A Portlaoise mum has chained herself to the front of the Department of Education in Athlone for a third day, as part of a campaign to keep her son, who has autism, in a specialised school.
Wrapped up against the chilly October weather, Debbie Byrne has once again attached herself to the Department signage, holding a sign that reads ‘A Mother’s Love Holds No Limits: Equality 4 My Son’.
Debbie is asking for the return of a grant payment that allowed three-year-old Aaron, who suffers from physical and anxiety issues, to attend Jonix Educational Services, which specialises in working with young children diagnosed with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder.
The grant was stopped when Aaron was offered a place at a state-run pre-school 30 miles away. Debbie believes that moving Aaron to a conventional school would cause him to regress. The desperate mum also fears the school is not equipped to handle her son’s issues.
While a statement from the Department of Education and Skills confirmed Aaron’s application for Home Tuition will be considered “as expeditiously as possible”, the matter has not been resolved. Debbie has vowed to return to the Department of Education daily until she receives an answer.
“My son can’t speak for himself. If I don’t stand up for what I believe is right and what is just for him, it’s all for nothing,” she said.
Is this what it means to be a parent in Ireland in 2015? What lengths would you go to in order to protect your child? Join the conversation on Twitter @HerFamilydotie. You can add your signature to a petition on the matter here and follow Debbie’s progress on Facebook here.
