Local Dad says autism education centres would mean ‘educational apartheid’

The idea of setting up special educational centres for children with autism and other intellectual disabilities who are without a school place would be a form of 'educational apartheid', according to the father of a local boy with autism.

Despite criticism from advocacy groups, Minister of State Josepha Madigan said last week that educational centres for autistic children were "an option" and ought to be explored further.

Mount Temple resident John Madden – the father of Conor, a 10-year-old with autism – said he vehemently opposed the proposal and was concerned that if it was brought in as a short-term solution it would end up becoming a longer-term feature.

"Despite what the Minister says, this 'interim' solution would become the default," said John, who predicted it would lead to schools "dragging their heels" about providing places and would prevent them from receiving Section 37a notices in which the Minister directs them to open a special class in an area of need.

"It will be easier for the Minister to point to these new 'direct provisioning' type centres as options for autistic kids, rather than her having to battle with the various excuses that some boards of management will come up with as to why they can't open new autism units," he said.

"I sincerely hope I am wrong on all this, but based on how Ireland normally works this 'direct provisioning' 'interim solution' will ultimately translate to permanent educational apartheid for autistic children."

He said if the Minister went ahead with the proposal it would be her long-term legacy that she contributed to the State "deliberately choosing to not fully meet its constitutional obligation of ensuring that all children should receive an appropriate and suitable education."

John said he and his wife Edel were very fortunate to have Conor enrolled in an autism class in Ardnagrath National School.

"It's a super school that embraced the opportunity to have an autism class and where there is integration with the mainstream classes," he said.

"With a state-of-the-art autism classroom as part of a nearly-complete extension that is due to open shortly, the wider community around Ardnagrath is well served now and into the future.

"Looking ahead, while we hope that Conor is able to join his siblings in Moate Community College, where he would attend the superb 'Uisneach Centre' which caters for children with autism, the discussion is not just about Conor.

"It is about ensuring that the need in the wider Athlone area, and throughout the rest of the country, is fully catered for now and in the years ahead.

"While the recent comments from the Minister in the Dáil about the promise of new integrated classrooms attached to mainstream schools in Athlone was encouraging, this more recent announcement, that these autism centres would deal with the need where schools don't provide it, is shocking. Absolutely shocking."

"In brief, the children would be shipped off to centres that are segregated from their peers and siblings, displaced way beyond their local communities, and basically forgotten about," he commented.