A Monaghan mother has voiced her concerns after she was informed that it is "highly likely" that her 4-year-old son Ollie will not have a place in his current school for next year. Ollie is in his second year of early intervention and according to his mother Nickita Nesbit Toye, the prospect of change for any autistic child is both "upsetting" and "distressing."
Both Nickita and her husband have made contact with several other schools in the Monaghan area to see about spaces for next year, however they were informed that all schools were full with waiting lists exceeding spaces.
Speaking to Northern Sound, the concerned mother believes that situations like this "should not be happening" in this day and age.
As a parent and voice for her son, Nickita wants answers from the Minister for Special Education and Inclusion, Josepha Madigan and Minister for Education, Norma Foley, as to how they intend to fix this very "urgent" and "important" issue in Monaghan, not only for the sake of her son but for the sake of other children who have been impacted across the area.
"If you told the parent of a neurotypical child that there might not be a space for their child in school next year, it would be totally unacceptable and a situation like that would never happen," explained Nickita.
"Kids with additional needs really need that essential help and support. Places are just becoming really hard to get at the moment, so I am trying to work with our local TDs and the relevant Ministers to see if we can try and get some much needed autism units opened in Monaghan town.
"Ollie and children like him all deserve an education just like any other child, this all needs to be sorted out and it needs to stop happening. It's really hard and upsetting, everyday we look at him and we constantly think about the prospect of him not having a place in school next year. The thought of moving him and having to start a whole new routine is not only distressing for Ollie, but it's upsetting for us as parents when it really shouldn't be happening.
"The country schools are not able to cope with the rising numbers of children presenting with ASD and other special needs, meanwhile us as parents are continuously fighting for school places and services in the Monaghan area."
Nickita has also started an online petition for parents to sign which can be found via; ASD/EARLY INTERVENTION UNIT PRIMARY & SECONDARY IN MONAGHAN TOWN
