THE two Green Party ministers serving in government have been urged to support calls for the provision of specialist educational facilities for children with autism in Kerry.
Kerry delegate David Grey raised the matter at the Greens national convention in Dundalk at the weekend and he told how the parents of children with autism feel they are “at war with the system.”
“They find it hard to find out information, what they can do for their child, how to get a diagnosis and what entitlements they may have.
“It is draining and you can see it on the faces of these parents,” Mr Grey stated.
“Many have a difficult time looking after and nurturing their autistic children, yet they still fight for their children. They have immense love and compassion and want their child to get the best possible chances to achieve their potential.” The Tralee man pointed out that he has worked in the disability sector for many years and knows what it is like to be the parent of an autistic child. “I know what it is like to be forever jumping through hoops, to be fighting the system to get what’s best for your child,” he said. Mr Grey, who contested last year’s general election for the Greens in Kerry North, said the party members cannot allow the fact that they are in government to prevent them from standing up for what’s right.
“We cannot stand by if people suffer because of government policy. We cannot stand by and see the type of situation arise where the state spends millions of euro in taxpayers’ money fighting cases against the parents of autistic children,” he said.
Demanding specialist Applied Behaviour Analysis schooling for Kerry children with autism, Mr Grey stressed that time is not on the side of the children which don’t have access to ABA.
While recognising the merit in an integrated schooling system, he said the Green Party should recognise that some autistic children would benefit more from the ABA model, he maintained. “While we appreciate that 12 schools are funded under the programme for government, we also see the need for a nationwide approach,” Mr Grey said. He proposed a motion at the weekend convention calling on Education Minister, Mary Hanafin, to engage with all the stake-holders in this area including schools, the HSE and most importantly parents and families of autistic children to form an integrated government policy based on early diagnosis, intervention and respect. “We must stand up for all those with special needs, focusing on the ability not the disability, looking for the potential, not the lack thereof,” Mr Grey said.
