Deaf / Hard of Hearing

Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing will be assessed on the basis of evidence submitted with the DARE Application. Evidence for three categories of applicant are acceptable.
A: Applicants who have an Audiogram (read screening criteria A)
B: Applicants attending School for the Deaf (read screening criteria B)
C: Applicants who are recipients of a cochlear implant (read screening criteria C)
To be eligible for DARE, the evidence submitted must meet at least ONE of the specific criteria A, B, or C.

Screening criteria A	Applicants who have an Audiogram
Appropriate Professional	Diagnostic/ Clinical Audiologist registered with the Irish Academy of Audiologists (IAA) OR HSE Audiologist.
Type of Documentation Required	Audiogram It is recommended where possible that audiograms include details on air and bone conduction. Failure to enclose a bilateral audiogram from a qualified audiologist will result in the applicant being made ineligible for DARE. Before submitting an audiogram, ensure that It has your name on and date of birth on it. It is clearly signed and stamped or accompanied by the business card/ headed paper of the audiologist who completed it. It is completed by a HSE audiologist OR an audiologist on the register of the Irish Academy of Audiology (IAOA). If the audiogram you have is not from a HSE employed audiologist, you can check whether the Audiologist is registered with the IAOA by clicking on the following link: http://www.iaoa.ie/register-of-audiologists/.
Required Age of Report	While there is no age limit on diagnostic evidence submitted, it is advisable to submit a recent audiogram.
Other Disabilities	Submit an Evidence of Disability Form for each disability/ condition to be considered.
Educational Impact Statement (EIS)	The Educational Impact Statement allows you and your school to provide detail of how your disability has impacted on your second level experience. The EIS is a requirement for all applicants. The Department of Education and Skills Visiting Teacher Service can also submit a Transition Report for a DARE applicant; however, this is not a substitute for the Educational Impact Statement.
DARE Eligibility	The applicant is eligible once the audiogram shows a bilateral moderate to profound hearing loss (i.e. anything greater than 40dB) or a unilateral moderate hearing loss greater than 40dB across 3 frequencies AND the applicant meets any combination of two educational impact indicators from Indicators 1 to 5 on the EIS.

Screening criteria B	Applicants attending a Deaf School
Appropriate Professional	Principal of School for the Deaf.
Type of Documentation Required	A Letter confirming attendance from Principal of School for the Deaf OR Complete the Evidence of Disability Form 2017.
Required Age of Report	While there is no age limit on diagnostic evidence submitted, it is advisable to submit a recent report.
Other Disabilities	Submit an Evidence of Disability Form for each disability/ condition to be considered.
Educational Impact Statement (EIS)	The Educational Impact Statement allows you and your school to provide detail of how your disability has impacted on your second level experience. The EIS is a requirement for all applicants.
DARE Eligibility	The applicant is eligible once the Principal of a Deaf School in the Republic of Ireland confirms their attendance in the school and their status as a Deaf student AND the applicant meets any combination of two educational impact indicators from Indicators 1 to 5 on the EIS.

Screening criteria C	Applicants with a Cochlear Implant or Bone Anchored Hearing Aid (BAHA)
Appropriate Professional	Ear Nose and Thoat (ENT) Consultant OR Cochlear Implant Programme Coordinator.
Type of Documentation Required	Applicants may submit an existing report by an ENT consultant if it contains the same detail as the Evidence of Disability Form OR Complete the Evidence of Disability Form 2017.
Required Age of Report	While there is no age limit on diagnostic evidence submitted, it is advisable to submit a recent report.
Other Disabilities	Submit an Evidence of Disability Form for each disability/ condition to be considered.
Educational Impact Statement (EIS)	The Educational Impact Statement allows you and your school to provide detail of how your disability has impacted on your second level experience. The EIS is a requirement for all applicants.
DARE Eligibility	The applicant is eligible once the evidence from the ENT consultant OR Cochlear Implant Programme Coordinator confirms the applicant has received a cochlear implant or a bone anchored hearing aid (BAHA) AND the applicant meets any combination of two educational impact indicators from Indicators 1 to 5 on the EIS.