LIT Promotes Equal Access to Higher Education at Inclusion Awareness Week

Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) is committed to promoting equitable access to, and successful participation in, higher education for all members of society.  In recent years, the number of students in LIT with a disability or specific learning difficulty has risen to nearly 5% of the student population.  In acknowledgement of this welcome increase, LIT’s Access Service organised a wide array of activities for LIT Inclusion Awareness week recently.  Events were open to all staff and students and included lunch time seminars, information stands, and a campus-wide scavenger hunt which encouraged students to explore disability-related topics.

External organisations attended to promote the services they provide for students with disabilities and specific learning difficulties.  Among those present were, AHEAD (Association for Higher Education Access and Disability), Deaf Hear Limerick, ASPIRE, Limerick Deaf Community Centre, Limerick Dyspraxia/DCD Group, Irish Wheelchair Association, Limerick Supported Employment, Clare Supported Employment

Broze O’Donovan, Disability Officer at LIT, says events like this are extremely important. “The aim of this event is to get people thinking about the challenges faced by students with disabilities and learning difficulties, as well as providing relevant information to our current students on organisations that are available to support them, both during their course and following graduation.” 

David Russell from Limerick city, who is registered with LIT’s disability service, is in his fourth year studying software development at LIT. “I helped out during the week. The Access Service has been the wind in my sails.  I hope that LIT Inclusion Awareness Week has helped keep afloat some of the hardiest sailors in the sea of life.”

LIT is proud of its record in widening participation to higher education and will continue to work to ensure that under-represented groups in third-level education are given every opportunity to excel and learn in a supportive and motivating environment.

President of LIT Dr. Maria Hinfelaar gets a lesson in sign language at LIT Inclusion Awareness week.	Louise O’Halloran and David Russell take their turn on the Scavenger Hunt sign-up table.