Family anger at autism funding cut

MICK McDONNELL says his 12-year-old could “talk the hind leg off a donkey,” plays football, is wonderfully affectionate and one of the top pupils in his school.

Nice things for any father to say about their son, but for Mick these words carry a pride and a sense of victory that only other parents of special needs children could understand.

Simon, his son, has autism and for him to gabber, excel in an academic setting and express love towards his family, is an incredible achievement.