Rural Laois children with special needs taking two hour round trips to nearest ASD class

A group of rural Laois parents of children with special needs are urgently calling for an Autism unit in their local school, with a petition underway.

The Incredabilities group formed in January, out of frustration at the lack of special needs school places in the Errill, Rathdowney and Borris-in-Ossory areas.

Already parents of over 30 children have joined.

They are asking the Department of Education and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) for an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) unit at St Colmcille’s NS in Errill.

That unit was recently requested by the school, but they await approval. 

Incredabilities was founded by parent Chloe Martin who described their frustration to the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

“We want to express our deep concern and disappointment regarding the lack of an ASD unit at St Colmcille N.S. 

“The prospect of a unit in the school has been left on the back burner by the Department of Education and the NCSE. This is a very difficult pill for us to swallow. 

“We witness the challenges faced by our children with ASD who attend both the mainstream school in Errill, and also units in other areas. Some families are travelling a 2 hour round trip.

“They deserve to have an education in their own local area to allow them to integrate, make friends, take up hobbies, and most of all to be educated in their own locality.  

“These children are already vulnerable without missing out on playdates and birthday parties, because they live too far away," Ms Martin said.

She says that at least 10 local children would use the unit.

“We as parents of children with additional needs feel that we are irrelevant in society, that the needs of our children are so unimportant that they just get overlooked. We have nowhere to turn anymore without the support of the likes of the NCSE. 

“We have the support of the school and the board of management at the school in Errill, but we continue to feel fobbed off by ifs and buts from the powers that be.

“The absence of such a unit not only hampers the academic progress of children with ASD but also affects the overall atmosphere of understanding and acceptance within our school community. The children in mainstream school in Errill would also benefit greatly because it would educate them in the needs of children with additional needs, it will teach them many positive traits such as empathy, kindness, respect for others," she said.

Their online petition got nearly 900 signatures within a week of launching.

"Our local area is full of families who are passionate about creating an inclusive educational environment for all children. We have shown this through the online petition.

“We are supported by our local councillor John King, Brian Stanley TD & Charlie Flanagan TD in our campaign to have this class sanctioned.  The very fact that we are even having to beg for this in this day and age is beyond inexcusable. We feel outnumbered and forgotten. 

“For our children to be discriminated against because of learning needs is quite infuriating. 

“We have had parents being advised to register their child in Durrow, Co Offaly.  Our parents have enough stress in their day to day lives without having to drive 65.2kms – 4 times a day, how is this even fathomable – let’s not forget that most of these households are only a 1 income families, we can’t really say that the main carer is making a living when they are only taking in €248 a week, from carers allowance.

“There is a renovation nearing its completion in Errill beside the school – St Bernadette’s Hall. The committee there has expressed the support of this unit and have informed us that they would happily offer the space for a sanctioned class,” the parent said.

She claims that the Special Education Needs Officer for the Laois area told a parent that there were available spaces in Clonenagh NS in Mountrath, and in Ballyroan NS. However, she said that these special classes are already full.

“Somebody is trying to pull the wool over our eyes and we are no longer going to stand for it. 

"All schools should have sanctioned classes for kids who need them. Do our children not deserve the same as other children? Do our children not deserve to grow up and be happy as part of their own local area? We are urging the people of our area to stand with us and fight for our children's right to be educated. If our children were neurotypical, we would not be coming up against these hurdles – what does that say about our educational system?,” Chloe asked.

In the petition, she states: “Our children deserve to be educated within their own locality. We want our children to be seen and acknowledged as equal members of society. The stigma associated with additional needs must be eradicated.

“It is unjust for the Department of Education to treat our kids differently than others simply because they learn differently”.

A spokesperson from The Department of Education has confirmed to the Leinster Express / Laois Live that the NCSE received an expression of interest from St Colmcille’s in November, 2023 to start an ASD class.

“The NCSE has advised the department that they have received an expression of interest for the establishment of an autism class from the school in November 2023. Any school who express an interest in opening a special class are to be commended.

“The NCSE is currently reviewing the overall demand for such provision in the area alongside the availability of space in local schools. The local NCSE SENO remains in contact with the principal of the school and with the parents of children in the area. Parents will be duly notified as new special class placements become available and are any new classes are sanctioned within the area.

They say that in Laois, there will be 8 more special classes opened in 2024, 4 at primary and 4 at post-primary level, among 390 new classes and two new special schools being opened nationwide.

“This brings to 60 the number of special classes in County Laois, 44 at primary level and 16 at post-primary level. The vast majority of these are autism classes and have a teacher/pupil ratio of 1:6. 

“Over the last number of years, the department and the NCSE have introduced a number of strategic initiatives to plan for and provide sufficient special class and special school places.

“These initiatives are bearing fruit with almost 1,300 new special classes sanctioned and seven new special schools established over the last four years,” they say.