NDA submission to the Irish Universities Association on the Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) scheme

The DARE scheme offers reduced points placements at third level for school leavers who experience educational disadvantage arising from disability. The NDA noted the value of the scheme for a certain cohort of students. We drew attention to the wider shift in education towards needs-based models and advised that the current DARE requirement to have a professional diagnosis may favour higher income families who can access private assessments. We also made recommendations in relation to universal design, the accessibility of the application process, and the NDA’s revised guidance on disability language and terminology.