Autistic voices still excluded in school policies – Clarke

Sinn Féin TD for Longford-Westmeath, Sorca Clarke is appalled by the findings of AsIAm’s recent report that reveals exclusion of autistic voices in school policies and seconds their calls for urgent rights-based reform and teacher training.

The report 'What We Wish You Knew' "presents critical evidence of the failure to meet the rights of autistic students under Irish school policies", she says.

“It is becoming increasingly clear that there are significant gaps in how schools across Ireland address the needs of autistic students.

“There needs to be more of a focus on the quality of a child’s educational experience, rather than government patting themselves on the back after a child has secured a school place.

“We need to ensure that teachers receive appropriate and regular training on autism.

“We need to be proactive instead of reactive to ensure that autistic students receive the appropriate supports in a timely manner.

“We need to strive towards creating inclusive learning environments that will give all students equal opportunity to thrive in their school environment and reach their full potential. This starts with representation, by giving autistic people a seat at the table, particularly when it comes to policy formation.

“AsIam’s findings come at a crucial time in the Irish educational sector. Tulsa’s Child and Family Agency is reviewing the statutory guidelines on Codes of Behaviour, while the Department of Education prepares to publish long-awaited guidelines on the use of seclusion and restraint in schools. Together, these reviews can provide an opportunity to establish a framework compliant with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). We now need to see a sense of urgency by government in delivering the latter."