“It Would Be Better If I Didn’t Exist…” Special Needs Children In The Irish Education System

The Cedar Lounge Revolution carries a very personal article on the worsening situation for children with special needs, and their parents and carers, in our education system.

“My 15-year-old son has autism, exacerbated by verbal dyspraxia, severe receptive language difficulty and an IQ of 69 – just inside the level that means he is officially intellectually disabled. He cannot functionally read or write above the level of a four-year old, tie his shoelaces or play team games – he finds it difficult to follow complex instructions like game rules. Besides, he also has motor problems – major and minor – and does not understand many of the norms of social interaction.

This September, faced with cuts in special needs provision Andrew returned to school to find that the Principal, in reallocating reduced SNA provision, had decided he was ‘over-resourced’ and had slashed his SNA support to 25% of what it had been. He had to spend much of his time in mainstream classes trying to follow what was being taught without the help he had before. He was unable to take down instructions from the blackboard or to use any printed sheets or textbooks, for instance. His needs had been extensively and professionally documented on entering the school. He was bewildered by what was happening to him. In this state of educational isolation, he also began to feel more keenly how none of the mainstream children wanted to talk or play with him at break times. He was accused of being lazy by other pupils following what we were told was ‘a bust-up’ between him and some of his classmates who resented that Andrew did not do as much school work as they did. Within four weeks he had become worryingly depressed. He was troubled about his disability and painfully hurt by the lack of social warmth from the other pupils, whom he desperately wanted to accept him.

The teacher we attempted to discuss the situation with was uncomfortable and defensive, casting around for explanations other than the obvious one: his much needed support had been taken from him. It began to be hinted that his problems were behavioural rather than actual. Spiteful, untrue gossip about him by other pupils was repeated back to us by a teacher, for what purpose we’re unsure. On the way to school on his last morning there he said to his Dad ‘it would be better if I didn’t exist – I’m too much trouble for everyone at school’.”

Please read the full article and share with your family and friends. It is an absolute indictment of the nation state of Ireland; an indictment of the political classes that have corrupted and destroyed all that we stood for as a people. This is why I am an Irish Republican.