SCHOOL DISABILITY SUPPORTS: ‘These children suffer indirect discrimination’

Katie Lonergan from Owning near Piltown, Co Kilkenny, turns five next Wednesday and has cerebral palsy spastic quadriplegia. She had life-changing surgery in the United States last year, and is close to defying the early medical advice that she would never walk, thanks to intensive training, physiotherapy and other supports.

But her mum Aisling Lonergan had to pay around €185 a week for an assistant to enable her daughter Katie go to pre-school, which she finished in June. Here, she tells her story:

“Katie began pre-school in September 2013. Prior to starting we met with the pre-school and discussed Katie’s needs.

“Katie is a non-walker and at the time was toilet training. Katie needed the support of a special needs assistant to help her with her care needs.

“Living in a rural area, it wasn’t possible for Katie to attend a special school — mainstream was our preferred option and also the option most suitable for Katie. We emailed Government departments, including Enda Kenny and [then Children’s Minister] Frances Fitzgerald regarding the supports available to Katie; we soon realised there was none. An email from Frances Fitzgerald 10 months after contact confirmed this.

“To give Katie her pre-school experience — which is so important to all, but especially special needs kids, we had to self -fund. What annoys and angers us as a family is the Government realises the importance of the Early Childhood Care Education (ECCE), year yet makes no provisions for the child with care needs. We strongly feel that our Katie and children like Katie are indirectly discriminated against due to her needs.

“Thankfully Katie had a very successful year thanks to the pre-school and her family and now she looks forward to beginning ‘big school’ on Monday.”