First autistic primary school unit

A national school in Co Wexford has become the first primary school in Ireland to incorporate a unit for autistic children which is based on the Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) "state-of-the-art" system of education for children with autism, the High Court heard yesterday.

The unit at Scoil Mhuire National School, Coolcotts, which will provide education according to the method of ABA, is to be funded by the State under terms of settlement of legal actions taken against the State by the parents of three autistic children. The settlement was approved yesterday by Mr Justice Abbott, who said that he was doing so with enthusiasm.

Outlining the settlement, Mr Michael Gleeson SC, for the plaintiffs, said the latest theory in relation to the education of autistic children is that they should be accommodated in an autism specific unit within a mainstream school. This unit had all those advantages and the parents wanted to thank the school principal, Mr Pat Goff, for his co-operation.

Under the ABA system, there was a one-to-one pupil/teacher ratio and no more than six children per class.

The establishment of the integrated ABA unit marks the culmination of a three-year campaign by the parents of Mark Howlin (6), Richmond Avenue, Newline Road, Wexford; Evan Murphy (6), Parkview, Wexford; and Derek Dodebier (5), Artramon Farm, Castlebridge, Co Wexford, seeking appropriate education for their children. In the course of that campaign the parents established their own school, the Cottage Sschool, on the Dodebiers' lands.

In evidence yesterday, Ms Patricia Howlin, mother of Mark, said that her son had made enormous progress since attending the ABA unit. "His progress is astounding," she said. "When I look at a video of him two years ago, he's like a different child." She said that the progress was all down to the ABA system, with which she was "absolutely delighted".

Ms Frederike Frederiks, mother of Derek Dodebier, said that the unit was "fantastic" and her son was making good progress. "It was worth the struggle," she added. Ms Susan Murphy, mother of Evan, said that they had had a three-year battle to get the unit, with which she was "thrilled".

The terms of settlement of the three actions, read to the court by Mr Michael Gleeson SC, for the plaintiffs, include provision for special damages ranging from €10,000-€11,000 each to meet the parents' costs of funding education for their children prior to the establishment of the ABA unit.

Mr Justice Abbott praised all involved in negotiating the settlement. At the end of the day, courts could not provide solutions, but could only use the law to point in a direction, he said. The end result depended on the skill and generosity of spirit of those involved.