One of the striking consistencies about this election campaign, when out on the canvass trail, has been the number of parents I meet who need help with a son or daughter affected by autism. I have been in public life for nearly nine years, this is my fifth election, but I have never encountered so many parents asking for help – frustrated, angry and at times distressed due to the lack of support available to them. The numbers of children with an intellectual disability on the autistic spectrum is continuing to increase. The State is clearly not responding accordingly by putting sufficient health and education services in place. As a result, many of the young parents and families that I have met are struggling to cope.
Last week I meet a couple whose two-year-old son clearly is showing all the signs of autism. They explained to me how they have been trying to get a medical assessment for him to confirm his condition in order to plan for the support he will need. They will be waiting at least 12 months just for an assessment, for a two-year-old child who needs a support plan immediately.
Due to the crazy waiting times for assessments, many parents are forced to travel to other parts of the country and even abroad for what should surely be a basic service available to parents as a matter of course.
It is not acceptable, but perhaps understandable, that all of the necessary support services for autistic children cannot be built up overnight, and I don’t think even the parents concerned expect miracles, as long as steady progress is being made in that regard. However, long waiting times for the basic assessment and diagnosis of a condition in a young child is surely something that needs to be addressed right now. This is particularly the case because children with autism can benefit significantly from early intervention. In fact, in most cases the earlier the assessment and support services are put in place, the more effective that intervention can be. That is why so many parents are so frustrated and heartbroken at having to wait for even an assessment while watching their child grow and develop.
Whatever political parties form the next Government, responding more effectively, with more urgency and compassion to supporting families affected by intellectual disability must be a higher priority.
Specifically relating to education, we have seen some improvements in the classroom, with the appointment of more special needs assistants and some pilot encouraging projects. However there is still a long road to travel to provide adequate education to those with autism, both for children and adults.
The fact that long waiting lists continue to grow to get children into special needs schools, such as the CABAS project in Cork, is testament to the gulf that exists between what is needed and what is currently being provided by the State. Surely parents should be supported by the State in choosing the kind of education method deemed appropriate for their child, through whatever method is deemed appropriate.
Ireland’s health and education infrastructure is not changing or responding quickly enough to the challenges posed by growing numbers of autistic children. Families need more help from the State than they are currently getting. The first and perhaps most crucial stage in that help must be the availability of early assessment for a child. Parents have the right to know and understand the condition of their child as soon as possible, so that they can plan for and access the supports required to maximise the potential for development in their child without long delays.
Simon Coveney is a Fine Gael TD and MEP. He is writing a weekly column for Metro Eireann
Due to the crazy waiting times for assessments, many parents are forced to travel to other parts of the country and even abroad for what should surely be a basic service available to parents as a matter of course.
It is not acceptable, but perhaps understandable, that all of the necessary support services for autistic children cannot be built up overnight, and I don’t think even the parents concerned expect miracles, as long as steady progress is being made in that regard. However, long waiting times for the basic assessment and diagnosis of a condition in a young child is surely something that needs to be addressed right now. This is particularly the case because children with autism can benefit significantly from early intervention. In fact, in most cases the earlier the assessment and support services are put in place, the more effective that intervention can be. That is why so many parents are so frustrated and heartbroken at having to wait for even an assessment while watching their child grow and develop.
Whatever political parties form the next Government, responding more effectively, with more urgency and compassion to supporting families affected by intellectual disability must be a higher priority.
Specifically relating to education, we have seen some improvements in the classroom, with the appointment of more special needs assistants and some pilot encouraging projects. However there is still a long road to travel to provide adequate education to those with autism, both for children and adults.
The fact that long waiting lists continue to grow to get children into special needs schools, such as the CABAS project in Cork, is testament to the gulf that exists between what is needed and what is currently being provided by the State. Surely parents should be supported by the State in choosing the kind of education method deemed appropriate for their child, through whatever method is deemed appropriate.
Ireland’s health and education infrastructure is not changing or responding quickly enough to the challenges posed by growing numbers of autistic children. Families need more help from the State than they are currently getting. The first and perhaps most crucial stage in that help must be the availability of early assessment for a child. Parents have the right to know and understand the condition of their child as soon as possible, so that they can plan for and access the supports required to maximise the potential for development in their child without long delays.
Simon Coveney is a Fine Gael TD and MEP. He is writing a weekly column for Metro Eireann
