May 9, 2018, (Ireland) Irish Examiner: Bill could force schools to set up special needs classes https://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/bill-could-force-schools-to-set-up-special-needs-classes-470411.html Schools could be legally forced to set up classes for pupils with special educational needs if parents are unable to get a local school to provide services. … Difficulties finding places in mainstream schools for pupils with autism or other special educational needs have been increasing in recent years, particularly at second level. Despite efforts by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to have mainstream schools provide special needs classes, the lack of legal obligations is leading to children having to travel considerable distances or to attend special needs schools instead. The proposed amendment which Mr Bruton will introduce at report stage to the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill would give him or his successors power to compel a school to set up a special needs class where the NCSE identifies the need to do so in an area. The staff recently purchased thousands of dollars worth of new devices to help educate their students in new, exciting ways thanks to the grants.
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Childhood Lost
Children today are noticeably different from previous generations, and the proof is in the news coverage we see every day. This site shows you what’s happening in schools around the world. Children are increasingly disabled and chronically ill, and the education system has to accommodate them. Things we've long associated with autism, like sensory issues, repetitive behaviors, anxiety and lack of social skills, are now problems affecting mainstream students. Blame is predictably placed on bad parenting (otherwise known as trauma from home).
Addressing mental health needs is as important as academics for modern educators. This is an unrecognized disaster. The stories here are about children who can’t learn or behave like children have always been expected to. What childhood has become is a chilling portent for the future of mankind.
Anne Dachel, Media editor, Age of Autism
http://www.ageofautism.com/media/
(John Dachel, Tech. assist.)
What will happen in another 4 years? How can we go on like this? This is a national (and international) problem of monumental proportions. We have an entire new class of children who cannot be accommodated by the system: many are manifestly neurologically impaired. Meanwhile, the government and the medical profession sleep on regardless.
John Stone,
UK media editor, Age of Autism
The generation of American children born after 1990 are arguably the sickest generation in the history of our country.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
It seemed to me that with rising autism prevalence, you’d also see rising autism costs to society, and it turns out, the costs are catastrophic.
They calculated that in 2015 autism cost the United States $268 billion and they projected that if autism continues at its current rate, we’re looking at one trillion dollars a year in autism costs by 2025, so within five years.
Toby Rogers, PhD, Political economist
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