Trinity College Disability 10th Anniversary Symposium

Wednesday 16th June 2010

The School of Nursing & Midwifery

Provisional notice of this event

Trinity College Disability Service will celebrate its 10th Anniversary in June 2010. The Provost of TCD, Dr John Hegarty will launch a booklet called ‘Ten years of student experiences’ and introduce staff of the Disability Service in Trinity College Dublin who have been researching emerging populations entering third level education and how best to support them in their studies. The aim of the research projects was to determine what reasonable accommodations at college work bests for the following groups:

  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

  • Asperger's Syndrome (AS)

  • Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD)

  • Dyscalculia

Four workshops of one hour duration will be the basis for this Symposium, a half hour presentations will take place and the session will then be opened up to all attendee’s to contribute. We aim to develop consensus on good practice in supporting these student populations which will lead to greater retention and delivery of effective supports.

Session 1: ADD/HD Working Group Synopsis

Making the transition from secondary school to college can be difficult for students with ADHD. The numbers of students with ADD/HD attending 3rd level education in Ireland have dramatically increased in the past 5 years.

There is a lack of sufficient knowledge and targeted resources to adequately respond to the growing numbers and complex needs of this group of students. This presentation will outline the current approach used to support students with ADD/HD at College and explore future possible interventions. Supports suggested include:

  • Orientation to college environments and systems.
  • Inclusive curriculum
  • Management of workload
  • Time Management / Organisation
  • Environmental accommodations based upon sensory integration theory
  • Self Management
  • ADHD Education

We propose that through the appropriate provision of supports within these areas, students with ADD/HD can successfully engage with college and prepare for their future.

Presenters: Declan Reilly

Session 2: Asperger’s Syndrome working group Synopsis

Trinity College, like other third level institutions have seen a rise in the number of students accessing the university with disabilities. In particular one of the greatest increases in student numbers attending university are those individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome. Over the past three years the number of referrals for students with Asperger’s Syndrome to the Unilink Service has quadrupled.

As a college bound student with Asperger’s Syndrome enters into the academic and social world of third level education, they are presented with a myriad of challenges to tackle and master. The Unilink Service endeavours to provide practical support in managing the challenges and daily occupations of student life.

This workshop will provide a review of the literature in relation to the difficulties that individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome encounter. Furthermore the growing and complex needs of these university students with AS will be discussed. Current approaches to support these students with Asperger’s Syndrome will be detailed and finally students’ progress and perspectives will be explored.

Presenters: Claire Gleeson and Sarah Quinn - UNILINK.

Session 3: Dyscalculia working group synopsis

This presentation is based on a paper by Alison Doyle which examines the neurological, cognitive and environmental features of dyscalculia, which is a specific learning difficulty in the area of processing numerical concepts. This paper includes a review of the literature around the aetiology of dyscalculia, methods for assessment and diagnosis, global incidence of this condition and prevalence and type of intervention programmes.

In addition, the nature of dyscalculia is investigated within the Irish context, with respect to:

  • the structure of the mathematics curriculum
  • access to learning support
  • equality of access to the mathematics curriculum
  • reasonable accommodations and state examinations
  • implications for transition to higher education

Finally, provision of mathematics support in third level institutions is discussed in order to highlight aspects of best practice which might usefully be applied to other educational contexts.

Presenters: Alison Doyle

Session 4: DCD working group synopsis

This presentation is a discussion of the difficulties encountered in adulthood associated with DCD and specifically the difficulties experienced in the student population at third level. Although the population is not homogenous DCD may present as any number of the following difficulties:

  • abnormalities in postural control and/or fine motor skills
  • difficulties in learning motor tasks, such as handwriting and sports
  • difficulties with educational tasks, such as reading comprehension, attention and learning
  • poor time management

This paper discusses aetiology, assessment, trends in course choices and retention rates within this group. This study will consider requirements within learning support and reasonable accommodations for examinations. It will also consider appropriate interventions for students in practical courses, considering the requirements and possible interventions in laboratory work and placement situations.

Presenter: Trish Ferguson

How to book a place – attendance is free but places are limited so reserve a place by emailing , further details and a full programme will be circulated well in advance of the symposium.