Feb 23, 2025, Irish Mirror: Dublin mum details her desperate fight to secure school spot for autistic son
The Dublin mum has questioned why the Government is not providing sufficient funding for special education when “they’re spending millions on [phone] pouches, thousands on bloody bike [sheds]"
A heartbroken mother has to change her autistic son on the “ground like a little dog” in a mainstream facility as he is unable to get a place in a special school.
The clock is now ticking for Anita Daynes from Tallaght, south Dublin, to find Leighton, seven, a school before his psychological reports, which were done two years ago, expire in March. Ms Daynes described Leighton as “the happiest little fella going”.
She told the Irish Sunday Mirror he was diagnosed in March 2023 with autism and a moderate intellectual disability. He is non-verbal and not yet potty trained.
Because he was diagnosed late in the school year, she could not immediately get him a school place as most application processes finish by January or February for special education places.
She was unable to secure a spot last year. Despite applying to all possible schools in recent months, she has already received up to eight rejection letters and is waiting to hear back from two more special schools.
Leighton attends a mainstream school close to his home, but it is unsuitable, and Ms Daynes said he is “learning nothing”
It also lacks the proper facilities, and his mum had to give up her job two years ago to be on standby in case he needs to be changed as he cannot use a toilet.
She explained she has to change him “on the ground like a little dog” because his site lacks the facilities she needs.
Ms Daynes said: “Last year, I was changing him wherever I could find a space. It could be in the hall. It could be in a bathroom downstairs.
“This year, I’ve had to go up to his classroom. They have toilets in the classroom and there is a little door you go in [on the cubicles].
“I’m changing him on the floor. I have to bring a blanket with me. My son is tall, so I can’t even go into the cubicle because his head is tipping off the toilet bowl. . . .
“I am supposed to take him home to change him, but if I take him home, I won’t get him back in. I live a three-minute walk to the school, and sometimes it will take me an hour to get Leighton in because he drops on the ground. You have to pick him up.
“Last year, the SNAs [special needs assistants] couldn’t lift him, and I had to lift him on my back two flights of stairs to get him into his classroom. I was sometimes crying getting him into school. Most of the parents know me and they try to help.
“I had his arms one day, [another parent] had his legs.
“One of the kids had his bag. Another fella was lifting him by the bum just to get him into the classroom.”
Ms Daynes said Leighton has had no speech and language therapy or occupational therapist.
While the family was told in 2023 he would get a speech and language therapy appointment in 2024, he is still waiting. . . .
Ms Daynes explained: “If I don’t get him a school this year, I’ll have to get all his reports done again. It took me four years to get these reports done in the first place.
“The psychological reports you get for the schools only last two years. My two years are up this March.
“If I don’t get Leighton into school this year, I don’t know what I am going to do.”
Ms Daynes said she knows if Leighton got a place in a special school, he would “come on leaps and bounds”.
She is also determined to secure him a space in a special school by next year so he can make his First Communion and hit milestones other kids Leighton’s age hit.
She said she and other parents who cannot get school places for their children want a meeting with Education Minister Helen McEntee and Special Education Minister Michael Moynihan and will stage a sleep out at the Dail in the coming days.
She questioned why the Government is not providing sufficient funding for special education as she argued schools say they do not have funding to hire special needs assistants who are crying out for jobs.
Ms Daynes added: “They’re spending millions on [phone] pouches, thousands on bloody bike [sheds].
“They need to put the money into SNAs and teachers. I don’t know where they’re putting the funds. They’re not putting it into education for kids or special kids.”
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