Dublin People - Group to tackle speech therapy crisis

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Group to tackle speech therapy crisis

Thursday, 13 March 2008

A GROUP that works with people with learning disabilities is stepping up its campaign to provide vital speech therapy services to those who most need it.
Down Syndrome Ireland has undertaken to provide a comprehensive speech and language therapy service nationwide, after it said the scarcity of speech therapists has reached crisis point.
Last month, Northside People revealed how a mother of a young boy with Down Syndrome was struggling to get vital speech therapy for her son.
Bridgette Keane and her husband, John Butler, from Sutton Park, Bayside, whose 23-month-old son, Mark, has Down Syndrome, said the lack of a speech therapist was hampering Mark’s development.
Ms Keane said Mark, who has a twin brother, Christopher, should have been getting regular home help from a speech therapist since the age of 18 months.
Children with Down Syndrome generally have a greater requirement for speech and language therapy than others who require the service. Without appropriate assessment and intervention, issues with speech remain and can affect the social skills of an individual, educational advancement and employment prospects.
Ms Keane said that with proper help and early intervention Mark could go on to reach his full potential.
However, she said that apart from Down Syndrome Ireland, there was very little help for parents of children with the condition.
John Lindsay, chief executive of Down Syndrome Ireland, said speech and language therapy was one of the most important issues for their members.
He said the provision of the service in Ireland did not match international standards and that his group was prepared to take on the provision of the service.
“The provision of this service by the State has reached crisis point,” Mr Lindsay declared.
“We have now undertaken to provide this service nationwide with the assistance of the private sector and individuals who support our organisation through charity campaigns.”
Meanwhile, Down Syndrome Ireland has launched its ‘Happy Paddy’s Day’ campaign to help fund the new initiative.
Until March 28, over 1,000 pubs across the country will be stocking specially designed St Patrick’s Day shamrock cards.
All funds raised from their sale will go towards developing speech and language therapy services for children and young adults with Down Syndrome.
If you would like to make a donation to Down Syndrome Ireland, you can log onto the website www.downsyndrome.ie

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