Parents of children with special educational needs (SEN) protesting outside the Stormont Buildings. So on the one hand, they shared their anger at a lack of representation and help, looked for better services in Northern Ireland. Covering the protest that drew about 50 demonstrators, the story focused on the challenges experienced by about 70,000 SEN students across the province. Of those, 29,000 have comparable official mission statements outlining a clear picture of the specialized support they need. Support required by these declarations ends when a student with autism exits school age. This is in contrast to the positive planning provisions found in England, Wales, and Scotland.
Often parents find themselves very much alone when their children age out of school and into adult care programs. This problem has become more acute than ever. As you might imagine, for young people with special educational needs (SEN), this is critical business—EHCP offer an incredibly important support system through education. This help goes on until they’re 25 years old. Wales and Scotland have both recently passed reforms to improve transitions for young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN). In contrast, Northern Ireland’s education system is going backwards.
Single mother Tina Henderson, whose son with SEN, Robin, said she had been given “no help at all” for him. That sentiment was palpable in the room as parents began to tell their stories of struggle. Suzy Ward, another parent, expressed that her son Eoyn is now home full-time. She really underscored her unending duties, saying she doesn’t “ever get a break”, that she’s “always in motion.”
Sheena McCann is in the process of transitioning her 17-year-old son Joe into adult care services. For families like Kathy’s, the consequences are immense. She painted a vivid picture of balancing the needs of her adult son with no interim emergency respite care offered. “It’s hard to know I can’t leave the house,” McCann stated, voicing a common concern among parents who feel trapped by their responsibilities.
The protest at Stormont was not simply a reaction to personal issues. It was an expression of a group demand for deep-rooted reform. Parents like Suzy Ward demanded a consistent care facility for their children that would provide support over consecutive days rather than sporadic hours. They perceive this form of service as critical to their children’s success. It makes an important contribution to the protection of their own mental health.
Tina Henderson conveyed her disappointment with politicians, asserting that they do not understand the realities of families affected by SEN issues because “they aren’t in our world.” Parents angrily expressed their grievances with the school district at Wednesday’s protest. They were tired of the support or services out there not serving their needs.
In response, the Northern Ireland Executive recently announced £1.7 billion over the next ten years to support SEN. However, many parents feel that this funding is insufficient to address the immediate needs of their children or to implement effective changes in the existing system. They worry, without serious reforms, countless other families will continue living like this with no hope of help.
