‘George can’t go through mainstream school. It would be unfair and cruel’

DECISION Mother of boy with autism shocked after being told her son doesn’t qualify for a place in Special Ed unit.

George is one of six children who had hoped for a place in an additional autism class that O'Carolan College Nobber was willing to put in place from September. However, the Department of Education and the National Special Education Council has failed to give the go-ahead.

The mother of a 12-year-old boy with autism who had applied for a place in the Autism Unit in O'Carolan College Nobber has spoken of her shock that her son has been told he does not qualify for a place in a special education unit.

Alicia Young said it would be "unfair and cruel" to expect her son George to go to mainstream school, given his complex needs and has vowed to fight the decision.

She told how George was diagnosed with autism when he was two and attended Enable Ireland until the age of six. He goes to school in Kilmainhamwood NS and while he doesn't have an SNA, the school has been providing extra supports including one-on-one time with his teacher and also with the principal.

Alicia said they knew George would need extra support when it came to the transition to secondary school and they met with the psychologist from the NEPS in May of last year.

"We wanted to give ourselves plenty of time to make sure everything was in place. The psychologist who did the report said the best place for George was an Autism Unit and Kilmainhamwood NS linked in with O'Carolan College and we were all in agreement.

"O'Carolan College put through their paperwork to the SENO [Special Educational Needs Organiser] who came back and said he was not getting a place that the psychologist hadn't identified what George's complex needs were. I spoke to the SENO to find out what is missing and was advised to send an addendum to the report. I went back to the psychologist who wrote a three page addendum showing all his complex needs. The Autism diagnosis is the complex need and he also outlined ten other complex educational needs that warranted a place in the unit but they came back again and said his needs were not identified.

"I had given all the information but they still looked for more."

At this stage, Alicia contacted Minister Helen McEntee's office and they have made representations and are appealing the decision on her behalf with the NCES but they remain in limbo until they hear back.

Alicia outlined how mainstream school would be very difficult for George as he has very poor attention and concentration and has no organisational skills. She also said he has poor emotional regulation skills and social skills and he needs the extra supports.

"I am extremely upset. I went to O'Carolan College myself as did all my siblings and my husband and his family and that is where we want him to go.

"His older sister is already in the school, I have no idea what we do now. There is no way he can get through mainstream school. It would be unfair on him and cruel. It is not fair to knowingly put him in the situation."

"As a parent I am not going to set him up for failure. That is what I would be doing if I send him to mainstream school. He is 13 in August, it is a tough enough time as it is without the additional needs he has."