By Michael McHale
Copyright imt
The HSE has issued a call to the private sector to help clear the backlog for assessments of need for children who may have autism.
Last year just over 10 per cent of children were assessed within legal timeframes.
Yesterday the HSE announced it is seeking private health services to provide comprehensive multi-disciplinary autism diagnostic team assessments for children and adolescents that have been referred.
“The assessments are required to be carried out using a neuro-diverse affirming approach,” said a HSE statement making the announcement.
“Meeting the increasing demand for assessments of need is challenging and to help address this we are putting in place a bespoke panel arrangement with suitable panel approved providers,” said HSE CEO Bernard Gloster.
“The panel will be in place for one year with the option to extend for a further year, subject to demand and budget approval. Every effort is being made to have the panel established as soon as possible so that more assessments can be made for the children on the waiting list.”
Bidders have until October 3 to submit a tender, with proposals being on the bases of ‘most economically advantageous tender’.
The aim of an assessment of need is to identify whether a person has a disability, the nature and extent of the disability, any health and education needs arising from that disability, as well as what services are required to meet those needs.
Under the Disability Act, when a parent believes their child may have additional needs, they may request an assessment of need.
This process includes an evaluation of the nature and extent of the child’s disability, and what educational and other services the child may need to develop to their full potential.
Unless there are insufficient grounds to support the view that the child has complex needs, the professional assessment should begin within three months of the parent’s request being completed and received. However, this happened in just 10.4 per cent of cases last year.
Meanwhile, a new TV documentary series will aim to provide an insight into the lives of neurodivergent people across Ireland.
Filmed over the course of a year, two-part TG4 series ‘Néara-Éagsúlacht: Dearcadh Difriúil’ will shine a light on the challenges and triumphs faced by neurodivergent individuals and their families.
The opening episode, focuses on the experiences of children under 18 and their families, exploring how they navigate a world not always designed with them in mind. The programme addresses the importance of early diagnosis and intervention, as well as the personal, educational and social challenges faced by young people who are neurodivergent.
Among the stories featured is that of young Ferdia and his family, as they strive to secure a school place in their local Gaelscoil. Viewers also meet school principal Anita Mhic Ghib, who spends the year working to establish a dedicated classroom for autistic children in Gaelscoil Nás na Ríogh, while also raising her own family to include her two neurodivergent daughters.
The series will air on October 1 and 8 at 9:30pm and is produced by Tyrone Productions.
