This Cork woman's Facebook post on SNAs has struck a chord

Jessica Ní Mhaoláin is being conferred with her Masters in Government this morning and says she couldn't have done it without the help of SNAs.

A Cork woman's Facebook post on the importance of Special Need Assistants has been shared by thousands of people online.

Jessica Ní Mhaoláin, 24, was born with a vision impairment called occulocutaneous albinism that means everything past five feet in front of her is a blur. She also has nystagmus, an involuntaery movement of the eyes which means she struggles to focus.

In her Facebook post last night, Jessica explained what her primary school life was like without an Special Needs Assistant:

"Imagine yourself sitting in a classroom, surrounded by other students and a teacher writing about a history lesson or an Irish verb on the chalkboard. All very normal isn't it? Now close your eyes, imagine what it would be like to rely only on sound for your education.

"Relying only on sound to learn how to spell, add and subtract, read, and write."

In 1999, SNAs were introduced and Jessica's education experience was completely changed. She now had someone to help with notes and descriptions of what was happening in class.

This morning, Jessica is being conferred with a Masters in Government in UCC, two years after completing a Bachelors of Science in Public Health.

And she says, without her SNA, she wouldn't have got there:

"Simply put, I would not have finished primary school without the help of my SNA. I definitely would not have sat either my Junior or Leaving Cert without an SNA. Having an SNA put me on a level playing field with my classmates, simple as.

"Every child has a right to education, and it's near impossible for a child to learn if they rely on sound alone."

Her Facebook post has clearly hit a nerve - it currently has over 21,000 likes and over 5,000 shares as well as hundreds of comments from well-wishers.

Jessica finished her post with a message for politicians.

"What is wrong with this society when it is deemed ok for a SENO or Department official to cut an SNA from a child for the sake of a financial bottom line?

"Because while I'm graduating tomorrow morning, there will be children and parents in Cork who were where my parents once were. And they will be wondering whether their child will achieve an education like I have, because an SNA and a chance to learn equally as others do has been taken away from them for the sake of saving money."