Ireland Abandons Best Help for Autistic Children: Education Department Plans to Drop Evidence Based ABA for Autistic Children

Like many members of the Irish Diaspora, a Doherty of the Great Clann O'Dochartaigh , (1),(2),(3),  I enjoy reading about Irish society and history and reveling in the Irish  music, the literature and the small pleasures of St. Patrick's Day. 

I am sadly disappointed though to read that the Irish Department of Education is planning to drop evidence based,  effective  ABA treatment for autistic children in favor or an unproven, non evidence based "eclectic:" approach as detailed in the Irish Times article Best practice autism treatment 'will vanish' under proposals:

"ABA uses behavioural science to assess and treat a broad range of behaviours in individuals diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Many academics and support groups say it is a highly effective intervention which has produced dramatic results among children with autism.

However, the Government favours an “eclectic” approach, which it says is based on a wide range of educational approaches, including ABA, a picture exchange communication system, social stories and developmentally based approaches.

In a statement yesterday, the Psychological Society of Ireland’s division on behaviour analysis said that under the department’s proposals ABA schools would simply resemble “eclectic” special schools across the State.

Among the members of the division’s committee are Prof Julian Leslie of the University of Ulster, Dr Olive Healy of NUI Galway, Dr Geraldine Leader of NUI Galway, Dr Maeve Bracken of Trinity College Dublin, as well as Michelle Kelly and Niamh McEvoy of NUI Galway.

The division says research shows that children exposed to the “eclectic” approach do not achieve the same level of gains as children who receive full-time tuition based on the science of ABA.

In addition, it said the department had not produced any research to show the superiority of the “eclectic” approach over ABA."

ABA is the most solidly backed intervention for autistic children, call it a health or education intervention as you prefer. But it is the one intervention with solid evidence in support of its effectiveness. I fully support the rights of families to seek out other interventions and treatments for their children and if they are shown to be working with their child to continue to do so.  I do not support public health or education authorities planning to abandon the most proven method of helping autistic children in favor of approaches with no evidence base.  "Eclectic" is a buzz word and nothing more than that.

Shame on you Ireland. Shame on you.

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Grim, Chaotic Autism Reality In Ireland

The Independent paints a grim picture of autism reality in Ireland in Autism 'chaos' as one-third wait over year for diagnosis and in an editorial Grim message on autism . Figures released by Irish health authorities show that in one county there are no waiting lists while in others there are 14 months to 3 year delays in receiving diagnosis. For many Irish autistic children the early period when intervention is most effective expires on the waiting list for diagnosis.

The waiting list tragedy is not unique to autistic children in Ireland. Here in Canada there are huge discrepancies between provinces with respect to autism services. Ontario is notorious for its waiting lists for receipt of autism treatment with children left "rotting on the vine". In its editorial the Independent noted that in Ireland:

"following the release of a damning report, the Government was warned that inaction in the welfare of children will lead to a litany of social ills, including an increase in suicide and self-mutilation and family breakdown, which will cost the State dearly in the not too distant future."

So too in Canada our governments, federal and provincial, have been warned by the Senate Committee report "Pay Now or Pay Later" what the future would hold if action were not taken to provide funding and a national autism strategy to ensure that autistic children received the treatment they need. In Canada a cynical Stephen Harper led Conservative party uses pre-WWII views of Canadian federalism to justify its lack of commitment to helping autistic children across Canada.

autism

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In Ireland Fine Gael Fights for ABA for Autistic Children

Like many North Americans of Irish heritage I watch events in Ireland with enhanced interest. It is not just another country. Excessive romanticism or not, Ireland is where we are from. Ireland, even generations removed, is in our genes and, as everyone following the explosive development of genetic research into autism disorders is aware, genes matter. Following is a press release from Fine Gael detailing the FG effort to improve services, particularly ABA services, for autistic children in Ireland.

10
Feb 2008

FF Govt's Grossly Misguided Autism Policy To Be Overhauled by FG Motion

Fine Gael National Press Office Press Release

Fine Gael National Press Office Press Statement _________________________________________________________________ Leinster House Contact Brian Hayes TD Dublin 2 Ciarán Conlon Education & Science Ireland 086 2391947 Sunday February 10th 2008 FF Govt's Grossly Misguided Autism Policy To Be Overhauled by FG Motion In light of the Seán O'Cuanacháin case and the callous disregard with which the Fianna Fáil Government and the Minister for Education have treated parents of children with autism, Fine Gael will this week put forward a Private Members' Motion that will overhaul how children with autism are treated. Fine Gael Education Spokesman, Brian Hayes TD, said today (Sunday) that the comprehensive motion will demand that the Government commit to funding the existing 12 ABA centres, expand the ABA scheme, institute an appeals system and make specific education services available to autistic children where it has been recommended by psychologists. "As the last week has shown, under Fianna Fáil, when it comes to children with autism, the State seems more concerned with dragging parents through the courts rather than providing for their child's educational needs. "In fact, the Education Minister's record in this area is so poor that the author of a Government taskforce report on autism described the Government's policies as 'grossly misguided'. "For too long, the needs of children with autism have been shamefully overlooked and that is why, this week, Fine Gael will use our Private Members' Time to present a motion that will overhaul the entire sector. There is no greater example of this disregard for the needs of children with autism than the baffling neglect by the FF Government of Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA). The Minister for Education has refused to extend ABA beyond the 12 pilot centres that have already been established but the Fine Gael Motion will reverse this policy as well as ensuring that the existing centres are funded in the current format for the long term. "There is no appeals mechanism currently in place leaving parents who look for justice for their child with no option but to go to courts. Fine Gael wants to see an appeals process set up without delay as well as implementing the outstanding provisions of the EPSEN Act and ensuring Speech and Language Therapy and Behavioural Therapy is made available to all schools with autistic children in attendance. "So far, parents of children with autism have come up against a brick wall when trying to get the State to provide for the educational needs of their children. The Government now has an opportunity to change that and I urge each and every Government Deputy to vote for the Fine Gael Motion. It is the least these children deserve." Ends Note: Fine Gael Private Members Motion follows: That Dáil Éireann; - Accepting that the current system of assessment for children with autism is inadequate - Noting the co-author of the report of the Government Taskforce on Autism has suggested the Department of Education's policy on education for autistic children is misguided - Considering that the lack of a suitable appeals process leaves parents with no option other than to pursue education services for their children through the courts - Acknowledging the Government's delay in implementing the EPSEN Act 2004 to provide appropriate education services for children with special needs - Noting the Government's refusal to change its policy to consider funding for new ABA centres despite a clear demand for ABA services countrywide - Considering the Government's failure to improve coordination between education and health services in supporting children with special needs despite promises in the Programme for Government 2007 to do so Calls on the Government to; - Lay any evidence before the House which supports the suggestion that the current system of education provision for autistic children is suitable for all children, even those with moderate to severe autism who have been recommended one-to-one tuition - Make specific education services available to autistic children where it has been recommended by psychologists, without delay - Introduce the outstanding provisions of the EPSEN Act 2004 according to the NCSE's proposed timescale for implementation - Commit to funding the existing 12 ABA centres in their current format - Expand the current ABA pilot scheme of 12 centres to accommodate other projects of a similar nature where they are needed - Recognise the qualifications of psychologists currently working in ABA centres - Honour its Programme for Government commitment and institute an appeals system without further delay - Ensure Speech and Language Therapy and Behavioural Therapy is made available to all schools with autistic children in attendance - Immediately move to enhance cooperation between the Department of Education and Health to ensure children with special needs receive adequate support in all aspects of their lives from an early age

autism

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