Services for Students with Disabilities, a Physical or Mental Health Condition and/or a Specific Learning Difficulty

Fund for Students with Disabilities

The Fund for Students with Disabilities aims to assist students with disabilities and specific learning difficulties to participate in Further Education. It provides grants towards the provision of services and the purchase of equipment for students with disabilities attending courses in the Institute.

It is funded by the Irish Government and part funded by the European Social Fund under the Human Capital Investment Operational Programme.

For further information please click and download: Information for Students with Disabilities, Physical and Mental Health Conditions and/or Specific Learning Difficulties

It is essential that you read this information before filling in the the supplementary application form online.

Please find link to the Supplementary Application Form

Assistance while Studying

Applicants who are offered a place on a course in the Institute may need supports in order to assist them with their studies.  The kind of supports needed may vary from person to person but can include the following:

• use of a laptop and/or other special assistive technology
• additional learning support either 1:1 or in small groups
• a personal assistant to help in class or around the Institute
• transport e.g. a taxi
• use of a notetaker
• use of a sign language interpreter
• a reader for exams
• a scribe for exams

Useful Contacts

To contact the Disability Advisors: email guidance@bfei.ie, or phone the Institute on 01 288 9717

The Association for Higher Education Access and Disability (AHEAD)

• AHEAD has some good publications such as 'Assessing Third Level Education In Ireland', a handbook for students with disabilities and learning difficulties. Another useful publication is 'A Guide to Funding for People with Disabilities in Mainstream Vocational Training'.
• Tel: 01 716 4396
• Email: ahead@ahead.ie

The Dyslexia Association of Ireland

• Association for Adults and Children with specific learning difficulties
• Tel: 01 877 6001
• Email: info@dyslexia.ie

Chime

• The National Charity for Deafness and Hearning Loss
• Tel: 1800256257
• Minicom: 01(817 5777)
• Text messages: 087 922 1046
• Email: rejoin@chime.ie

National Council for the Blind of Ireland

• Working for People with Sight Loss
• Tel: 1850 334 353
• Email: info@ncbi.ie