Welcome to the SEN Department.

The Special Educational Needs (SEN) Department in Belvedere College S.J. has been set up to support students who have been diagnosed with a learning need that falls within the Department of Education & Science (DES) guidelines.

The SEN department’s philosophy is grounded in the context of fulfilling the central aim of the College, to provide an education based on the characteristics of a Jesuit education. It is also based on the principle of inclusiveness, which underlies any policy for special educational needs and our Mission Statement that states ‘students are encouraged and challenged to realise their full potential as human beings’.

(Image taken from: http://www.silverspiral.org/images/stories/multipleintelligences.png)

Please download the files below  to access some useful information from the Dyslexia Association of Ireland.  The student fact sheet contains practical information and advice for students regarding organization, routines, homework and study skills.  The fact sheet for parents contains information about how parents can support their child with dyslexia at second level.

Factsheet for students

Factsheet for parents

Information booklet for parents from the National Council for Special Education

http://www.npc.ie/attachments/41956809-a0df-4b13-a57a-0f860e8d6e69.pdf

All Second level Academic Reference for the DARE scheme will be posted home to parents by Friday 22nd March.

It is your responsibility to ensure that all sections of your application are completed and that the form reaches the relevant department no later than 1^st April ’13.

When you receive your reference please check that your CAO Number and all personal details are correct.

You should send the following information to complete your DARE application:

1. The original SECTION B second level reference
   
2. A copy/copies of your most recent assessment report(s)
3. The Section C – Evidence of Disability,(if applicable), which should have been completed by your consultant

Please keep these copies of all this information for your own records, in case your application to DARE goes to appeal or, if you wish to re-apply through the scheme in the future.

Please Ensure you get proof of postage from the post office, when you post your application off to:

DARE Application, CAO, Tower House, Eglinton Street, Galway.  

Just a quick reminder to all 6th year students that your personal statement for DARE needs to be submitted by this Friday 1st March.  Your SEN contact teacher is available to discuss this with you if they have not done so already.

If you are applying to DARE it is important that you have indicated this in Section A of the Supplementary Information Form which is part of your CAO application.  You must indicate in Section A Question 1. that you have a disability/specific learning difficulty and also tick the box in Section A Question 5 to say that you wish to be considered for DARE.

Applicants need to complete a personal statement explaining how their disability has impacted on their education.  For guidelines doing this and sample personal statements please go p.7 of the DARE application guide  http://www.accesscollege.ie/dare/includes/pdfs/dare-application.pdf

We recommend that you take some time to write your personal statement over the February mid-term and if necessary your SEN key contact teacher will be available to review this with you after the mid-term.

The Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) is a supplementary admissions scheme which offers college places on reduced points to school leavers with disabilities.

The following disabilities are eligible:

• Asperger’s Syndrome/Autism
• Mental Health Conditions
• Neurological Conditions (incl. brain injurt, epilepsy, speech and language disabilities)
• Significant ongoing illness
• Physical disability
• Specific learning difficulty (incl. Dyslexia & dyscalculia)
• ADD/ADHD
• Blind/Vision impaired
• Deaf/Hard of hearing
• DCD – Dyspraxia/Dysgraphia

Evidence of your disability in the form of a report (ie. psychological report) must be stamped by an accepted medical consultant/specialist (ie. psychiatrist/psychologist/occupational therapist etc.).

Some reports have an age limit and must be dated after 1st February 2010

For detailed information on the DARE application process this please see  http://www.accesscollege.ie/dare/documents/DareApplicationGuide2013_WEB.pdf

An interesting and informative Prime Time report on ADHD which meets families dealing with the condition and looks at the services available.

http://www.rte.ie/player/ie/show/10086783/

The following website offers support to families, children and teachers dealing with ADHD

http://www.hadd.ie/

Saturday January 12th 2013. 10am – 2pm.

• Drop in anytime between 10am and 2pm for information on the HEAR and DARE Schemes
• Talk to DARE and HEAR advisers about your application.
• Information Videos will be shown hourly throughout the morning.
• Applicants, parents, guardians, teachers, guidance counselors all welcome

DARE & HEAR Clinic Venues Nationwide:

Cork: UCC, De Vere Hall, Student Centre

Galway: NUIG Galway, Bailey Allen Hall
www.nuigalway.ie/campus-map/

Limerick: Univeristy of Limerick, Main Building
www.ul.ie/ul-campus/campus-maps/

Monaghan: Glencarn Hotel, Castleblaney
www.theglencarnhotel.ie/Home/Location

Dublin: DIT, Aungier St
www.dit.ie/tools/locations/localcommunityinformation/#d.en.14810

Donegal: Villa Rose Hotel, Ballybofey
www.villarose.net/contact/Location/

Kildare: NUI Maynooth, Phoenix Building
www.nuim.ie/location/maps/NUIM-Map-booklet-v3.pdf

Westmeath: Athlone Institute of Technology, Dublin Road, Athlone

A letter regarding reasonable accommodations for Junior Certificate 2013 has been sent home to parents/guardians of all 3rd year students.  If your son has a SLD (specific learning difficulty ie. dyslexia) or a physical difficulty they may be eligible for special consideration in the correction of their scripts or special arrangements when sitting their examinations.  If you would like the school to apply for RACE to the State Examinations Commission for your son please fill in and return the form to the school no later than Monday 15th October.

Forms may be given to Ms. Val Reilly (SEN co-ordinator) or Mr. Paul Birmingham (head of 3rd year)

Students who wish to apply for reasonable accomodations in Leaving Certificate 2013 need to get the relevant form from Mr. Finegan to be signed by parents/guardians.  Please return this form to Mr. Finegan’s office no later than 25th April.