IN YET another blow to parents of special needs children, The Mayo News has learned that St Brid’s Special School in Castlebar may lose three of its 13 Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) in June next.  St Brid’s caters for almost 25 children with severe, profound and moderate learning difficulties, as well as children with autism, all of whom require care on an almost continual basis.

The Croagh Patrick Challenge is organised by a group of people from Mayo, mainly parents, who got together to raise funds for children with Autism in Mayo. They organise an event every March called the "The Seven Day in a Row Croagh Patrick Challenge". Many people take on the challenge for the full 7 days and many others support them by climbing one or more days.

Sligo Champion, Wednesday December 30 2009

Family carers across Sligo are outraged and bitterly disappointed that the Government has introduced a blanket 3.9% cut to social welfare payments to all carers. This equates to a reduction of €8.50 per week or €442 per annum for carers in receipt of the carers allowance, they say.

"Family carers are the only social welfare recipients who have to work for their payment by providing full time care in the home to older people, those sick and disabled and have already suffered a 2% decrease in welfare payments due to the abolishment of the Christmas bonus this year.

By Maresa Fagan, Roscommon Herald, 8th December 2009.

Christmas has come early for five year-old Calum Leyden from Strokestown. Calum is enjoying a new lease of life thanks to his new canine companion, Juni, an assistance dog for families with children with Autism.

DOZENS of autistic children will not get specialist trained assistance dogs next year because of Government cutbacks. The Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind (IGDB) said it needs €1.5 million in 2010 to train another 40 assistance dogs for families of children with autism, like it did this year.

Advocates for Personal Potential Training Services (APP) was initially established in Ballyshannon, Co Donegal in 2004 to develop a person centred approach to the social and vocational rehabilitation of people who suffered from or have experienced a breakdown in their mental health status.

An expansion of our services in 2006 to Letterkenny, Co Donegal resulted in the successful development/commencement of a programme to assist the needs of adults with aspergers using our person centred approach.

[source: British Medical Journal, 21/Oct/09]
Only 12% of Germans say they will have H1N1 vaccine after row blows up over safety of adjuvants. Concerns are growing in Germany about the safety of the swine flu vaccine that will be available to the general population after news was leaked last weekend that top politicians and some government employees will be given an alternative vaccine.
 

PARENTS of autistic children claim there has been a massive increase in the numbers being refused a vital home care allowance since the scheme was taken over by the Department of Social and Family Affairs.

Story by Kitty Holland, Irish Times, 4th Sept 2009

THE NEW swine flu vaccine, when it becomes available here in coming weeks, will only be available with a mercury-based preservative included. The same vaccine will be available in the US both with and without the substance - the mercury-free form for pregnant women and young children.

The HSE has confirmed it plans only to acquire the vaccine in doses containing the mercury-based preservative Thimerosal. "The vaccine will be administered to everybody including pregnant women on the basis of informed consent," a HSE spokesman said.

Leitrim partnership have awarded a grant to RainChild in County Leitrim. This is to enable them to establish a (sensory) toy / book library for children within the Autism spectrum. This is great news and the group are currently considering some good ideas from their membership. They are still open to suggestions both for purchases and the running / administration of such a scheme. Please put on you thinking hats and get in touch with Catherine Beirne with any ideas

My name is Doireann O’Brien. I am a postgraduate student in the School of Education, Queens University Belfast. I am studying an MSc in Autistic Spectrum Disorders. My dissertation project will be an examination of the perception and experience of parents/siblings of people who have been diagnosed with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder. The choice for this project reflects my own experience as a sibling of a person with Autistic Spectrum Disorders and the lack of research in this important area.

Story and Photo copyright: Derry Jounal, 3rd July 2009
-------------------------------------------------------

An autistic Derry man is fulfilling the dream of a lifetime by learning how to drive.
Twenty one years-old Bryan Sutherland from the Waterside passed tests set by the DVLNI to get his medical driving licence. He is now learning to drive with John O'Donnell of 1st Choice Driving School.

His mother Ruby said the experience is fantastic for Bryan, especially as he missed out on a place in the army because of his Asperger's Syndrome.

Sunday Business Post
28 June 2009

When the letters, e-mails and phone calls began to pour in, Dr Paul A Offit presumed the worst. In the past, the chief of infectious diseases at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia had received a death threat due to his defence of the safety of childhood vaccines.

He had been criticised for his defence of the vaccine industry by Robert F Kennedy Jr, the nephew of John F Kennedy and a lawyer specialising in environmental litigation.

The Irish Times, 6 July 2009. By Carl O'Brien.

FAMILIES OF children with autism say a change in Government policy will make it much harder to appoint appropriate tutors to help their children reach their full potential.

Notification of Transitional Arrangements being put in place in relation to the outcome of the review of all Special Needs Assistant posts in primary, special and post-primary schools by the National Council for Special Education

1. Introduction

Photo: Don Moloney/Press 22. Story Source: Irish Times, 16/7/09.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Many parents of disabled children who are due to leave school say they will have nowhere to go as a result of health spending cuts, writes CARL O’BRIEN

BREDA PURCELL feels a gnawing sense of worry every time she thinks of her son’s future.

The refusal of a special class for children with Autism at Carrigallen National School in Leitrim is a huge blow.

Thats according to the Home School Community Liason officer Barbara Jones who says yesterdays annuncement is very disappointing for the teachers, children and parents involved.

The school has been refused a special class for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder despite the fact that no such class exists in any school in county Leitrim.

The Solas Centre was set up as a result of a conversation between 4 people in 2003 who identified the distinct lack of a cohesive provision of diagnostic services in Ireland. Cormac Rennick, Marc De Salvo, Servass Dobedier as founder members of IAA and parents of children with autism, and Allan Willis, Educational Psychologist, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania to raise funds for their project. Their climb was symbolic of the obstacles people with autism and their families have to climb every day.

Irish Autism Action (IAA) is pleased to announce an: Information Meeting - Irish Autism Action

Venue: The Landmark Hotel, Carrick on Shannon

When: Thursday, 28th May, 8PM

Speaker: Kevin Whelan, CEO, IAA

A new group has been established in Sligo for young people 12-18 yrs who have a sibling with special needs. This group is also open to young people who are helping to care for a family member other than a sibling.

This is managed by Foroige and provides a range of developmental programmes and activities. Contact Karina for more information on 071 9146525 or email karina.herlihy@foroige.ie

C.R.I.B Youth project & Health Cafe
Rockwood Parade
Sligo

Donegal Asperger's Support Group

Asperger's is a condition related to Autism. There is a number of young people with Aspergers in County Donegal and the position is that once they reach 18 there is no statutory support for them.

This group is made up of parents and carers of people with Aspergers and as well as a group where people can share experiences. At present the group are lobbying for improved services for adults in the community.

For further information contact: Mary or Rosaleen, 074 93 85548.

Croagh Patrick Challenge, Mayo

We are a group of people from Mayo, mainly parents, who got together to raise funds for children with Autism in Mayo. We organise an event every March called the "The Seven Day in a Row Croagh Patrick Challenge". Many people take on the challenge for the full 7 days and many others support us by climbing one or more days. Our main aim is to help fund the opening of an ABA School (Applied Behaviour Analysis) in Mayo.

http://croaghpatrickchallenge.com