Local parents struggling to get places in school for children with autism

By Laura Lyne

AS CHILDREN across South Dublin prepare to return to school, two Tallaght mothers highlighted their struggle at finding pre-school places for their children with autism as demand for ECCE places continue to grow.

One mother whose child was due to begin his first year in pre-school was told last week that her two-and-a-half-year-old son did not fit the criteria for a placement in an ABA pre-school for children with ASD (autism spectrum disorder).

Louise Riordan’s son Alex Byrne was diagnosed at 19 months old and has been on a waiting list for a pre-school place since his diagnosis, which was made following €1,800 worth of private consultations.

Louise told The Echo: “With children with autism, early intervention is key.

“I was told that Alex is entitled to a home tuition grant for 10 hours a week, but finding a private tutor proved impossible so the plan was to get him into a group placement in a pre-school.

“Alex has been on the list since last June, and I would phone every month to ensure he was on the list and was moving up the list and we believed that everything was okay.

“A week ago, I found out that the goalposts had been changed and Alex would not be able to attend pre-school until he was three in November, but his place will be gone.

“Nobody told us that it would be so difficult to get an option for Alex. We had the forms signed off, he’s entitled to this place and it doesn’t actually make sense that they’re taking this away from us.

“I’ve had to reduce hours in work, and Alex needs routine and structure. We had pinned all our hopes on this.

“All parents of children with autism are in the position where they’re wondering if their child is going to be able to go to school on their start day in September.

“We’re not getting the services he needs, and time in school will help him socially and will develop a routine for him.”

Lauren Hoban’s son Kaylum Conway is four-and-a-half years old, and spent the last school year in a pre-school before Lauren was told that he would not have a place in the school this coming September.

Kaylum has yet to be officially diagnosed with ASD, and is awaiting a diagnosis by the end of the month.

Lauren told The Echo: “I picked my son up on his last day of school in June, and was told there would not be a place for him in September.

“At first I was told it was due to his age, and then because he showed violent behaviour toward staff – but I was never told he had violent behaviour before and I did not sign any reports.

“Kaylum was doing well in school, and there were never any issues before. I feel that my son has been discriminated against because of his disability.

“He was there for a whole year, and he was used to the routine. What am I going to tell my son now, that he can’t go to school like the other kids?

“He doesn’t fit the criteria for mainstream school yet, and I’ve called around everywhere to try to get him a place in a pre-school but they’re all unable to cater for him due to the short notice as resources are very low.

“I’m very upset about it all, at the end of the day my son doesn’t deserve to be treated this way.”

The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme was amended for the 2016/2017 school year, with children entitled to a place between the ages of three until they transfer to primary school.