St. Michael’s students “regressing” with no day centre places in site

By now, most children have settled into the new school term, juggling homework, extra-curricular activities, studying and enjoying being young.

For students who previously attended St. Michael’s School in Baldoyle, the new school term is anything but that typical experience.

In late August, parents of those who attended the school protested outside Leinster House, after they were unable to secure day centre placements for their intellectually challenged adult children.

Parents received a letter in late June informing them that their intellectually disabled adult children would not be transferred to adult services at St. Michael’s.

With October just begun, the parents of those children are no closer to having their children in full-time education, and in some instances, the children are showing signs of regression. 

Linda Hamilton, daughter of Laura, said the parents “feel let down” and there was a “lack of empathy” surrounding their situation.

Laura, who lives with Down’s Syndrome, has regressed since the school term has started, as the lack of structure in her daily life is starting to affect her physical and intellectual capabilities.

Linda says her husband Christopher serves as a full-time carer for Laura, and says the situation is “draining.”

“There is no point interacting with St. Michael’s anymore,” Linda said, claiming they show “a lack of interest” in the plight of their children.

“We really feel let down,” she said. 

Laura spends her days “staring out the window” according to Linda, and instinctively waits for the bus every morning.

“There were days where you would have to drag Laura off the bus,” Linda recalled, “but now she spends her days shadowing Christopher, and that’s not good for either of them.”

For Linda, the implication that the HSE knew that the children would not be admitted to adult services but still decided to engage with parents in securing a place for their children was the worst part of the ordeal.

“Speaking to the other parents, we get the sense there is a complete failure on the HSE’s part, there is no sense of accountability.”

Linda says the process began in October 2022 about the possibility of sending their children to adult daycare, but only found out in late June about their children having their application rejected, and ultimately, with no social structure in place when the new school year began in September. 

“The kids feel really let down by all this,” she said, adding “Laura has no idea why she’s not seeing her friends everyday.”

“If we had the information in advance, we certainly would have applied to other services or schools.”

For Linda, the fact that the staff at St. Michael’s “showed great love for the children” is the frustrating part.

“We have been left with nothing, and St. Michael’s themselves have not apologised for their role in this.”

Laura’s Down Syndrome is coupled with her being non-verbal, and this means additional stress for the parents.

“Laura is what is known as a ‘flight risk’, meaning that when we are out in public with her and she gets separated from us, there is no way for us to communicate with her.”

“As this thing has dragged on, I certainly think she is regressing in her capabilities.”

“We are used to summer breaks, but this is a different set of circumstances,” she said.

“We’re into October now, and god knows how long this thing will drag on for – but Laura cannot comprehend why we are in this situation.”

Despite the frustrations, Linda says as a collective, the parents “all have each other.”

“We have to be our kids’ voice in this situation.”

Fellow parent Sharon Flood said the situation is “hard on everyone,” and is dealing with her son Luke, who suffers from mito. 

Luke is also non-verbal, and has difficulty expressing how he feels in a given moment, but Sharon has noticed a change in his body language and behaviour since the ordeal started. 

“Luke doesn’t want anyone else in the room with him, when we’re out and about in shops he’s walking into things and in and out the door.” 

“When Luke was in school, he was great, the situation was certainly manageable, but now, it’s very frustrating. Before, when we were out for dinner he was grand, but now he tends to act out more.”

Sharon said she took a meeting in August with Liz Reynolds, the head of St. Michael’s, but was told “there was nothing we can do” with regards to the situation. 

“I got the feeling that she was of no help,” Sharon said. 

Sharon showed frustration at the fact the parents were told 2 days before the children graduated from school that they would not be progressing to adult care.

Sharon cares for Luke full-time, but the main questions on her mind are “how did this happen?” and “how do we make sure this does not happen again?”

She attended a meeting with other parents with Minister of State Anne Rabbitte, who has responsibility for people with disabilities, in July, and said that Rabbitte “seems to be genuine,” but contends that the problem is an HSE one. 

“I’ve emailed the HSE 4 times this week alone and received no answer,” she said.

When she did make contact with the HSE, she said they only offered home help, but she said “that would be of no use to me.”

“If I availed of home care, someone else would come to my home and sit down with Luke, and that isn’t what I need.”

Sharon says that there is a promising lead in the form of a day service in Swords called Resilience, but was told it would take until “March or April to be fully kitted out.”

“You know how it is dealing with anything with the HSE, it’s a very slow process.”

Ali Field said that two of the children were offered places in adult day care, on a 12-week trial basis, but owing to their complex needs and transport requirements, they were not able to avail of the places. 

Field, who is working with Labour TD Aodhán Ó Ríordáin on the issue, said that there have been “no further answers” since their July meeting with Rabbitte. 

“The kids are regressing and are out of their normal environment during this whole thing,” she said. 

“The HSE and St. Michael’s had years of planning. It’s a total disgrace. We want an investigation into who kept this secret for over a year.”