All your education questions answered by Brian Mooney.

My daughter, who has a diagnosis of dyslexia, is taking the Leaving Cert in June, is currently considering her CAO options. I have heard that by indicating on the CAO that she has a specific learning difficulty this will be taken in to consideration by the college and she will be able to access extra support. Can you explain how this works?

There are lots of supports available for students with dyslexia and other types of disabilities in third level and many third-level institutions now operate a supplementary admissions route. This system recognises the competitive nature of the Leaving Cert exam and the difficulties able students with disabilities will have competing, due to the impact of their disability or specific learning difficulty. For example, if it takes a student with dyslexia longer to read and analyse material in textbooks or to complete written work, then they are at a considerable disadvantage to their peers.

Applying to college through this route may allow a student to enter the course with a level of points below that stated. It is worth remembering that the entry criteria vary from one college to another, for example in some colleges it is within 15 per cent below the mandatory points, while in others it is decided on an individual basis.

Firstly, your daughter must answer yes to the question asking if the applicant has a disability/specific learning disability, on the first page of the CAO form. She will then be sent a Supplementary Information Form to complete and send back to the CAO by March. She must include an educational psychologist's full report written within the last five years confirming a specific learning difficulty. The short RACE report will not suffice. The CAO will then forward this information to the colleges your daughter indicated a preference for and who participate in the Supplementary Admissions Scheme. She will be notified of any offers at the same time the standard CAO offers are made. If your daughter makes a late application or uses the change-of-mind facility she will still be considered under the supplementary admissions route.

Upon registration, all students with disabilities are advised to register with the disability support service or access office in their college, regardless of whether they gained a place via supplementary admissions or the standard CAO route. The disability or access officer will carry out a needs assessment and then submit an application to the ESF Fund for Students with Disabilities on the student's behalf, which is used to pay for equipment and/or supports that have been identified as necessary. For example, students with dyslexia may benefit from learning support, and or assistive technology such as a laptop with screen-reading software. In order to get these supports you have to show that your disability has had an impact on your ability to study or perform academically, for example if you take 20 per cent longer to read or write.

Many students are anxious about disclosing their disability, fearing that it will count against them. They may feel that they coped in second level and will therefore be able to cope without support in third level, but the academic demands of higher education are much more challenging in than second level. Learning is self-directed and students are expected to read extensively, take notes and produce essays with no help. The Association for Higher Education Access and Disability (Ahead) recommends that all disabled students disclose their disability in advance as this helps third-level colleges to plan ahead for the support needs of their students with disabilities.

For more information about access and supports available for third-level students with disabilities contact Ahead at East Hall, UCD, Carysfort Avenue, Blackrock, Co Dublin. Tel: 01-7164396. E-mail: ahead@ahead.ie or visit: www.ahead.ie