Mother ‘begging schools’ to accept her autistic son Carter

A MOTHER is “at the stage of begging schools” to accept her autistic son after having his application rejected by 10 post-primary schools and claims her family is being “bullied by the system”.

Carter O’Reilly is coming to the end of his time in primary school, and while it is supposed to be an exciting time looking forward to secondary school, the 13-year-old does not have that luxury.

“A neurotypical child coming out of primary school has a choice of secondary schools to pick from,” Natalee O’Reilly, Carter’s mam, tells The Echo.

“Because he is autistic, he has no choice, and we’re at the stage of begging schools to accept him.

“I’ve had the door closed in my face by 10 different schools.

“I’m applying for schools not even in my radius, because I’ve applied for everything I can locally. The response I’m getting is that the school is either oversubscribed or out of our catchment.

“The schools just don’t want to have to deal with kids with autism. Kids with a disability are judged differently.

“How many kids are going to be left without a school because they are autistic.

“I hope by speaking out that I can open the door for other parents that are being bullied by the system, given letters rejecting their kids, it’s bullying tactics.

“Carter has no voice, but I do and I’m going to use it.

“My son has a fundamental right to education, and at the minute, his fundamental right to have an appropriate educational place is being breached.”

Autism spectrum disorder is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave.

Carter attended local naíonra and Happy Feet Early Learning Centre in Rathcoole when he was very young, prior to his diagnosis, and he “excelled”.

However, the young Rathcoole boy was diagnosed as “borderline delayed” by a psychologist and underwent an assessment of needs after starting in St Mary’s National School, in Saggart.

He spent months in mainstream class, but after being diagnosed as autistic, Carter moved into a Special Educational Needs Unit and has spent his entire primary school education there.

“It’s been a constant battle,” his mam Natalee says.

Today, the battle continues. With Carter in sixth class, he is due to finish in St Mary’s NS in June and he still has not secured a place in secondary school.

Not knowing what to do, Natalee turned to the founder of Sensory Fun with Friends, Lynn Byrne, who does some autism advocacy work in terms of benefits and entitlements.

Lynn says that Natalee has applied unsuccessfully to every special school on the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) website.

“It’s noted on all Carter’s reports that Carter should be enrolled in a special school,” Lynn tells The Echo.

“Natalee had come to me to seek support and we have approached every school on the NCSE website, and regretfully, Carter has not secured a place.

“It is likely that Carter will have to remain at home this coming September, as there is no school place to facilitate him or to accommodate his needs.

“It’s disappointing that after all these years that there still are not enough supports in place for young children with autism, and to find them an appropriate school place to facilitate their needs.”

Natalee, with the help of Lynn and a solicitor, is undertaking an appeal which is provided for under Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998.

This is an appeal that can be undertaken where a board of management or school refuses to admit a student to a school, where the decision to refuse admission is due to the school being oversubscribed.

A review of the decision for refusal must first be conducted by a school’s board of management before a Section 29 appeal is filed, which is then examined by independent appeal committee members appointed by the Minister for Education and Skills, Norma Foley.

“Schools need to review their policy regarding how they enrol students,” Natalee says.

“One of the reasons that these schools are rejecting our application is that Carter has a dual diagnosis. Now adays, Autism comes with a dual diagnosis.

“Schools need to update their policies.

“Carter is a loveable, affectionate, and gentle person. He has got quite a sense of humour, which is starting to come back to us now.

“He might not be academic, but he is very smart. Once you show Carter something, he’ll get it straight away.

“He’s mechanically very sound, he’d be able to put something together without looking at how to do it.

“I’m just hoping to get my son a school placement in a special school, where his needs can be catered for.”

If a post-primary school place cannot be secured for Carter, Natalee says that she “doesn’t know what to do” when the new school term rolls around in September.

The Echo contacted the National Council for Special Education for comment.