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.