Special Educational Needs

Student Support Services

The primary aim of our support team is to assist students throughout their time at Cavan Institute, helping them overcome challenges and achieve their full academic potential.

Funding for Students (FSD)

The FSD provides funding to education providers, allowing them to deliver essential services and supports to full-time students with disabilities in further and higher education.

Needs Assessments

An individual needs assessment identifies the appropriate level of support for each student, based on medical evidence and personal insights into how their disability affects learning.

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The Open Learning Centre

Hello and welcome to the Open Learning Centre (OLC). The Open Learning Centre is the Special Educational Needs/Disability Support Service in Cavan Institute. You will find us on the Ground floor in Block B, Room B004.

Email: access@cavaninstitute.ie

Who can register with the Open Learning Centre?

Registration with the OLC is a separate process to registering as a student with Cavan Institute. Students with evidence of a disability, ongoing physical or mental health condition, or a specific learning difficulty can register with the OLC.

You can register with the OLC at any point during your studies; however, we recommended that you register as soon as possible after accepting your place on a course or once you have started your course. It can take time to arrange and implement any support you may require so we would encourage you to contact us in good time so that we can ensure you have everything in place at the earliest possible opportunity.

Why register with the OLC?

Registration with the OLC allows you to avail of supports and reasonable accommodations. The most common type of reasonable accommodations and supports which students avail of are Exam accommodations and subject support

Special Educational Needs Support Team

We are committed to providing the best possible learning environment for students with special educational needs or disabilities, and making provisions wherever possible to facilitate access and participation in the Institute's academic courses and student life.

Michelle Gallagher

Special Needs Co-ordinator

Room: Block B206

Email: access@cavaninstitute.ie

Phone: 049 437 7900

Faela Heavin

Special Needs Teacher

Room: B004 - OLC

Email: access@cavaninstitute.ie

Phone: 049 437 7900 Ext 141

Types of Supports Available

The primary aim of the support team is to support students for the duration of their course and enable them to achieve their educational goals and objectives. The following supports are available depending on Student’s needs:

Educational Personal Assistants

Note Takers

Assistive Technology

Examination Accommodations

Learning Support

Transport

ISL interpreters

Educational Needs Assessment

accessing supports

Students can access support in the following ways:

The student can disclose their SEN on the application form
Students are required to fill out an online Applicant Support Form, which is accessible through the application conditional offer letter, and to submit any supporting documentation to the Open Learning Centre.
A student can disclose the information to their tutor or the support team during the year
A student may be referred by a tutor with the student’s consent to the Open Learning Centre.
A Drop-In Service is also available in the Open Learning Centre.
It is a student’s responsibility to contact the Special Needs Support Team in early September to discuss supports

Funds for Students with Disabilities (FSD)

The purpose of the FSD is to provide resources to further and higher education institutions for the delivery of key services and supports for students with disabilities on full-time courses.

The FSD aims to support the personal, educational and professional development of the participating student and contribute to the achievement of their full potential.
To be eligible for support under the FSD, a student must meet the following conditions:

Have a verifiable disability.

Meet the Nationality and Residency Criteria

Be a participant on a full-time or part-time course, and have a verified need for specific supports to enable attendance on their chosen course.

For more information from the HEA, click here
For all institutions, funding can be used to provide support and accommodations in any of the following four categories:

Assistive technology equipment and software

Personal assistance

Academic/learning support

Transport.
For all institutions, the Fund does not cover expenditure on any of the following:

Assessment or diagnosis of a disability;

Any medical equipment, assistance or support;

services that can reasonably be expected to be provided by the college (e.g. counselling service) or by another agency (e.g. local Health Service);

Course-related equipment, books, materials or software (i.e. applicable to all students on the course);

Support or assistance provided outside the academic year, or periods during the academic year when the college is closed;

Subsistence, mileage and accommodation costs for personal assistants, note-takers, speed-text operators or ISL interpreters; and

Staff training and development policy, work, or research.