About Us

The Disability Support Service (DSS) is committed in as far as is reasonably possible, to empowering students with disabilities achieve their academic and vocational goals in an inclusive learning environment. This is a free and confidential service to all students who register with the Disability Support Service.

We provide a range of Educational, Technological, Personal and Social Supports to students with disabilities and Specific Learning Difficulties. We also provide information and training to UCC staff and external stakeholders in the field of disability and education. The Service has a comprehensive outreach programme which focuses on raising awareness and provision of training in Assistive Technologies to students in second level and their teachers. The Service hosts numerous information sessions on the Disability Access Route to Education (DARE).

Registering with the DSS

Supports are provided for all students with a disability or Specific Learning Difficulty, including, but not limited, to the following:

• Hard of Hearing / Deaf
• Visually Impaired / Blind
• Specific Learning Difficulties (such as Dyslexia, ADD/ADHD, Dyspraxia)
• Physical Disabilities
• Significant Ongoing Illnesses
• Mental Health Conditions
• Asperger's Syndrome and other Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Neurological Conditions (such as Epilepsy)
• Speech & Language Communication Difficulties

Online Registration

The first step to registering with the DSS is to complete our Online Registration Form. On the form, you may select to meet a Disability Advisor if needs be.

Medical Verification

In order to avail of reasonable accommodations, students with a disability must provide evidence of disability/supporting documentation from an acceptable professional source or specialist. This evidence should be signed and stamped by the relevant professional and submitted to the Disability Support Service before any reasonable accommodations can be put in place.

Students with Specific Learning Difficulties need to submit an Educational Psychologist’s report confirming dyslexia. A recent report is advisable or at least one within the last 5 years. 

Documentation or letters of support from a General Practitioner (GP) are not considered to be an acceptable evidence of disability and will not be accepted as such.

Contacting the DSS

You can contact us in any of the following ways

Telephone: +353 (0)21 4902985
E-mail: dssinfo@ucc.ie
Call to Reception: Disability Support Service, South Lodge College Road, Cork.

If you decide to email or leave a message requesting an appointment, please give your name and telephone number.

Confidentiality

The information that you provide to the Disability Support Service is confidential to the Service. In keeping with the DSS Code of Practice, information will only be provided to Academic Departments and Services with your permission.

Contact

The usual mode of contact with students registered with the Disability Support Service is via your student email or your mobile number.