Rainchild members are invited to a kids Christmas party hosted by MWB autism support group on Friday 21/12/12 in PV's bar, Ballymahon St, Longford town from 3pm to 6pm. If you would like to go please contact Catherine on 0868281439 with childs name, age & gender.

Special Needs Toy Show - Galway

Monday November 8th 2012, 5pm-8pm

Audilaun Hotel

Special Needs Toy Show - Castlebar

Monday November 7th 2012, 5pm-8pm

TF Royal Hotel

Special Needs Toy Show - Sligo

Monday November 6th 2012, 5pm-8pm

Clariion Hotel

Special Needs Toy Show - Letterkenny

Monday November 5th 2012, 5pm-8pm

Radisson Blu Hotel

Catherine Beirne has been invited to the Sligo forum to discuss DCA (domicilary care allowance) on behalf of parents of kids with autism.

Please send in your views and comments. via post here or pm Catherine via facebook.

No names will be used.

This is our opportunity to be heard.

First 100 Days Kit (by Autism Speaks) is "A tool kit to assist families in getting the critical information they need in the first 100 days after an autism diagnosis."  Highly recommended if  your child is has developmental delays and/or suspected/diagnosed Autism Spectrm Disorder.  (The booklet is at the bottom of this article)

What topics does the booklet cover? 

About Autism
Why was my child diagnosed with Autism? And what does it mean?
Why does my child need a diagnosis of Autism?.
How is Autism Diagnosed?.
What is Autism?.
More information on the Symptoms of Autism.,,
Unique Abilities that may Accompany Autism.
Physical & Medical Issues that may Accompany Autism.,

Dear Parents/Guardians,

My name is Carol Chamberlain. I'm a 3rd year Bachelor of Arts (BA) student in Childcare Management  in Athlone Institute of Technology, Westmeath.

I'm currently conducting a research study for my presentation on children with disabilities (3 years) and social inclusion in a Childcare setting paying particular attention to  how the facility has been modified to cater for their needs . I was wondering if you would be willing to help me by filling out a questionnaire?

Dear Parents,

I am still looking for parents of children recently turned 3 years of
age or younger with ASD to participate in a study for an MSc in NUI
Galway. The study involves a short questionnaire on the other issues
apart from ASD that your children may suffer from, eg sleeping and
eating problems. It is the first study of its kind in Ireland.

I would be very grateful for your input - it'll only take around 20 minutes to complete, its
anonymous and I plan to publish the research findings  and present them at
conferences. I need to gather all my research by the end of September 2011.

200 SNAs to be removed from schools. Will know today if my child's school is one! Mr Ruairí Quinn will regret his decision.  What a U-turn!!

Hi, my name is Lorna Flynn and I'm looking for parents/tutors involved in early intervention home programs for my research study which is part of my masters. If you wish to take part please click the relevant link below - there are two separate questionnaires (one for parents and one for tutors). I would really appreciate if any one who thinks they fall into my criteria could complete a questionnaire. Thanks!

Tutor Questionnaire

People with Disabilities Ireland (PWDI) with the support of Autism Spectrum Disorder Initiatives (ASDI) are hosting a one day conference...

Understanding the Changing Needs of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Conditions

Peter Vermeulen PhD (Keynote Speaker)
Co-director of the Centre for Concrete Communications a European training and education centre for ASD Gent, Belgium

Claire O’Sullivan, Irish Examiner, Friday, August 27, 2010

PARENTS of special needs children said they face further cutbacks after the Department of Education confirmed children signed up for the free preschool year will have specialist home tuition hours cut. 

ScienceDaily (Mar. 8, 2010) — A new study suggests a trend toward developing hyperactivity among typically developing elementary-school-aged siblings of autistic preschoolers and supports the notion that mothers of young, autistic children experience more depression and stress than mothers with typically developing children.

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.

The Children’s Language Development Project is based in Oranmore, Co Galway and is open to any child between the ages of 2 and 6 who presents with a language delay or disorder.

We offer both group sessions in the preschool and one to one tuition in the form of ABA. The school runs 5 days a week from September through to July. Children are taught according to their individual ability and strength and our programmes are designed to enhance the specific need of each child.

Copyright: Leitrim Observer. 

Eleven of Leitrim's most vulnerable Special Needs children will be left out in the cold next week, with no suitable school available for them to attend in the county. 

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.