A Tipperary mother whose special needs son was not given a school place this September has said that she will be taking the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to the High court in October.
Sabrina Kelly told Gript that despite assurances that a special unit would be established for children like her son Josh (6) – who has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) – that this has not materialised and doesn’t look like it will for the foreseeable future.
The mother of two also has an older son who also has ASD named Ryan with whom she is also facing an uphill battle after losing his Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA).
Last May, Sabrina and Stephanie McAndrew – another mother who has ASD – told Gript about their fight for suitable school placements, adequate Special Needs Assistance (SNA) support, and the provision of better services in the HSE.
Both Sabrina and Stephanie insist that services across Ireland have deteriorated over time, rather than improved despite government promises to implement strategies to help people with autism and their families.
Sabrina says she “gatecrashed” an appearance by Toiseach Simon Harris in Clonmel last week and managed to speak to him about the situation hers and other children are facing.
“I kind of gatecrashed a lunch that he had,” she said, adding that she and her husband and two children were able to speak to the Taoiseach.
“He sat with us, he met with Josh and Ryan,” she said, adding that Harris “seemed genuinely upset” and “shocked” about the family’ predicament.
Sabrina says that while the Taoiseach “definitely did listen” she was “so afraid” that nothing would come of the interaction saying she has had “so many setbacks” despite approaching Minister for Education Norma Foley, and Hildegard Naughton.
“You think someone is going to help you or do something for you and then they don’t,” she said, recalling her numerous attempts to seek political help.
“I’m afraid that’s what’s going to happen again,” she said.
Sabrina said she was “thankful” and “grateful” that the Taoiseach sat with her, but was now hoping that he would not “forget about Josh” and that he would not make “empty promises and not do anything for him”.
In 2021 the Minister of State for Disability, Anne Rabbitte launched her intention to develop a national strategy on autism with the government’s Autism Innovation Strategy published this year.
The strategy promised to roll out 80 “simple and clear” actions to “make a positive impact on people’s lives” over an 18-month period.
Speaking at its launch last month, the Taoiseach said the strategy was “a clear commitment to action on autism” in his Programme for Government.
“This commitment was made recognising the fact that autistic people in our society face a variety of challenges, and that there are gaps which we need to address in existing services and supports, along with misconceptions and gaps in terms of understanding autism.”
Minister Roderic O’Gorman said that his department was “absolutely committed” to the “advancement of the rights of autistic people and all people with disabilities” saying that the strategy was aimed at the “realisation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.”
Minister Anne Rabbitte said that the “purpose” of the strategy was t”o provide the building blocks for a more inclusive society, where autistic people are accepted and understood and have equity of opportunity to participate in cultural, social and economic life and lead meaningful and fulfilled lives as valued members of the community.”
Sabrina says she had no choice but to give up her nursing career in order to care for her children and that at this point in time she “is not in a good place” due to the lack of available support.
“Day to day life is just difficult,” she said, adding that she was “struggling” especially since her son was left without a school place.
She says the CDNT (Children’s Disability Network Team), set up by the HSE to care for children with special needs, is struggling to provide services.
Sabrina said that she has not received any interim support to help with Josh’s education while he has no school place and that she has been left to “just wait it out and see what happens”.
Sabrina said that “a lot of families” are facing similar issues and that as many as 38 children in the Dublin 15 group have been left without school places this term.
As Gript previously reported, Ireland is facing an increased level of demand for special needs school places where increasing numbers of children with special educational needs are enrolled in mainstream schools.
A Department of Education report, released in April, shows a surge since 2018.
There were 7,722 children in special schools in 2018, with this figure increasing to 8,424 in 2022. Students in special classes in mainstream primary schools jumped from 6,229 in 2018 to 10,123 in 2022, seeing a steady increase.
The number of special needs assistants (SNAs) employed has also increased – up from 4,877 in 2018 to 19,219 in 2022, of which the vast majority (12,242) were in primary schools.
You can read more details about Sabrina Kelly’s story here.