Special needs pupils miss out on vital support

DISABILITY charities have called on the Government to offer more support to c hi l dren with s pecial needs – saying the vast majority are missing out on ‘crucial support’.

It comes amid revelations that many disabled pupils are not eligible for the Government’ s h o me tuition scheme. Only 874 children are enrolled i n the programme, according to the Department of Education while 18,000 vulnerable young people continue to miss out, with many regressing educationally. However, groups representing children with additional needs say the Government cannot extend the programme if teacher and SNA unions are not willing to cooperate, due to safety concerns.

Advocacy groups are now calling on the Department of Education to liaise with the HSE in order to make ‘ inperson’ learning a reality as soon as possible.

Adam Harris, CEO of autism charity AsIAm, told the Irish Daily Mail that education for children with special needs can be done in many different ways. ‘Currently, only a registered teacher who doesn’t have a f ull- time j ob in a school can provide home tuition – you can’t use an SNA or psychologist,’ he said.

‘But if we have an education and health stream in place, families can choose what type of support they want to access. They can then get a teacher for academics or an SNA or care worker to provide core skills and social interaction.’

However, Mr Harris said that home-schooling is not a viable option for many vulnerable children. ‘Some children have very complex needs and would not stand to see a teacher or SNA come into their home,’ he said. ‘Any type of learning in these situations would be impossible which is why we’re so determined to see the schools reopened.

‘We believe that the Department and all stakeholders have the ability to come up with a solution that’s in everyone’s best interests, but it’s crucial that they make a decision as soon as possible.’

Barry Sheridan, CEO of Down Syndrome Ireland, has warned that children with additional needs will rapidly regress without some type of support. ‘Without mainstream schools and special classes, so many families are at their wits’ end and struggling to cope,’ he said. ‘But it’s not a onesize-fits-all approach. Some families wouldn’t be comfortable having a teacher come i nto their home during a pandemic, while others would love to have the option of home tuition.’