Warning over planned changes to autism schools

THE Psychological Society of Ireland has said it is greatly concerned by Department of Education plans to transform the country’s 13 ABA schools for children with autism into special schools using a range of different teaching methods.

In a statement, the PSI’s division of behaviour analysis has warned that best international practice does not advocate the mixing of applied behaviour analysis (ABA) with other autism interventions.

In letters of offer sent to the schools last week, the Department of Education is proposing changing the schools, which have up to 300 pupils on their roll, into a mixed or eclectic model, whereby other teaching methods, such as PECS and TEACCH, are used along with ABA.