What is the role of the PA?

• To provide assistance and support to people with disabilities
• A personal assistant can make a huge difference to students in their level education with their every day needs.
• This can mean anything from getting the student dressed in the morning, accompanying them on campus and escorting them to lectures
• If required the PA will also act as a ‘Note-taker’ for the student
• The PA can help with the social aspects of college life; thereby making the student feel less excluded in the educational environment
• A personal assistant enables the student to live with dignity in an independent manner
• Third level education is easier and less stressful, when a student with a disability has a P.A.

Why is this important?

We began this programme because there was no organisation in Ireland providing personal assistants, whose skills are particularly dedicated to supporting students with a disability in higher education. There was a huge difficulty for students requiring a personal assistant to acquire them especially with study at 3rd Level education. The providers at that time were funded by the Health Boards who didn’t have the resources, expertise or the personnel to offer this range of specialized personal assistance to students with a disabilities wishing to access higher education. Therefore the numbers and promotion of people with disabilities entering higher education were very low.

It is estimated that only 7 in every 10,000 people with a disability are enrolled in 3rd Level Education. The main reasons cited for such low numbers are:

1Lack of an expectation to aspire to 3rd Level.

2Lack of transportation.

3Lack of awareness for an availability of Personal Assistants and Note takers.

When we initiated the service in 2002, we had one student attending UCD. Currently, we provide the service to over 100 students with disabilities studying at NUI Maynooth, IT Tallaght, DCU, IT Blanchardstown, DIT- Aungier St, Bolton St, Rathmines, The National College of Art & Design and Dun Laoghaire College of Further Education. Our numbers are continuing to grow at an amazing rate.

The relationship between Students and their PAs

The student is referred to as the leader, a person with physical or sensory disability, and who will instruct their personal assistant as to what they need to make their college life run smoothly.

Students who are academically capable of undertaking a University course quite often – Don’t – because they are not aware that supports are available to assist them throughout their university years.

Every University has a disability support service that can arrange for the provision of a PA and other supports that a student with a disability may require:
‘AT NO COST TO THE STUDENT.*

Raising awareness of this will help ensure that more people will avail of a third level education – thereby utilizing a right that can lead to an improved quality of life and social inclusion.

Exchange Students

LDAG also provide personal assistants to foreign students who come to Ireland to study. This eliminates the expense of students having to pay for a PA who otherwise would have to travel with them.

Garda Clearance

All Lucan Disability Action Group’s PA’s are vetted and Garda checked.

How to acquire a PA

Contact the Disability / Access officer of the University you plan on attending. After assessment by the college personnel, they will arrange for the supports you need.