Autism school row rages on as Hanafin snubs TD's invite
Thomas Weymes with his son Robert (12) who suffers from autism, at their home in Mullingar, Co Westmeath
EDUCATION Minister Mary Hanafin seems set to spurn an invitation from her predecessor and Fianna Fail parliamentary colleague Mary O'Rourke to visit a special school for children with autism.
Deputy O'Rourke has sent a letter to Ms Hanafin's office extending an invitation to visit Saplings Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) school in Mullingar, Co Westmeath to experience it first hand.
But asked about the invitation yesterday, the minister said: "I have already visited an ABA school twice, as Minister for Children. I have seen exactly the work that goes on. I am very supportive of ABA as one of the methods used for children with autism."
"We are having very good discussions with Irish Autism Action and they said last week on radio that the discussions were going very, very well. I think it is important that we would concentrate on that in the interests of those children. That is my intention over the next number of weeks."
Animosity
Last week Deputy O'Rourke, a former Minister for Education, spoke in the Dail about a "lingering animosity" within the department to providing ABA education.
Last night, Ms O'Rourke remained silent when the controversial issue of autism was raised at a meeting of the parliamentary party.
Speaking after a meeting of the Fianna Fail party which the Education Minister attended, Ms O'Rourke said it had not been necessary for her to reiterate her views.
One of the pupils at the Mullingar school is Robert Weymes (12), whose father Thomas said last night his son was "one thousand percent better since he started attending two years ago.
"The change is phenomenal. Everyone who has contact with him sees it, the respite centre and the GP," said Thomas.
But he is concerned about Robert's future if a second-level unit is not approved.
Robert's sister Sarah (20) has written a letter to present to Ms Hanafin should she visit the school, which reads:
"He was definitely not happy before Saplings. He was angry and frustrated.
"Our entire family was miserable, particularly my mother, who has devoted her life to Robert, was a prisoner in her own house, as Robbie refused to be brought anywhere.
"He couldn't be brought anywhere as we couldn't control him and he had no sense of danger. Or he would throw giant tantrums if ever we tried.
"He was physically violent, particularly when he could not communicate with us and generally he couldn't communicate with us.
"There is no way that anyone could understand this autism unless they've lived through it.
"My brother is eight years younger than me but he was once so angry and unpredictable that I was frightened of him.
"The change that came about once he started in Saplings was instantaneous and completely down to the education he received there.
"Robert is now a very happy and relaxed child and improving himself emotionally and intellectually every day because he is getting the education that is right for him."
- Katherine Donnelly
