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Travel nightmare for autistic children

Thursday, 24 April 2008

PARENTS of children with autism in Balbriggan are in despair because they are being forced to travel to schools as far away as Fairview due to a lack of suitable local services.
They are now demanding an end to the current crisis, which sees the children having to be ferried in taxis to schools in Portmarnock, Donaghmede and Fairview.
The parents feel that such a long journey is entirely inappropriate for children with the condition.
There are close to 25 families in the north county Dublin town who can’t find a place for their child in local schools, according to the North Fingal Autism and Aspergers Support Group.
They are calling for an autism unit to be built as a matter of urgency.

Natalie Afolabi, whose five-year-old son, Sean, has autism, said the situation is placing unnecessary stress on parents and could be easily resolved with the creation of the new unit in Balbriggan.
“I don’t know what to do,” stated Natalie.
“Sean was offered a place in a school in Portmarnock but the journey would take too long.
“Sending him there is just not an option. It’s not safe for kids with autism to travel like this.
“Sean isn’t like other children; he needs constant attention. If something happened, he wouldn’t be able to tell me.”
Currently, Sean receives home tutorial, as Natalie has no other options and she doesn’t see the situation being resolved any time soon.
“This is unbelievably stressful for me,” she revealed.
“We have to fight so hard and it’s a lot of work having a child with autism and a job.”
Meanwhile, another local resident, Cathy Gaffney, whose six-year-old daughter has aspergers, is urging everyone to attend a public meeting in the town next week.
The meeting, to be held in Balbriggan Town Hall on Tuesday, April 29 (8pm), will discuss the criteria and steps needed to secure a unit for children with autism.
Despite repeated promises that there will be a functioning unit built in the 2008/09 school year, Cathy said she has little hope in the Government’s commitment to solving the problem.
Although Cathy is delighted that the area is getting new schools, she believes the needs of children with autism have been forgotten about.
“It is very unfair,” Cathy declared.
“Most people in Balbriggan are not aware of what is happening.
“There is such a huge demand for places in schools. “You can put 30 children in a classroom whereas you could only place six children with autism in the same size room. No school is brave enough to take on these children.”
Cathy claimed there is a lot of talk about inclusion but this doesn’t seem to apply to children with autism.
“The funds are available if a school would step up and take on the cause,” she added. from page 1
The Department of Education have stated their commitment to ensuring that all children, including those with autism, have access to an education that is appropriate to their needs.
In a statement to Northside People, the department outlined the options currently available to parents of children with autism.
A spokeswoman for the department stated. “Their child can either attend a mainstream class in their local school with additional supports as required, they can attend a special class in a mainstream school or they can attend a special school.
“While some children with autism can thrive in a mainstream class, special classes have been specifically designed to meet the needs of those who require more intensive support.
“The department understands that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is currently in discussions with a number of parents in the Balbriggan area in relation to the sourcing of appropriate school places for the children in question,” added the spokeswoman.

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