Dervla Burke O’Connor retired from the band Crystal Swing to provide full time care to her five year old son Paul who was born with severe non-verbal autism.
Paul is attending a pre-school unit in Midleton and needs a place in a special school, however the lack of places in the area is causing stress for Dervla and her husband Tim who fear Paul will regress unless he continues in education.
Dervla says her son often gets frustrated at not being able to express himself and frequently lashes out at people and things around him.
Speaking on the Neil Prendeville Show on Cork’s RedFM, Dervla says the lack of supports for children like Paul is very disheartening:
"I don't want to get emotional, but how far have we come in our society? These people are real people, my child deserves an education and so do all of these other children. They deserve dignity and respect. It is a constitutional right of ours that we are entitled to an education. The doors are being shut on us and we are getting absolutely nothing."
LACK OF AUTISM SERVICES IN EAST CORK
We are speaking to singer Dervla Burke O’Connor who is struggling to access services for her 5 year old son Paul who has severe nonverbal autistism. pic.twitter.com/CiW5tTYpuw— Neil Prendeville (@NeilRedFM) January 26, 2022
