Sir, - With reference to the article "Is disability still too big a hurdle?" in the Education & Living supplement (May 11th), we would like to highlight an issue that was not reflected in the feature. While it was an encouraging article to read, it did not address the issue of eligibility and access to funding for students with disabilities attending private colleges. Once again, private colleges are excluded from mainstream funding and/or support.
This major oversight should be addressed immediately. Students with disabilities attending private colleges are not eligible to apply to the Department of Education Special Fund for Students with Disabilities. Such injustice does not encourage diversity in education or value those against whom discrimination is being waged.
Portobello College was even refused application forms in December 1998 for the above named fund because it is a private college. The fact that the college strives to offer equal opportunity and access to all by providing a range of courses for those who are academically able to enjoy and benefit from them, seems to be largely ignored. When such discrimination blatantly exists in our current education system, what hope does it offer a student with a disability who wishes to pursue a course in private education? Is it fair? - Yours, etc.,
Marie Kielty, Portobello College, Disability Steering Committee, Dublin 2.