Autistic children in NI homeschooled due to lack of services

Published date30 June 2022
Kerry Boyd, chief executive of Autism NI, said there was a notable rise in calls to its helpline compared to before the pandemic, about severe shortcomings in educational provision. Official figures show one in 21 school-age children in the North has an autism diagnosis - quadruple that from a decade ago

The charity's concerns come a week after it emerged more than 300 children with a statement of Special Educational Needs (SEN) are without a school place for this September, including 91 who are waiting for a place in a special school and 202 seeking places in a mainstream school. The North's Education Authority confirmed a "significant rise" in demand for special school places.

Two years ago, MLAs unanimously called on former education minister Peter Weir to introduce mandatory autism training for teachers and classroom assistants in mainstream settings as "a matter of urgency".

While training was made available, it was never compulsory, a move which sparked outrage among affected families.

Ms Boyd told The Irish Times inadequate training had led to more parents educating their children permanently at home.

Helpline

"Autism NI's helpline receives thousands of calls each year, with education remaining the main issue why parents and professionals contact us for support. A third of parents are telling us that their children are on a reduced school timetable due to their autism. I want to see reduced school timetables become a thing of...

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