I think this is a hugely positive announcement for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families. From my own experience of working as a special educational needs teacher for 13 years, I believe that children on the autistic spectrum are better placed in the mainstream school environment.
Children with autism suffer from impairments in social interaction and in patterns of communication. This can affect how the children interact and how they understand the world around them. I believe these new special classes, within local mainstream schools, will help children on the autistic spectrum to mix with their peers in class and possibly outside school. I think this can ultimately help them towards a more independent future.
Special schools around the country provide fantastic support to children with a wide variety of educational needs. Often, however, they are outside the young person’s community, making it even more difficult to mix socially with other local children. Today’s announcement will mean 38 schools, including four in Dublin, will be able to give children with ASD the option to attend a class, tailored to their needs, in a mainstream school closer to home.
There are already a number of mainstream schools providing special classes for children with autism. These schools have developed good practices of integration and I believe these additional classes in 38 schools will build upon this work.
For more information please send me an email to john.lyons@oir.ie or give me a call on 01 618 3280.
This is fantastic news John. Is there a timeline for these ASD specific classes or are we being dangled another carrot to lead us into the secure stable that is in fact a slaughterhouse where we will be hit with more and more significant cuts and more empty promises??? Is the intention that the government wait until the consequence of the last baby boom start school and still leave us with a shortfall for many pupils as is the case now. I try my utmost to have a positive attitude but lies hurt so much more when you once believed them, now im a bit sceptical as you will understand.
ReplyDeleteWhat schools have been allocated these classes and how do I get a child with autism into one, is it on a first come first serve basis and then on to a waiting list. Will there be sufficent SNA allocation to these classes for ASD children, will there be a allocation of services such as OT and SLT to the children who attend these classes or will it be as the previous poster said a carrot being dangled in front of us with nothing to back it up?
ReplyDeleteGreat news! My son is one of the lucky ones who is in an excellent asd unit attached to a mainstream school. They are staffed one teacher to six kids two SNA's. It's great but they are supposed to have or and Slt through the school. The reality is the kids get seen by therapists for about ten minutes a month they draw up a programme and the school staff actually carry out the Slt and OT goals. The staff in our school are excellent but the service they receive is far from adequate and years behind other countries, furthermore if you voice your opinion on the matter to the hse they then hit back at parents implying that you haven't done enough!!!!
ReplyDeleteYes It is one of the best post from other. It is a useful and charming post.It is extremely helpful for me.
ReplyDeleteautism in ireland & HSE autism