Mum turns to crowdfunding site to raise money for care of autistic son

A mother has resorted to a crowdfunding website to raise money to provide medical treatment for her autistic son, after a two-year wait for an MRI scan described as “urgent” by a doctor.

Karen Laughton, originally from Skibbereen but now living in Rossmore near Clonakilty, launched the fundraising campaign for her 12-year-old son Erin, as she fears his health and education is suffering.

In addition to being autistic, Erin has epilepsy and has been diagnosed with XYY Syndrome, a rare chromosome disorder which is associated with an increased risk of learning disabilities and delayed speech and language skills, as well as motor skills problems and weak muscle tone.

Two years ago a Dublin-based neurologist referred Erin for a brain scan, describing it as “urgent”, yet it has not been provided and his condition has deteriorated to the extent he can no longer dress or shower himself and has difficulty keeping his body upright.

Ms Laughton said due to her son’s difficulties, she removed him from school last May and he has not returned.

After telling her friends of Erin’s plight on social media, fundraising efforts have grown from plans for coffee mornings to a fully-fledged crowdfunding effort.

The website http://www.gofundme.com/l9j81g has a target of €10,000.

Erin Laughton, who is autistic, also suffers from epilepsy and has been diagnosed with XYY Syndrome, a rare chromosome disorder which is associated with an increased risk of learning disabilities and delayed speech and language skills, as well as motor skills problems and weak muscle tone.

Karen, who has four sons of whom Erin is the second youngest, said the shortage of speech and language provision, occupational therapy and physical therapy had had a debilitating effect on his health.

“I have been fighting for Erin for a very long time and getting nowhere,” she said. However, on receiving updated assessments last September she decided she would try to provide the services she says the State are failing to provide.

Erin had been attending a unit within a mainstream school in Barryroe in West Cork until he was six and was progressing well as he was receiving intensive speech and language therapy and occupational therapy. He was also performing well in school.

However, Karen said when Erin turned six: “The services kind of dropped dramatically.”

As reported in the Southern Star, she intends to use any money raised through the crowdfunding appeal to cover the scan, physical and other therapies and any other requirements he has.

Last year a study prepared for Inclusion Ireland found that Ireland has just half the number of speech and language therapists it needs, with 3,000 children waiting more than a year for therapy and another 2,000 children waiting the same period of time for an assessment.