Learning Support
Learning Support
Meet the Learning Support Team
Head of Learning Support
Learning Support Coordinator
Learning Support Advisor
Who We Are & What We Do
Griffith Learning Support Department is a confidential academic support department that helps learners manage the demands of college life. The Learning Support team works with learners and staff to promote a positive and successful learning experience for learners with disabilities, learning difficulties, neurological differences, and/or medical or long-term illnesses. Support is available to both full-time and part-time learners across all campuses.
We offer a range of educational supports, which can be arranged by registering with the Learning Support Department.
Throughout the academic year, we facilitate key-skills workshops on topics such as academic writing, study skills and exam revision skills. We provide tailored one-to-one academic skills tutoring and also manage the provision of reasonable accommodations for examinations.
Learning support is provided to learners who are registered with Griffith’s Learning Support Department. Learners are encouraged to contact the department if they have a diagnosis of a physical disability, medical condition/ongoing illness, neurological condition or other learning disability, for example:
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Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
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Autism
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Blind/Vision Impaired
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Deaf/Hard of Hearing
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Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD) – Dyspraxia
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Dyslexia/Significant Literacy Difficulties
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Dyscalculia/Significant Numeracy Difficulties
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Mental Health Condition
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Neurological Condition (including Brain Injury and Epilepsy)
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Physical Disability
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Significant Ongoing Illness/health condition
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Speech and Language Communication Disorder
Information for Applicants/Potential Learners
When an applicant indicates a disability on an application, a Learning Needs Assessment (LNA) will be undertaken to determine the applicant’s needs in consultation with the applicant.
As part of the LNA process, Applicants may be eligible to access reasonable accommodations. Griffith College offers a range of reasonable accommodations, including, but not limited to, extra time in examinations, separate examination venues, spelling and grammar waivers, the use of a laptop, and access to a scribe and/or reader.
Following a determination of an Applicant’s needs, where the Applicant requires other supports or accommodations, Griffith College will assess those requirements in accordance with its Disability and Learner Support Policy.
Griffith College may also advocate on the Applicant’s behalf to seek funding from government bodies where this is appropriate and available.
Applicants who are applying through the CAO are encouraged to indicate on their application forms any disability, ongoing illness, or specific learning difficulty for which they may require additional support. The learning support department offers applicants the opportunity to discuss the various supports available.
All information is treated in the strictest confidence. CAO applicants are recommended to consult the CAO handbook for full details on disclosing a disability. Central Applications Office
Applicants are asked to engage with the learning support department before the start of their programme.
Learning Support Policy
To view the Learning Support Policy, please refer to the QAE Manual.
Contact Details
Learning Support Coordinator: Sarah Ward – Phone +353 1 415 0434
Email: [email protected]
How to Register with the Department
The Learning Support Department provide in-person and online registration appointments throughout the academic year.
Register with learning support
Please email: [email protected]
Registering with Learning Support
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To make an appointment, please email [email protected]
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Submit any documentation you have in relation to your disability/learning difficulty, e.g. educational psychologist report, medical letters, etc.
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Please email a copy of your documents ahead of our first meeting. Supporting documents must be presented in English, using official translations, where applicable.
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Your first meeting with us will be a confidential Learning Needs Assessment (LNA).
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During this meeting, you will be asked a few questions, and we will agree on the appropriate support for you.
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You will be emailed a reasonable accommodation and consent form to complete and return to Learning Support to complete your registration with the Learning Support Department.
What documents are needed to register?
To register with the learning support department, you must provide any supporting documentation you have in relation to your disability/learning difficulty, e.g., an educational psychologist report, medical letters, etc. Criteria of eligibility for disability.
For International learners submitting supporting documentation: The documents provided must be presented in English via an official translation.
If you do not have access to the appropriate documentation, we will discuss the options available to you, during your initial meeting.
What happens next?
Learners are invited to attend a Learning Needs Assessment (LNA).
What is a Learning Needs Assessment? (LNA).
The Learning Needs Assessment is a confidential meeting in which the learner is asked a series of questions to explore the types of support a diagnosed disability may require.
The learner is required to provide evidence of their disability during the assessment process.
It takes approximately 50 minutes to complete and is completed collaboratively with the learner and a member of the learning support team. Learning Support operates a flexible service, meaning learners can opt to have their Learning Needs Assessment meeting conducted in person, online via Zoom, or by telephone.
During the Learning Needs Assessment meeting, the following areas are addressed:
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Learner’s Details
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Background – information from the supporting documentation and information on the impact of the learner's disability on their academic experience
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Available Support in the College
All learner information is treated as private and confidential
Learners will be required to complete reasonable accommodations and consent forms.
Types of reasonable accommodations available:
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Extra time
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Separate room
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Spelling and grammar waiver
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Use of a scribe
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Use of a reader
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Use of a Laptop
What are Reasonable Accommodations Request and Consent Forms?
A Reasonable Accommodation Request (RAR) and Consent Form (CF) are issued via email after a learning needs assessment. Learners must complete and sign each form to register with the learning support department. The consent form is required for the Learning Support Department to communicate selective information regarding disability (LINN) to academic staff, making them aware of the supports required.
How will faculties be made aware of a learner’s reasonable accommodations?
Following the LNA meeting, Learning Support send a LINN (Learner Individual Need Notification) to the relevant faculty, making the learner’s Programme Director and individual lecturers aware of the support required.
How to book an Appointment
Learning Support is available to learners in person, by phone, and via Zoom.
Book an appointment with learning support
Please email: [email protected]
Preparing for an Appointment
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To make an appointment, please email [email protected]
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Include what type of support you are looking for in this session (e.g. study support- help with structuring my assignment)
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Bring along your assignment brief/drafts of your work and any other information from your lecturers that you feel may be helpful to the session.
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Come prepared and bring a notebook, pen, highlighters, laptop, etc.
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Learning Support staff are trained to approach each learner with care and sensitivity. Meetings are paced with this in mind.
Where are we located?
We are located in Room D015, on the ground floor of the Daniel O’Connell building, on the learner services corridor.
What is Assistive Technology in Education?
Assistive Technology (AT) is a range of tools that make learning more accessible. This includes, for example, software that helps with spelling and grammar, digital pens for recording lectures, adapted tools for those with visual or hearing impairments, and alternative input methods for learners with mobility issues.
The Learning Support can provide information and support to learners who require assistive technology.
AHEAD has compiled all assistive technologies in the AT HIVE link below. There are some brilliant resources on note-taking, reading & writing, as well as demonstrations on the supports in Microsoft, Apple and Google.
