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:

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.

Alternative Verification

Students who come to UCC and are unable to provide the disability evidence outlined above can avail of a general level supports (e.g. Exam Accommodations, Academic supports, advice on Assistive Technology and access to a Disability Advisor ) by providing this completed Evidence of Disability Form, from one of the following; a GP/Health Professional/Specialist (e.g. Psychologist).