Fund for Students with Disabilities What is the Fund for Students - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Fund for Students with Disabilities

What is the Fund for Students with Disabilities? • Established in 1994, Third Level Access Measure • Managed by the HEA on behalf of DES • Operates in addition to framework of rights & mainstream services • € 10.5m allocated to 12k students in 2016-17

Who can apply and how? • Full-time students in further & higher education • Apply to Access/Disability Service • Assessment of Need • Institutional claim to HEA

Types of Costs Covered  Personal Assistance  Learning Support  Transport  Assistive Technology

Framework of Goals & Actions Action to Review FSD National Targets

Review Process • Terms of Reference • E-tender Process • RSM UK Consultants • Steering Committee • Research, consultation, engagement

Main Findings FSD is a valuable support for students Significant increases and changes in demand Resource intensive for HEIs and HEA Change is required to improve the Fund

Recommendations 14 recommendations including: • New allocation model • Part-time Students • Increase funding • Transfer FE element to Solas • ‘Whole of Institution’ approaches to support • Disability Passport

Next Steps Implementation group early 2018 Work on new allocation model started Mid-term review of National Access Plan

Thank you www.hea.ie access@hea.ie @HEAaccess