‘This is the best environment for Seán’
Although the State was found not to have failed him in refusing to fund his education at the Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) pre-school at St Catherine’s Services at Barnacoyle in Co Wicklow, it continues to provide part-funding for the 30 autistic children who are being taught there. The amount is equivalent to what it would provide for the type of education it is willing to offer them.
But Cian and Yvonne Ó Cuanacháin, along with the other parents, must still provide the remaining cost, which runs to hundreds of thousands of euro each year.
“They’re still being taught on a one-tutor-per-child basis, but the State would prefer to have them in classes of six children per teacher,” said Mr Ó Cuanacháin.
The Department of Education has offered an eclectic mix of teaching for Seán and other autistic children, combining ABA and other methods.
“We’d love to think Seán might progress to that level in a few years, but at the moment this is the best environment,” his father said.
When the High Court ruled against the family in their substantive case for his continuing ABA education, Seán was advancing at a significant pace. That social and personal development has been continuing but his parents fear what seems the inevitable closure of the ABA facility could see all the good work wasted and his condition worsen.
His younger sister Síofra, who was born during the 68-day hearing in the first half of 2006, is now reaching similar levels of communication but Cian and Yvonne are delighted with the way he has advanced.
“Four or five years ago, he didn’t know how to make his needs known, like when he was thirsty or needed to use the toilet. But now he can tell us very specific things, like when he wants to go to cinema or to the beach, his language is developing the whole time,” said Mr Ó Cuanacháin.
“But he still has significant needs and, while we are always hopeful that he could be ready for an autism unit in a mainstream school sometime, we know that would only be in the long term,” he said.
Reacting to yesterday’s costs ruling, Fine Gael education spokesperson Brian Hayes said Education Minister Mary Hanafin should be meeting the needs of children with autism rather than dragging parents through the courts.
Wicklow Labour Party TD Liz McManus described the High Court decision on costs as devastating and said she will be raising the Ó Cuanacháins’ case in the Dáil to highlight how they were being punished for their courage.
Kathy Sinnott, MEP for Ireland South and chairwoman of the Hope Project,
said: “It is unbelievable. First the State damages Seán. Now they are quite happy to impoverish Sean’s family and force them to pay their own costs.”
