Athlone protest over school places issue for autistic children going ahead on Saturday

Parents and members of the public are being invited to join in a walk through Athlone this weekend to raise awareness of the shortage of local school places for children with autism.

The walk will take place this Saturday, July 16, from 2pm. It will leave from Ss Peter and Paul’s Church and will then follow the ‘orange loop’ route through town.

The event is being organised by the Autism Parents Athlone group to highlight the lack of school places for children with autism, or other additional needs, at both primary and secondary school level.

There was some positive news yesterday (Wednesday), with the announcement that a new special class was being created in Athlone Community College for the coming school year.

Claire Earley of Autism Parents Athlone welcomed yesterday's development but said it was only a start. She said the walk would be going ahead this weekend to highlight the need for more to be done in this area.

"A lot of people that we speak are unaware that there are no places for our children in local schools at primary and secondary level," Claire told the Westmeath Independent.

"We're doing this walk to raise awareness, so that people will see us and talk to us and realise what's happening."

"Children should have a choice of which school in Athlone they would like to attend. That's what we're walking for - to raise awareness of the fact that we haven't got that choice for our children."

Claire said local print companies Spectrum Signs and Midland Print & Signs had donated banners for Saturday, and the group was very appreciative of this. She also said support from people who are not directly affected by this issue would be very welcome.

"Everybody is welcome to walk with us on the day, regardless of whether you have a child with autism or know a child with autism. We’re looking for every bit of support we can get," she stated.