2003 – Dental Science in tcd – Dropped out

2003 – Dental Science in TCD – Dropped out

• 2003 – Dental Science in TCD – Dropped out

• 2004 – Physiotherapy in TCD – Qualified

• 2009 – Returned to Dental Science as a Mature Student.

• Currently – about to commence final year

Applied via the DARE scheme

• Applied via the DARE scheme

• Supports in place – Note takers, FM system

• “The First Day” Story

• Did not see myself as having a Disability

• Did not want to be singled out or made feel different from rest of the class.

• Decided the course was too hard – dropped out.

New course / new start

• New course / new start

• Another health science course

• Still the challenges of placements & dealing with the public.

• Lectures – accepted the supports.

Physiotherapy - Completed 1000 hours clinical practice in the four years – over five different sites.

• Physiotherapy - Completed 1000 hours clinical practice in the four years – over five different sites.

• First placement – AMNCH – Elective Orthopaedics

Wards – Noise

• Wards – Noise

• Introducing myself to patients

• Communication with patients – should I inform patients?

• Communication with team members – would I slow procedures down?

• Not wanting to burden senior

• Use of supports on placement

• Starting in a new site – repeating the process.

Learned from previous placements

• Learned from previous placements

• Communication – non issue

• New skill set required

• Disclosure – second nature – reciting of medical history

• New challenges – dental mask, new supervisors, nursing staff

• Routine in the Dental Hospital

Case by case

• Case by case

• No recipe approach

• Ensuring free channel of communication

• Encourage to disclose when necessary

• Pre placement advice essential

• The advantage of staying between the two main sites for core placements

• Re-checking