Parents gain services for autistic children
Laura Marcus
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Dedicated autistic support services have been launched in South Lanarkshire primary schools in Scotland, with the help of campaigning parents.
More than 1,600 signatures were collected on a petition for specialistautism classrooms to be provided at primary schools in Rutherglen andCambuslang. There are already five primary school support bases and twosecondary school ones, but no provision local to these areas.
Last week, South Lanarkshire Council announced the launch of three newclasses. Cathkin Primary School in Rutherglen will get one extra classin August and a further class in 2009. Robert Owen Memorial PrimarySchool, Lanark, will also get an additional class this year.
A base will also be set up for all pupils with general additionalsupport needs at Cairns Primary School in Cambuslang in 2011.
Parent Jackie Brown, whose four-year-old son was held back from schoolfor a year because of a lack of provision, lobbied politicians atHolyrood for provision in her local area. She told BBC News, 'We'rereally pleased. One of the most important things we've stressed in thiscampaign is that it's not awful having an autistic child, what's awfulis having 17 schools in your area and no autistic provision in thoseschools.
'Children will no longer be excluded from their communities, andfamilies with autistic children in the area will be able to meet andsupport one another.'
South Lanarkshire council leader Eddie McAvoy said, 'We wanted toenhance the development of provision for pupils with additional supportneeds. This is being taken forward through our schools modernisationprogramme, which offers us the opportunity to further develop bases inprimary and secondary schools to meet the needs of those with autisticspectrum disorder.'