Council investigates after autism classes stopped in Co Meath

Louise Walsh

Meath Co. Council has launched an investigation after classes for people with autism in an autism friendly town are to be stopped next month due to a noise complaint.

One parent whose child attends the one-to-one RPM (Rapid Prompting Method) lessons at the Enfield community and enterprise hub and library building as 'discrimination'

The Hub shares the building with Enfield library.

Teacher and founder of All Ability Learning Ireland Colleen Mannion has been renting a space in the hub since the end of May and providing the individual classes to seven people on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

RPM are classes that use a system of prompts, letter boards and keyboards to help individuals with autism, especially those who are non-verbal or have minimal speech, learn to communicate by spelling.

Colleen says she was first made aware of a noise complaint just over a week ago and took immediate moves to address it.

"I wrote a general letter to everyone explaining what the classes were about and that sometimes vocalisation did occur," she said.

"I asked them for patience while we established our routine and to contact me straight away if they were bothered by any noise. I hand delivered the letters to other users and left letters on tables in the library."

"Then last Wednesday I was told that due to the complaint, that my classes wouldn't be accommodated at the hub any longer than the end of the month. My contract was not going to be renewed.

" I was told the community centre was asked if they would have space after remodelling but it won’t be finished until January. There was also a suggestio to go to the nearby special needs school, which totally shocked me. It is discrimination at its worst.

"There is a sensory table in the library but yet I can't hold classes for individuals with autism."

Colleen said she records all the classes so parents can review them and she strongly refutes that there was a lot of noise on any day. She added that no-one could tell her what day the noise complaint referred to.

"This is disheartening and heartbreaking. Other centres I teach in across the country have welcomed us with open arms. This is seclusion, not inclusion and a jump backwards for people with autism."

Meanwhile Ellen Rochford whose nine-year old son Finn attends the class thought it was also discriminating and felt like segregation.

Finn is non-verbal and was responding really well to the lesson plans, according to Ellen.

"I was in disbelief at first. Then it felt like segregation. It was like there was no seat for my child on the bus.

"We have spent the last nine years teaching Finn to participate in his community with success. We want to make his life as open as possible. This is the first instance of discrimination we have faced.

"Parents of children with autism are conditioned to feel lucky when we get access to services. But sometimes, it is not good enough to accept the crumbs we are given. We have to push back and this time, we are pushing back and calling this out."

Enfield Autism Friendly Town posted on its Instagram page that it was "aware of the upset caused by a recent interaction between members of our community and Enfield library. Our committee has been in contact with both parties and is making every effort to ensure a positive outcome is brought about where inclusion and accessibility are prioritised moving forward. Anyone who is directly affected by this issue can also make contact with AsIam should you wish to discuss your own rights in relation to accessibility.

In a statement Meath Co Council say it is 'aware of the complaint and is currently investigating it."