State ‘may be trying to avoid educating disabled adults’

THE Government may be trying to avoid providing education for disabled adults, campaigner Kathy Sinnott said yesterday.

The Education for Persons with Disabilities Bill published this week does not assign responsibility for a disabled person’s education after they turn 18. However, it does set out that steps must be taken to allow a child progress to further education and training when they become and adult.

Education Minister Noel Dempsey said the area of continuing education for disabled people in adulthood will be addressed in the Disability Bill being published by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform later this year.

However, Ms Sinnott said the education rights of disabled adults could have been covered in both pieces of legislation. The Cork mother had to go to the Supreme Court to secure state funding for the education of her adult autistic son Jamie.

“The bill published this week provides nothing for adults but there was no reason to leave them out,” she said. “It’s well and good to promise the Disability Bill will cover it, but I wouldn’t like to take it on trust,” said Ms Sinnott.

She said the legislation is unlikely to bring an end to families taking the State to court for the right to have their disabled children educated. However, she is hopeful that the consultation process up to the autumn will help bring the necessary changes.

Despite Ms Sinnott’s concerns, the Disability Legislation Consultation Group (DLCG) is confident the

Disability Bill will cover education for adults. “Because it will not be service-specific, education rights of disabled people will be included in assessments of their needs. We have no reason not to believe education will not be included,” said DLCG chairperson Angela Kerins. Last night, a spokesperson for Mr Dempsey said a dedicated bill, addressing specifically the needs of children, was the best approach.

“The education planning process provided for in the bill has to include, from an appropriate age, planning for the child’s educational needs as an adult,” she said.