Plans to make higher education accessible to more people with additional needs

Campuses at ATU and other third level institutions are on their way to becoming more autism friendly. And plans are being rolled out that will enable more people with intellectual disabilities to access higher education.

Speaking to Donegal Live during his recent visit to ATU, Minister For Higher Education Simon Harris said he was committed to making higher education inclusive to all.

“I suppose I'm doing two things,” he said. “I'm giving colleges money to do what we call universal design to make their campuses more autism friendly and more inclusive in general.

“When you arrive in any new environment, particularly when you arrive in a large university environment, if you have autism or you are neurodivergent, it can be an extremely daunting experience for some. And the money around universal design does enable people to make their campuses more inclusive and friendly.”

So how will this be achieved?

Minister Harris explained: “That can mean things like sensory rooms; it can mean things like directional navigation apps, and the like, the kind of simple things that can make a huge difference.”

The minister has also been working on a new programme due to be launched very soon.

He said: “The second thing I'm doing that I'm very excited about and passionate about, at the very start of February, we'll be launching a new program called PATH 4 which will put in place specific programs for students with intellectual disabilities. 

“Up until now, we've had a couple of good examples around the country, but only a few. 

“What this will try to do is give colleges for the first time money to roll out new programs for people with intellectual disabilities. 

“And I think that could also be a game changer for inclusion. Because I'm not saying it's perfect but we've made a lot of progress as a country at primary level and secondary level. Far too often though, people can still feel they face a cliff edge when they get to third level if they have a disability and I'm really determined to change this with PATH 4.”

Minister Harris said there was a successful programme at Trinity College Dublin (TCD) called the Trinity Centre for People with Intellectual Disabilities.

“For over 20 years they've been supporting students with an intellectual disability through third level with inspirational results,” he said. 

“They've also worked to find workplaces at the end of that, so jobs and careers for those who study there.

“It's in Trinity, I think that's brilliant, but why is it just in Trinity? We need it in lots more places.”

Further details of the fund will be announced shortly but it is expected to be in the region of €9 million over three years. 

Minister Harris also said that he would look at ways in which young adults with undiagnosed autism and ADHD could be supported at third level. 

He praised ATU for its inclusive approach to higher education, saying he had been particularly impressed with innovative measures implemented at the Sligo campus.