Autistic boy awaits school placement after 22 refusals

A NINE-year-old boy with autism, who has been refused a place in 22 primary schools to date, will find out in the next few days if he will have a school place next September.

Casey Naughton from Daingean in Co Offaly has Asperger’s syndrome, a type of autism which leads to him becoming aggravated if he is unable to communicate properly, often kicking tables and biting staff and having to be taken out of class.

He was expelled from a primary school in February because of the regular disruption caused by his behaviour. An appeal against this decision was refused and since then, his mother Lisa has applied to 22 other schools to enrol her son but each one has turned down her applications.