‘If they do this, occupational therapy will be next and then the psychologist’
The outrage and anger at proposals to withdraw Speech and Language therapy from students of St Mary's Special School in Navan continues to gather momentum with a petition set up opposing the move.
The UpLift petition, created by Cllr Alan Lawes states that parents, students and supporters of St Mary's Special School in Navan are calling Director General of HSE, Paul Reid and Enable Ireland CEO, John O'Sullivan, to retain the Speech and Language Therapy teacher at the school.
The petition comes as parents expressed fears that this is the just beginning and that further cuts are in the pipeline.
“If they do this, occupational therapy will be next and then the psychologist,” says parent, Julie Gorman.
The petition states: “If our Speech and Language Therapy teacher is withdrawn it means that out of 55 children receiving Speech and Language Therapy in the school only five will continue to receive it in St Mary's. “Parents of special needs children have to fight tooth and nail for any services for their children and to think a service that is having a positive effect on all these children's progression, is going to be withdrawn is absolutely disgraceful and unforgivable. We are calling on all our local Councillors and TD's particularly those in Government for support and to use their influence to have this decision reversed”.
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Principal Maria Corredor wrote to parents two weeks ago informing them of the decision by the HSE and Enable Ireland.
“This worries us immensely, as we know how difficult it is for our pupils and indeed for a new therapist to establish a routine,” she said.
Julie Gorman whose son, Jake Fagan has been attending the school for two years is devastated by the news.
He has only been attending St Mary's for two years but he has progressed so much in that time.
“It takes a team and there is a great team at St Mary’s. The commitment of the teachers and special needs assistants is wonderful, but they are not therapists.
“I am really afraid this will cause him to regress.
“The waiting list in the community is three years. Jake is 12 now and it could mean no speech therapy until he's 15 and then by 18 he'll be too old.
“I just want him to reach his full potential. That isn't too much to ask. In fact we aren't asking for anything, just to hold onto to what we have.
“The HSE waiting lists are so long, it is having a knock on effect on private practices where there are also waiting lists. It is so wrong. Everyone suffers, the children, the staff and the families. It is stressful for everyone.” she said.
Cllr Lawes appealed to all the parents, staff, students and supporters of St Mary's Special School as well as family friends and supporters to sign and share the petition across social media.
“When you think about what parents of special needs children in this country have to go through in order to get even the most basic service from the HSE,” he said.
“Lots of worried parents have came out and told me this week that this speech and language therapy service is vital to the positive progression in their children's lives.
“They are absolutely sickened and infuriated by this targeted cut back by the HSE on vulnerable children when at the same time Paul Reid and his fellow executives have inflated and exorbitant salaries paid to them.”
The HSE has indicated they will be meeting with the principal after the school holidays.