Disability Allowance Supporting Letter Template & Teacher Guide | Ireland

Disability Allowance Supporting Letter Template & Teacher Guide

Not sure where to start when you are asked to write a supporting letter for a student’s Disability Allowance application?

Schools and educators are often asked to provide supporting information, but it can be difficult to know what to include or how to describe the support a student needs in school.

This practical resource includes a sample supporting letter and a simple guide to help you write your own, based on the individual student and what you know and observe within the school setting.

Included:

Sample Disability Allowance supporting letter

Guidance on what information may be useful to include

Communication needs

Independence and daily living

Organisation and executive functioning

Social interaction

Emotional regulation

Sensory and environmental needs

Safety and supervision

Personal care, where relevant

Learning and accessing school

Level and frequency of support

Examples of how to make the support a student requires clear and specific

The guide encourages school staff to focus on everyday functioning, independence and the actual level of support the student requires, rather than simply listing diagnoses or difficulties.

Disability Allowance Supporting Letter Teacher Guide.docx

It also includes a practical example showing how a general statement such as “Sarah struggles with organisation” can be developed into a clearer description of the support staff actually provide.

Disability Allowance Supporting Letter Teacher Guide.docx

Please note: This resource is designed to support school staff with writing educational supporting information. A school supporting letter is one piece of evidence in a Disability Allowance application and should not make medical claims or suggest that an application will be approved.