AHEAD is an independent non-profit organisation working with and for disabled people to shape inclusive and empowering environments in tertiary education and employment. The main focus of our work is further education and training, higher education and graduate employment.

AHEAD provides information to students and graduates with disabilities, teachers, guidance counsellors and parents on disability issues in education. We undertake national research relating to the inclusion of students with disabilities, contribute to national policy forums and provide professional development opportunities to develop the capacity of staff in FET and higher education to be more inclusive.

Education Overview

AHEAD is dedicated to empowering students and graduates with disabilities to access and succeed in education. Our work spans all stages of the education journey, helping students navigate their way into college, access the supports they need during their studies, and explore opportunities for postgraduate education.

We also provide valuable resources and training for educators and staff in further and higher education to ensure that their services and teaching practices are inclusive and accessible to all learners. By fostering a culture of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), we aim to create a more equitable and supportive environment for students with disabilities across Ireland.

AHEAD offers guidance, tools, and expertise to support you, whether you're a prospective student, a current learner, or an educator. Explore the sections below to learn more about accessing college, disability supports, postgraduate opportunities, and resources for educators.

Accessing College

Taking the first steps toward college can be exciting but knowing where to start can be a challenge. This section walks you through everything you need to know before starting your journey, from navigating the CAO application process and understanding the DARE scheme to exploring course choices and alternative routes to higher education.

COURSE CHOICE: There are thousands of choices when it comes to college courses but here are some useful things to consider when it comes to choosing what to study and where

CAO: Find some useful tips to help navigate the CAO Application process

DARE: Find out about special entry schemes for students with disabilities/specific learning difficulties and alternative routes to third level.

FAQs: We've gathered answers for some of the most frequently asked questions about getting to college.

TIPS & ADVICE: A series of tip sheets and advice videos for students with disabilities on heading into various careers and aspects of college.

YOUR DISABILITY OR ACCESS SERVICE: If you have a disability, a specific learning difficulty or a mental health difficulty, you should register with the Disability or Access Service in your college. 

College Supports

Starting college is an exciting milestone but it can also bring challenges, especially for students with disabilities. AHEAD has a number of resources, events and supports to help you hit the ground running, offering guidance on getting the right supports in place, understanding your entitlements, and making the most of the opportunities available on campus.

Learn about accessing the educational supports you’re entitled to, exploring the various funding options available, and making the most of the many campus services designed to support you. We also cover tips for enhancing your college experience by engaging with the Students’ Union, joining clubs and societies, and building a vibrant social and academic life.

Have a look at the links below to explore our resources and advice to support you in your college journey:

FUNDING & FINANCE: Find out what types of financial assistance and grants are available and how to apply.

1st YEAR - WHAT TO EXPECT: For many, embarking on a college course can be daunting. Here we've outlined the sorts of things you can expect to encounter when you get there.

DISABILITY SUPPORTS: Explore the types of support that are available for students with disabilities & specific learning difficulties in college.

AT HIVE: Assistive Technology (AT) resource that aims to raise awareness about AT and to also guide people through the wide range of AT that is available today.

ALLYSHIP - A STUDENT'S GUIDE TO ACCESSIBILITY: Useful info to support students with disabilities/disabled students within your work, suitable for USI staff, SU Officers, Club and Society Committee Members Class Reps or the general student population.

STUDENT UNIONS: Get your social life in order. College life isn't just about study! There are lots of things to do to make your time in college enjoyable.

STUDYING ABROAD SUPPORTS: Widen your horizons by participating on a study abroad Erasmus programme.

WORK PLACEMENTS: Work placements can be for a period of 1 month to 9 months.

Postgraduate Study

Pursuing postgraduate study or research is an exciting but significant step, particularly for students with disabilities. AHEAD is committed to ensuring that disabled voices are central to shaping the postgraduate experience. In partnership with the National Disabled Postgraduate Advisory Committee (NDPAC), a disabled persons organisation advocating for disabled postgraduates and early career researchers, we aim to create a sense of community and provide the resources, support, and guidance needed for success. That's why we worked together to form the LaunchPAD Partnership, PAD standing for Postgraduate, Academia and Disability.

Here we offer practical advice on navigating postgraduate study, including information on disclosure, accessing reasonable accommodations, and key considerations to ensure you’re fully supported in your chosen discipline. Explore resources, research, and insights that will empower you to thrive in academia while connecting with a wider network of disabled postgraduates through our events and initiatives.

Find out more about: 

• How to get started in your journey to become a disabled postgraduate student
• Reasonable accommodations and your right to support
• AHEAD’s contributions to relevant research and policy
• Tips and guidance from current or past postgrad students
• Events or recordings relevant to being a postgrad learner with a disability

I Work in Education

Students with disabilities now make up more than 5% of the student population in higher education and that figure is likely to be higher in the further education sector so it's safe to say that whether you work in the academic department, examinations office or disability service, you are encountering students with disabilities on a day to day basis.

All college staff are responsible for ensuring that their service, or in the case of academics their curriculum delivery, is accessible to all students, including students with disabilities.

Our blended learning training courses for staff exploring how to support students with disabilities in college. Explore dates below:

We also offer guidance on:

CREATING ACCESSIBLE DOCUMENTS: Get guidance on ways to create documents that are more accessible to users with disabilities, especially those using assistive technology.

INCLUSIVE TEACHING STRATEGIES: Explore teaching strategies which help to ensure all students are included in the learning environment.

ROADMAP FOR DISABILITY SUPPORT IN HIGHER EDUCATION: The Road Map series outlines a vision for inclusive education based on universal design for learning principles and provides the research, tools and resources to implement this vision.

Employment Overview

At AHEAD, we understand the unique challenges faced by students and graduates with disabilities as they navigate the transition from education to the workforce. Through our employment programmes, we aim to empower individuals with the tools, knowledge, and confidence they need to secure meaningful employment and thrive in their careers.

GetAHEAD

Through our GetAHEAD programme, we provide students and graduates with disabilities with a range of tailored information, workshops and resources to support their journey into employment. We cover a broad range of topics including CV writing, interview preparation, job search and disclosure.

GetAHEAD runs a series of Think Twice workshops covering topics like navigating assistive technology in the workplace, transferable life skills in employability and exploring the internship journey. The programme also runs AHEAD’s annual careers fair, Building the Future aimed at students and graduates with disabilities. Here you have the opportunity to get your CV reviewed, attend a mock interview, meet high profile companies and get lots of tips and advice on job seeking. The image below shows our employer exhibition space and some of our participating employers:

You can also explore GetAHEAD’s blog, where students and graduates with disabilities share their experiences in college and the workplace. Some authors write about asking for accommodations, self-advocating at work and managing chronic illness in university.

Resources and workshops for graduates moving in to the workplace:

I'VE GRADUATED WHAT NEXT? Explore your options. What are the things you need to consider to land that dream job?

JOB SEEKING TIPS: Some key pointers to aid in your job search and ensure you're putting your best foot forward.

GRANTS AVAILABLE: Find out what grants are available for employees with disabilities and how to apply.

WORK RELATED LEGISLATION: Here you'll find a broad overview of the legislation pertaining to disability and employment.

THINK TWICE WORKSHOPS: We will help you think twice about your CV, interview skills, presentation skills and will arm you with practical skills that you need to succeed.

Willing Able Mentoring (WAM) Programme

Willing Able Mentoring (WAM) is a work placement programme which aims to promote access to the labour market for graduates with disabilities and build the capacity of employers to integrate disability into the mainstream workplace.

Participating employers (WAM Leaders) collaborate with WAM to offer mentored, paid, work placements for graduates with disabilities. This partnership brings graduates with disabilities and employers together so that both can benefit from each other - ensuring genuine learning opportunities for all.

WAM is unique in that it seeks to engage and support employers in order to simultaneously develop the potential of employers and graduates with disabilities. Since 2005, The WAM Programme has provided over 700 placements for graduates with disabilities with a broad network of employers:

Please register on our WAMWorks Database to be informed and notified of WAM Opportunities as they go live. Watch the following video for 5 reasons to register on the WAMWorks Database:

CURRENT WAM OPPORTUNITES: Check out what placements are currently on offer from WAM.

JOIN THE GRADUATE DATABASE: It's the quick and easy way to flag your skills to potential employers.

I am an Employer

As outlined above, AHEAD works with participating employers on the WAM programme, which aims to promote access to the labour market for graduates with disabilities and build the capacity of employers to integrate disability into the mainstream workplace.

This partnership brings graduates with disabilities and WAM’s network of employers together so that both can benefit from each other, ensuring genuine learning opportunities for all.

WAM is unique in that it seeks to engage and support employers to simultaneously develop the potential of employers and graduates with disabilities

EMPLOYER TRAINING EVENTS: A list of upcoming and archived WAM Employer Training Events 

DISABILITY IN THE WORKPLACE: Grants, legislation, employee accommodations and more.

REMOTE WORKING EMPLOYER RESOURCES accessibility considerations, mental health, virtual recruitment and onboarding.

THE BENEFITS Why should your organisation get involved?

RESOURCES & REPORTS Key resources to help your organisation create an inclusive workplace.

Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a set of principles for curriculum development that give all individuals equal opportunities to learn, including Students with Disabilities. UDL aims to improve the educational experience of all students by introducing more flexible methods of teaching, assessment and service provision to cater for the diversity of learners in our classrooms. 

Click here for UDL resources

At Hive

Assistive Technology (AT) sometimes refers to technologies that are specifically designed for people with disabilities, but increasingly, the term also describes accessibility features in mainstream products like Microsoft Office. Either way, AT can empower people with disabilities to reach to their fullest potential and give them an opportunity to work and learn on their own terms.

AHEAD have developed the ‘AT Hive’ to guide you through various technologies that can help people with disabilities in many different ways. If you are a student or employee, then you may require a technology to assist you to learn or work effectively.

ARK

ARK is AHEAD’s online platform which provides practical resources and know-how to support a range of institutional staff to be more accessible in their roles. ARK helps support tertiary education organisations to consider a whole of institution approach to accessibility.  It also helps tertiary institutions to meet their legal obligations and to boost accessibility compliance, providing a better learning and education experience for all. 

If you are interested in developing introductory accessibility skills, raising awareness about digital inclusion, and reflecting on how to embed good digital accessibility practices across your organisation, then visit our free courses available here.