Down Syndrome speech therapy ‘inaccessible’

MANY people with Down Syndrome cannot access crucial speech therapy, according to the annual report of Down Syndrome Limerick.

The association employs two full-time speech therapists without any State help. A survey by the association has found that the vast majority of people attending the therapy sessions make very significant strides with their communication skills.

Pat Dowling of Down Syndrome Limerick said: “A large number of the clients seen by our therapists are not able to access services elsewhere due to their age, and, in some instances, have not received therapy prior to Down Syndrome Limerick.”

He said parents see speech therapy as crucial. Down Syndrome Limerick, which provides a wide range of services and advice to more than 160 families, has now applied to the Health Service Executive Mid-West for financial assistance.

The association has opened full-time therapy rooms in the city centre where the two speech therapists are based.

Down Syndrome Limerick secretary Gerard O’Malley said the services they provide cost in the region of €200,000 a year, for which they get no assistance from the Department of Health.

“We have received a small one-off grant, but we get no fixed regular payments and we have now been in talks with the Health Service Executive Mid West and we have an application in for Section 39 funding,” he said.

“We are awaiting a decision on what they will give us.”