Feb 6, 2025, Echo Live: All About Cork: Autism charity Rainbow Club to expand services
A local charity in Mahon has revealed plans to increase its offering and expand its services as it responds to “crisis situations”.
The Rainbow Club provides vital supports to more than 1,300 children and young people who have autism, and also to their families, every week.
The charity relies heavily on public donations and fundraisers. Having been assured of its own premises in Mahon, the Rainbow Club hopes to apply for state funding and provide services to more children.
In a statement, the charity’s founder, Karen O’Mahony, said: “The Rainbow Club is increasing our offering and expanding our services further. We have responded to crisis situations over the years, but especially in the last few months.”
“These cases were different situations, where children were without educational places, due to break down in school, [or were] asked to leave pre-school settings, due to lack of support, and some children with school anxiety and no support, or not being able to access the supports in school they are entitled to as an autistic person.
“Some of the younger children are attending several hours per week, while parents try to get school places sorted, or are awaiting early intervention settings.”
Ms O’Mahony also highlighted the Rainbow Club’s work advocating for older children with the National Council for Special Education to ensure children have the correct school places.
“This is a part of the Rainbow Club very few people know about,” she said.
“It is vital that everyone works together in the years ahead to put to a halt situations like this and address the need for reform in areas that need it in preschool and schools,” Ms O’Mahoney said. . . .
“We need to look at how we provide education to neurodivergent people and how the existing system needs to be more adaptable to the needs of the individual,” she added.
“Change is important, if we truly want to be inclusive, accepting, and understanding of everyone.” . . .
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