This article is from page 4 of the 2006-06-27 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
PARENTS from across the county are preparing for a long and drawn out battle with the Department of Education, as they seek essential education for their children.
The parents, whose children have autism, are campaigning and fundraising under the group Clare Action Autism, for a specialised “Sapling School” for the county .
Ian McMorrough, a parent, said a group of parents had begun campaigning for the school, already in place in Kildare and based on the ABA (Applied Behavioural Analysis).
In the Sapling School each child has one-to-one tuition based on individual plans. The school also includes essential services for children on the “autism spectrum”, such as speech and language therapy and occupational therapy.
“This requires the parents to get it up and running, we know we have a battle on our hands with the department,” said Mr McMorrough.
“The Government has paid out in excess of €16 million in legal fees fighting cases of children with autism,” he said.
More than 2,000 children in Ireland are awaiting diagnoses, but no numbers are available as to how many children have autism.
It is estimated by the National Autistic Society in Britain that one in every 166 children have varying degrees of autism.
Twelve specialised schools – Sapling and another form of autism school known as Cabas – are supported by the Department of Education, but in each case, parents had to fight for the service.
Mr McMorrough maintains that by spending €50,000 per child when he or she is young, the Government will save itself €400,000 when the child is older.
“Early intervention is also vital for the child,” he said.
Ian and his wife have already started educating their young son using the ABA method at home, employing specially-trained staff. A clinical psychologist is also overseeing the schooling. The progress of the young boy has been described as amazing by his father.
“Individual learning is key for these children as they have to learn how to learn,” he said.
“The children would then be integrated into mainstream when they are ready, not when the Department say,” he added.
The campaigning parent explained that most individuals who did not receive effective treatment were unlikely to live independently as adults.
Using the ABA method, up to 70 per cent of children have been integrated into mainstream education, he said.
Clare Action Autism can be contacted on 087 6814240.