Joy for parents as children find school

TWO children with a language disorder are at school for the first time, thanks to the generosity of a local school principal.

Shannon O’Dwyer, six, and her four year-old brother Paul have been accepted at Freshford National School, even though the Department of Education has refused to sanction a classroom assistant for either child.

Their mother, Caroline, is on call throughout the day should either child need help. She gave up her job as an information officer with a local company two years ago to fight for the education they need.

In what could only be described as a Catch 22 situation, they were unable to get into a specialist language unit in Kilkenny city without completing a year at mainstream school, but they couldn’t go to mainstream school without a classroom assistant.

“Paul started school yesterday. Shannon has been there for a few weeks now,” said Mrs O’Dwyer.

“We are so thankful to the principal, Tom Doheny, who has agreed to take them in. He’s as frustrated as we are at this stage with the difficulty getting information from the department.

“The language school said they would not put Paul’s name forward for a place next year, if he didn’t get into a school immediately. I brought him along yesterday. He’s in the same class as Shannon and they are getting on fine,” the Kilkenny woman said.

Caroline and her husband, Paul Snr, have been in touch with the Equality Authority. The authority has advised them they have a case under the Equal Status Act and the Equality Act. They will be taking this case, unless their children get the care and the places in the language school they need.

The couple will be among scores of parents who plan to protest outside the Department of Education’s Special Needs section in Athlone on Friday next.

The protest is planned from 11am until lunchtime. As many as 27 sub-groups of the Irish Autism Alliance will be represented at the protest.