Special needs call for special action

TRANSPORT difficulties, inadequate access to buildings and a lack of information on services are just some of the problems being experienced by parents of special needs children who want to send them to pre-school.

The additional needs of these children means that there is huge demand for the short supply of suitable places in existence, according to research by a Dublin childcare agency.

The study shows that 42% of childcare providers believe they could cater for more children with special needs and would like to be more inclusive.

However, 71% of the providers believe they need more funding for special needs training while 60% say that more funding and training would provide a better service.

The research, carried out by Dublin City Childcare Focus Group, is aimed at finding solutions to childcare provision for children with learning, sensory or physical disability and at integrating special needs services with existing regular childcare. It also looks at the requirements of parents with special needs.

Dublin City Childcare Focus Group chairwoman Monica Cassidy has called for a more streamlined approach to the pre-school needs of children with special needs. “A designated budget for special needs assistants and other supports would be more effective than the current discretionary, ad hoc arrangements.”

“We conducted our research in Finglas, Ballymun, Whitehall and parts of Santry and Glasnevin, but it is envisaged that the issues and solutions will be relevant to the rest of Dublin and the country.”

The study Accessible Childcare for All was launched by Lord Mayor Michael Conaghan in Dublin yesterday.

Meanwhile, the National Council for Special Education was launched yesterday by Education Minister Mary Hanafin and is set to take over key functions in relation to the provision of special needs education at primary and secondary level. Its development is part of the Government’s planned €628m investment in education services for the disabled, with €67m more than last year being spent next year on special needs education.

The council aims to speed up access to appropriate education and the council will work with up to 80 Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) at local level.