Council lied in order to deny autistic boy his ‘human needs’

A COUNCIL has been ordered to re-house a family or build a suitable extension to accommodate the needs of an autistic boy, by the Equality Authority.

The Equality Tribunal officer found that the unnamed local authority lied to the woman about its own architect’s assessment of a possible extension, which was first sought more than six years ago to provide extra space because of the boy’s disability.

She has ordered that the council pay the maximum €6,350 compensation allowed under the Equal Status Acts 2000-2004 to the boy’s mother. She was represented by the Equality Authority in her case under the Equal Status Acts 2000-2004 in a disability discrimination claim in respect of her application under the Disabled Person’s Alteration Scheme.