The three-day online workshop, facilitated by the University of Limerick, Ireland from 14th to 16th of June 2021, was the third online workshop on “Development of New Protocols and Drafting of Policy Papers with Normative Suggestions” as part of the project “Inclusive tertiary EDucation in the West BalkanS (IDEA)”, an Erasmus + project coordinated by the POLIS University from Tirana.
The workshop was a unique opportunity to have an insight into the legislative framework in Ireland for people with disabilities emphasizing the importance of having a national organisation specifically representing the 3rd level education sector (AHEAD). The special focus has been given to the establishment of a Disability Service unit or office, covering all steps in development, as well as administrative needs of a Disability Service (keeping records, issuing information such as reasonable accommodations for exams, etc.). In addition, some other topics have been discussed: assistive technology: the development and delivery of services in the area of technology for students with disabilities, employment services: the development and delivery of services in the area of student work placement and employment for students with disabilities, support services: needs assessments, support planning, academic success coaching, college skills access routes for students with disability accessing college (quotas, alternative entry routes etc.), the requirement for pre-entry supports, transition planning, etc.