Assessment plan for autistic boy

The parents of a severely autistic boy, who last month failed in their High Court attempt to force the State to fund appropriate education for him abroad, plan to send him for assessment in Wales in September.

Lewis O'Carolan's parents and their supporters have raised €25,000 since the High Court ruled proposals by the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Department of Education for a care and education unit in north Dublin for him were "objectively adequate".

The boy's parents, Annette and Colm, say the State's plans are based on a psychiatric model which would "destroy" Lewis's potential. They are still determined he get a form of education known as Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) - a highly structured form of one-to-one teaching - along with therapies to address his behaviour.

Of the €25,000 raised, €20,000 was one anonymous donation. Some €50,000 is needed to send Lewis for an initial three-month assessment at the centre in Bangor, Wales.

Ms O'Carolan said yesterday she and her husband were determined Lewis would go to Bangor in Wales and that he would stay there until he was 18. In conjunction with the fundraising effort, the O'Carolans are mounting a campaign calling on the President, Mary McAleese, not to sign the Disability Bill into law.

This evening, campaigners will be seeking signatures outside the GPO in Dublin calling on President McAleese not to sign the Bill into law. They believe it is unconstitutional.

"We have to try and prevent this from happening, because once it has been signed into law it will close the door on legal challenges about appropriate services to everyone coming behind Lewis," said Ms O'Carolan.

Campaigners will also be outside the Taoiseach's constituency office in Drumcondra on Saturday.