Autism charity AsIAm has paused an application from the National College of Art and Design for accreditation as an autism-friendly institution pending the outcome of a review into practices around psychological assessments for students and consent.
NCAD apologised for what it said was a "regrettable" breach of its and its service provider’s protocols.
The National Learning Network, which is run by the Rehab Group, provides psychological assessment services to the college.
RTÉ News understands that following the revelations autism charity AsIAm wrote to the college to suspend an application from NCAD to be granted 'autism friendly’ status by the charity.
The accreditation is normally granted after training and the adoption of an autism friendly action plan.
In a letter sent to the college two weeks ago AsIAm wrote that it was pausing NCAD’s application pending the outcome of any external review and until such a time as the college could reassure it about support systems in place for students with additional needs.
Last month NCAD and the National Learning Network told RTÉ News that they had started "a comprehensive review, which is ongoing" into the breaches of consent procedures.
The two bodies said they would make no further comment until the outcome of that review was known.
It is understood that college director Sarah Glennie will meet the CEO of AsIAm, Adam Harris, in coming weeks to discuss the matter.
AsIAm has confirmed to RTÉ News that the NCAD application has been paused pending a meeting with NCAD.
In a statement responding to a query it noted the need for "the outcome of any external review to satisfy its accreditation panel" before it would be deemed appropriate to continue with the college’s application.
The breach at NCAD related to Profile of Needs Statements (PONS) that map out the learning and other supports that individual students are deemed to require.
The statements are drawn up by psychologists in consultation with students at colleges across the country.
A student's PONS statement can contain sensitive personal information and the art college's protocols state that the student "must give their consent before their PONS will be issued to their Department".
However it emerged that instead of asking students to sign the document in a section called ‘Student Declaration’ which read "I understand this agreement and am aware that I can withdraw my consent at any time", in an unknown number of instances the student’s name was typed in, unbeknownst to them, instead.
The college told RTÉ News: "NCAD has been engaging with AsIAm and has no further comment to make at this point."
