
Appropriate Professional:
A report from an appropriately qualified consultant Psychiatrist or psychologist or Neurologist or paediatrician providing a diagnosis of ASD.
Blind | Vision Impaired
Type of Documentation Needed:
Evidence of Disability Form or Existing Report
Appropriate Professional:
A report from one or more of the following:
- Ophthalmologist/ophthalmic surgeon providing a diagnosis of severe reduction in vision that cannot be corrected with standard glasses or contact lenses. The diagnosis must be in relation to best-corrected visual acuity or field of vision.
- A letter from the National Council for the Blind of Ireland confirming registration.
- A letter from the principal from a school for the blind confirming attendance.
N.B. Evidence from high street retailers not acceptable
Deaf | Hard of Hearing
Type of Documentation Needed:
Evidence of Disability Form or Existing Report
Appropriate Professional:
A report from one or more of the following:
- An audiogram from a professionally qualified audiologist and/or ENT consultant, indicating moderate to profound bilateral hearing loss (i.e. above 40dB).
- A letter from the principal from a school for the deaf confirming attendance.
N.B. evidence from high street retailers not acceptable
Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD) - Dyspraxia | Dysgraphia
Type of Documentation Needed:
Evidence of Disability Form or Existing Report.
Appropriate Professional:
A report from a psychologist or an occupational therapist or neurologist diagnosing developmental co-ordination disorder (dyspraxia) or physiotherapist.
Intellectual Disability
Type of Documentation Needed:
Evidence of Disability Form or Existing Report.
Appropriate Professional:
Relevant Specialist.
Mental Health Condition
Type of Documentation Needed:
Evidence of Disability Form.
Appropriate Professional:
A report from a consultant psychiatrist or specialist registrar.
Note: The evidence must be dated within the last five years.
Neurological Condition (incl. Epilepsy and Brain Injury)
Type of Documentation Needed:
Evidence of Disability Form or Existing Report.
Appropriate Professional:
Neurologist or other relevant consultant.
Physical Disability | Mobility
Type of Documentation Needed:
Evidence of Disability Form or Existing Report.
Appropriate Professional:
A report from an orthopaedic consultant or other relevant specialist diagnosing a significant physical or mobility difficulty.
Significant ongoing illness
Type of Documentation Needed:
Evidence of Disability Form or Existing Report.
Appropriate Professional:
- Diabetes type 1 – endocrinologist or paediatrician
- Cystic fibrosis – consultant respiratory physician or pediatrician
- Gastroenterology condition – Gastroenterologist
- Other – Consultant or Consultant registrar
Note: The evidence must be dated within the last five years.
Speech and Language Communication Disorder
Including (but not exclusively) Stammering; Receptive and/or Expressive Language Disorders; Unintelligibility due to a phonological disorder, articulation disorder associated with structural anomalies; Acquired communication disorders such as Aphasia, Anomia, Dysarthria, Dyspraxia resulting from neurological conditions, or any Neurodegenerative, or genetic disease associated with impaired communication and social interaction).
Type of Documentation Needed:
Evidence of Disability Form.
Appropriate Professional:
A report from a speech and language therapist.
Specific Learning Difficulty (incl. Dyslexia & Dyscalculia)
Type of Documentation Needed:
A full Psychological Assessment Report.
In the case of older reports additional evidence of relevant attainment scores or a communication from the State Examinations Commission regarding RACE can be submitted to support your application. Such information is available within the DARE Educational Impact Statement completed by schools.
Appropriate Professional:
The report of a psycho-educational assessment by a psychologist OR by an assessor (PATOSS accredited) diagnosing a specific learning difficulty.
Students may be asked for their latest assessment scores/educational reports to assist HEIs in determining the appropriate level of support.
All tests used in the assessment must be valid, reliable and age appropriate.
The CAO/DARE evidence of disability form is not acceptable as the primary evidence of disability for this category of disability.