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Our People
Meet the Team
Access UCC is an inclusive and collaborative unit that brings together multiple departments dedicated to increasing access to higher education for all students, including those with disabilities, mature students, and those who face other barriers to entry. Comprising of the Disability Support, Plus Programme, and Mature Student Office, Access UCC provides a comprehensive range of services and support to ensure that every student has the opportunity to succeed and reach their full potential.
Olive Byrne | Head of Access UCC
Olive is the Head of Access UCC.
Linda is a Disability Officer and Strategic Projects
Email dssinfo@ucc.ie
Martin is the Manager of PLUS Programme & oversees the Student Budget Advisor and the Student Financial Assistance Fund.
Email: martin.flynn@ucc.ie
Eileen O’Callaghan | Manager of Disability Support
Eileen is the Manager of Disability Support.
Email: dssinfo@ucc.ie
James Outreach officer for UCC / College of Commerce QQI ( fetac) Pre-entry (schools) Outreach Office In office Fridays.
Email: james.bilson@ucc.ie
Disability Support
Disability Support provides a confidential, professional and accessible service for students with disabilities or those requiring adjustments for other reasons. We have a team of Advisers who are available to help you ensure equal opportunity, access and attainment for students within University College Cork.
Darrelle Keegan | Senior Disability Advisor | dssinfo@ucc.ie
Darrelle supports students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, and students who have processing disorders.
Gavin is the advisor for students with autism/ autistic students/ students with aspergers.
Email: dssinfo@ucc.ie
Lisa is the advisor for students who have a significant Ongoing Illness or Neurological Conditions.
Email: dssinfo@ucc.ie
Kathryn is the advisor for students with Mental Health Conditions.
Email: dssinfo@ucc.ie
Michelle is the advisor for students who are Blind or Visually Impaired. Also support some students with a physical disability.
Email: dssinfo@ucc.ie
Abbie is the advisor for students with ADHD and is also an Occupational Therapist.
Email: dssinfo@ucc.ie
Jessica is the advisor for students with Specific Learning Difficulties and Assistant Psychologist.
Email: dssinfo@ucc.ie
Madeline is the advisor for students with physical difficulties/disabilities, Dyspraxia DCD.
Email: dssinfo@ucc.ie
Deirdre is a Senior Executive Assistant
Email: dssinfo@ucc.ie
Deirdre manages schools outreach for DS office and Assistive Technology.
Email: dssinfo@ucc.ie
Dr. Brian Butler is the Universal Design for Learning Advisor to Disability Support
Email: dssinfo@ucc.ie
Thomas is the Assistive Technology Officer for Disability Support
Email: dssinfo@ucc.ie
Emma is a Senior Executive Assistant and manages the Calm Zone.
Email: dssinfo@ucc.ie
Executive Assistant for Disability Support.
Email: dssinfo@ucc.ie
SEA Finance Officer for Disability Support.
Email: dssinfo@ucc.ie
EmployAbility Programme
The Employability Programme is to help Disability Support registered students to be better equipped to make a successful transition from college to the workplace. The students will also be able to focus on their career planning and development. The programme is being run by the Disability Support department in conjunction with partner employers.
Shay works as part of the Employability Project.
Email: dssinfo@ucc.ie
Norma Gene works as part of the Employability Project.
Email: dssinfo@ucc.ie
Elodie works as part of the Employability Project.
Email: dssinfo@ucc.ie
PLUS Programme
The PLUS Programme provides a vast range of academic, financial and social support, enabling HEAR Scheme students to participate fully in student life and reach their full potential.
Working with secondary schools, the UCC PLUS Programme also seeks to target students and provide motivational and educational assistance to them throughout their secondary schooling to enhance their ability to compete for third-level places. Currently, several schools and colleges of further education are linked to the Programme for this purpose.
Evan is the UCC PLUS Student Support Officer for College of Medecine & Health and SEFS (Science,Engineering and Food Sci)
Email: uccplus_sso1@ucc.ie
Jennifer is the UCC PLUS Student Support Officer for students of the College of Business and Law, all IT courses and Economics.
Email: uccplus_sso3@ucc.ie
Allison is UCC PLUS General Admin SEA for Pre-entry ( schools) and Post entry (Undergrads) Support Officers , teams. HEAR Scheme. Also Purchasing, Payroll and Health & Safety in office.
Email:allison.carroll@ucc.ie
Maeve is the UCC PLUS Pre-entry (schools) Outreach Officer for 31 DEIS secondary schools in Munster. On campus events and school visits.
Email: m.minihane@ucc.ie
For HEAR queries: hear@ucc.ie
Paul is a UCC PLUS Pre-entry (schools) Outreach Admin SEA for Primary school / Prof Fluffy and Secondary school Homework Clubs.
Email: paul.geeleher@ucc.ie
Financial Support
The Financial Support department supports students in managing their finances and bridging any financial gaps they may face. With a friendly and confidential approach, the department offers a range of resources, including a Student Assistance Fund and a Student Budgetary Advisor, to help students find the information they need to make informed decisions about their finances.
Deirdre is a Student Financial Assistance Officer (SFSA) who oversees The Student Assistance Fund, Financial-Aid part-time fund, the NAT Bursary and Laptop Loans service for all students.
Email: studentassistancefund@ucc.ie
Cian is the Student Budgetary Advisor for all students in UCC and handles Student Financial Supports & Advice Office and also does 1-2-1 appointments with Student Assistant Fund.
Email: studentbudgetingadvice@ucc.ie
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Emma is an Executive Assistant for the Student Assistance Fund and also works with the Financial Supports and Advice Office.
Email: studentassistancefund@ucc.ie
David works in Financial Supports & Advice Office Student Assistance Fund Laptop Loans as an Admin (All students).
Email: studentassistancefund@ucc.ie
Mature Student and QQI/FE Support
Mature Student and QQI/FE Support assists students coming through QQI/ Fetac entry routes or students who are returning to education.
Damian is a Mature Student Support Officer. Mature alternative entry scheme.
Email: mso@ucc.ie
Katie is a Support Officer for QQI students.
Email: qqisupport@ucc.ie
Michael is General Admin all general MSO queries and QQI entry queries.
Email: mso@ucc.ie or qqisupport@ucc.ie
SOAR Project
The SOAR Project target groups include students from underrepresented socio-economic groups and communities; students with disabilities; mature students; members of the Irish Traveller community; students entering on the basis of a further education award; and part-time flexible learners.
Sheila has worked in the area of widening participation for over ten years. As Project Co-Ordinator of the UCC PLUS+ Schools Outreach Programme, she co-ordinated and developed outreach activities with second level DEIS schools in Cork, Kerry and Waterford, engaged in local inter-agency initiatives and collaborated with Access personnel nationally on the ongoing development and delivery of the Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) Scheme. Prior to working in higher education Sheila worked as a Health Development Worker with the Traveller Visibility Group Cork and as a residential Care Assistant in both family support and emergency homeless services. A graduate of University College Cork, Sheila holds a Bachelor in Social Science (2001), Master in Social Science (Youth & Community Work) (2003) and a Diploma in Management Practice (2020).
Rebekah holds a BA(Hons) in Addiction Counselling and PhD in drug sociology from WIT; her research focuses on public health and community development and she is a former Irish Research Council awardee. Rebekah sits on the Adult Continuing Education (ACE) Diploma of Substance Misuse and Addiction Studies Board in University College Cork and lectures for both ACE and An Cosán in Dublin, her teaching areas include Substance Misuse, Community Development and Wellbeing. Rebekah has experience designing and delivering a social action model for teaching which supports marginalised and vulnerable groups.
Inclusive UCC Project
The Inclusive UCC Project aims to spearhead the digital accessibility movement throughout the University.
James is the Project Manager of the Inclusive UCC Project.
Sophie is an Instructional Designer for Inclusive UCC.
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