Resource Bank for New disAbled Students
Joining a new community at any point in one’s life can be a daunting and challenging prospect and disabled students must often make additional considerations when navigating new environments and systems. Trinity’s Disability Service have developed this new resource tool to help new students to navigate the useful resources available to them here in Trinity.
Key information within the tool have also been summarised below.
Prior to seeking supports from the Disability Service, we recommend that you review our frequently asked questions.
Categories:
General Tips for Neurodivergent Students:
Locker Access
Lockers are available to rent throughout the academic year across multiple TCD campus locations. However, if you need an accessible location and are registered the Disability Service, please contact us and we will organise for this to take place. Rent a locker as normal, and then tell your Disability Officer the location of the locker you have been assigned and we will get this swapped for a more accessible location.
The Disability Service has a limited number of accessible locker locations, so we do advise that you do this as early in the academic year as possible.
You can find information about renting a locker here:
Lockers - Current Students - Trinity College Dublin (tcd.ie)
Jargon Buster
When first attending a campus as widespread and diverse as Trinity College Dublin, it can feel confusing to get to know all the different terms and jargon used by academic staff and other students.
The Jargon Buster created for Trinity students is extremely helpful:
Jargon Buster - Current Students - Trinity College Dublin (tcd.ie)
Academic Calendar
As a new or visiting student, it can be confusing to learn how semesters are divided in throughout an academic year at Trinity College Dublin. As a result, it can be easy to fall behind on the weeks that assignments are due, or to simply mix up which week is which! The academic calendar is a useful tool to keep track of your weeks.
Calendar - Trinity College Dublin (tcd.ie)
Societies and Clubs
Although it can be undoubtedly daunting to consider joining a club or society when first attending university, it is always worth trying out as an excellent way to make friends and find new interests and hobbies!
Societies are activity or interest-based groups of students who meet, whereas clubs typically refer to sporting events run through Trinity Sport.
For sports, there are many social sporting clubs and opportunities available in Trinity Sport, if you are less interested in more competitive activities. Download the Trinity Sport app to find out more and to register.
For clubs, the Disability Service often hosts meetings for the neurodiversity society, DUNeS:
DUNeS | DU Neurodiversity | Instagram | Linktree
Sunflower Lanyards
If you feel you would benefit from having a visible signifier to those around you that you experience life differently to others, you could explore wearing a sunflower lanyard.
The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower was developed to represent all non-visible disabilities. Simply by wearing the Sunflower, you’re just letting everyone know that you might need extra help, understanding, or just more time.
You can purchase a sunflower lanyard here:
The Sunflower lanyard is a symbol for non-visible disabilities (hdsunflower.com)
JAM Cards
Using a JAM Card allows people with a hidden disability or communication barrier to tell others that they need extra time and understanding in a private and easy way which strives to be non-invasive. JAM stands for ‘Just a Minute’ and is available as both a physical card and an app.
Just a minute of patience | JAM Card | Autism | Hidden disability | Northern Ireland
Transport for Ireland ‘Please Offer Me a Seat’ Cards and Badges
TFI has partnered with Invisible Disability Ireland to launch the “Please Offer Me a Seat” Badge and Card for people with invisible disabilities to use when accessing public transport. It ensures that people with hidden disabilities have a seat in priority areas on public transport.
"Please Offer Me a Seat" Badge & Card - Transport for Ireland
AsIAm Cards
AsIAm, Ireland’s national autism charity, offer autism identification cards which can be ordered from their website. These cards can be used in a variety of locations to indicate a need to other individuals. It contains a short description of an individual's Autistic support needs and a reminder that the person with the card may need some extra help and support.
As I Am | Ireland's Autism Charity | Autism ID Card
Library ATIC Space
The Ussher library has an ATIC space available for use for students. ATIC stands for ‘Assistive Technology Information Centre’. These include the below supports:
- A quieter study space for students to study within (supervised space)
- Power plugs are available on every desk for personal laptop use
- Printing facilities provided and supported by the college provider Datapac
- 2 high-end book scanners for students looking to convert printed text to an electronic format.
There are two ATIC areas on campus: For a virtual map of the Library areas within Trinity please click on this link.
For a video for accessing the ATIC space please view this link.
Sensory Supports:
TCD Sense Map
It can be useful to know, early in the academic term, where on campus you can find quiet spaces, access to plugs, microwaves or individual study spaces.
TCD Sense is a major initiative aims to make Trinity College Dublin more inclusive by reviewing and improving new and existing spaces, building sensory awareness, and delivering specialist supports to students who experience barriers to managing and adapting the sensory environments of college.
As part of this initiative, a map of the campus has been developed to highlight these areas:
Respite Rooms
Students registered with the Disability Service can be given access to a variety of respite rooms throughout the TCD Campus. Respite spaces are quiet rest areas in Trinity where students can take time out during the day to rest and recuperate. They benefit students who experience fatigue, pain, or discomfort as a result of their disability. They can also enable students to manage themselves and their sensory systems over the course of their college day.
If you are already registered with the Disability Service, make sure to ask your Disability Officer about access to the respite rooms. Access will be given via your TCD student card and swipe access.
Library Sensory Spaces
In addition to the respite rooms, sensory spaces within the libraries are also available for use by students and can be booked via the below link:
Student Support Services:
Disability Service
Location:
Trinity disAbility Hub is located in Printing House Square, Pearse Street, Dublin 2.
Please follow the below wayfinding video to access the disAbility Hub from Front Square:
Drop-In:
The Disability Service hosts ‘drop-in’ sessions everyday during the academic year between 12pm – 2pm. During this time a Disability Officer or occupational therapist will be on hand to answer any questions or queries which may be presenting for students.
This drop-in service is available to students who have not yet registered with the Disability Service.
Registration:
When you register for reasonable accommodations with Trinity Disability Service, the Disability Service will be notified, and you will be assigned a Disability Officer. This Disability Officer will then reach out to you via your TCD email address to offer you an appointment to complete a Needs Assessment.
You can find out more about registration here:
Student Counselling
Student Counselling provides free, professional, confidential psychotherapeutic to help students navigate personal challenges, develop coping strategies, and enhance overall mental health.
Following an initial assessment (usually bookable within 2 to 3 weeks), students are provided with a support plan linking them with the most appropriate available supports.
These supports include crisis intervention online CBT and brief one-to-one psychotherapy, as well as group therapy options as part of a holistic care model. Where appropriate, students may also be referred to a range of free, low-cost, and other support services outside the university.
Information about Student Counselling can be found here: Student Counselling - Trinity College Dublin (tcd.ie)
S2S
S2S is a student-led initiative designed to ensure any student in Trinity can get information and support from another student, find a friendly face to have a chat, talk things through or just ask a few questions when you're not sure who to approach.
You can find information about S2S here:
About S2S - S2S (Student 2 Student) - Trinity College Dublin (tcd.ie)
College Health
Trinity College Dublin’s College Health is a service that provides a range of services for students, all of which can be viewed via the website and booked via telephone.
Health Service - Trinity College Dublin (tcd.ie)
Dignity, Consent and Respect
The DR&C Service supports Staff, Students, and Others in matters relating to dignity, respect, and consent in Trinity College Dublin.
The University is committed to promoting a positive environment for Staff, Students, and other community members, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect, where work and study is free from bullying, harassment, or sexual misconduct.
Dignity, Respect, and Consent Service - Trinity College Dublin (tcd.ie)
Student Learning and Development
Student Learning Development provides learning support to help Trinity students reach their academic potential. SLD work with students who are struggling with their studies as well as high achieving students who want to improve their performance.
SLD provide workshops and events, throughout the year, on a range of academic and learning skills e.g. self-management skills, study and exam skills, presentation skills, writing and critical thinking skills. Additionally, SLD run a series of online workshops for off-campus students.
About - Student Learning Development - Trinity College Dublin (tcd.ie)
Ability Co-Op
The Trinity Ability Co-op is a collaborative initiative between students, staff, and other stakeholders. The Co-op provides opportunities for members to work together towards inclusion in Trinity. The Co-op’s mission is to make Trinity a more inclusive environment for students with disabilities by raising awareness of the challenges students with disabilities face.
You can find out how to join and get involved here:
Student Stories:
Trinity disAbility Service's mission is to create an accessible, transformational, educational environment in an interdependent University community and provide a platform for innovation and inclusion. To ensure that Trinity remains a welcoming and inclusive university for disabled students, it is important to talk about students' experiences of coping with university with a disability. Talking about disability challenges reduces silence and stigma. Talking about disability makes students feel seen, heard, and empowered. Importantly, it makes disabled students feel like they belong at Trinity, and beyond.
Student Stories - Trinity disAbility Service | Trinity College Dublin (tcd.ie)