Infuriation & Inspiration due to Cuts in Education for Children with Special Needs

As many of you have seen in the media, the Department of Education has asked the National Council for Special Education to carry out a Value for Money Review of Special Needs Assistants (SNA) in our schools. The result is that many SNAs have lost their jobs and many children with special needs are being denied the help that they need.

We are going backwards instead of forwards on giving children with special needs meaningful, inclusive education and choice. It seems our government want to push away parents, while in the UK things are going the other direction.

The special school our son Stephen attends had its Value for Money Review last week. Given the cuts that have been made already in other schools, in both special and mainstream schools, we are concerned and anxious about what may happen in our school.

It is infuriating that our politicians think we have no voice and as we are a vulnerable group, we are an easy target for cutbacks. The attitude of the Dept of Education and Science is also infuriating. The ‘spirit’ of the role of an SNA has been lost. Their role is assessed only on the care needs of the child and not on helping the child to keep on task and learn. Despite the fact that the ‘reviewers’ that are recommending these cuts are called Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs), it seems they are not interested in education and how our children learn. It seems the Department's focus is purely to provide special needs children with a place in a school, but whether they actually learn anything meaningful while they are there is not important.

What is inspirational is the reaction from parents and families across the country to fighting these cutbacks. Families of children with special needs that are already stretched to the limits are e-mailing their TDs (check out Am I not worth Educating for details on how to and this, including a draft e-mail you can send) doing interviews on TV, radio and newspapers. This is not something new for them; because if you have a child with special needs it is a fight all the way to get services and support.

Check out the facebook group Join if you're Against Special Needs Assistants losing their Jobs that has over 21,600 members and is growing daily.

From this crisis situation, a new group The Special Needs Parents Association of Ireland, has been formed. Any person who would like to join please email : specialneedsparents@gmail.com. Representatives of this new group will be attending the Joint Oireachtas Committee meeting on Special Education this Thursday 11th March.

Another inspiration is to keep an eye on what is happening in the UK. The Lamb Inquiry issued its final report in December and concludes that parents need a stronger voice in the education of children with SEN, and the school system should be more focused on outcomes. Check out this summary from SEN magazine.

I would urge everyone to keep the pressure on; together we will be a strong voice that our government will not be able to ignore.

Best wishes as always,

from an infuriated yet inspired Avril