Woods accused of hypocrisy over autism education stand
 The Irish Examiner 18 Feb 2002

By Carl O'Brien

EDUCATION Minister Dr Michael Woods has been accused of hypocrisy for arguing in a court case that the department's own plans for autism education should be ignored.

This emerged at a court case where parents of autistic boy Colum McNabb, four, are fighting to get the minister to fund a special school for six other children in Galway city.

The State has refused to fund the school, based on the system of applied behaviour analysis, and wants to provide a different form of education. However, a task force report on autism education, commissioned by Dr Woods, says autistic children should get teaching that best meets their needs and is scathing over the department's track record in the area.

But lawyers acting on behalf of the minister are arguing in court that this report should not be used as evidence in the case.

It is not clear whether Dr Woods sanctioned this position by the lawyers, and a spokesperson for the department declined to comment.

Kathy Sinnott, who fought the State to get education for her autistic son Jamie, said the actions of the State smacked of hypocrisy. "They said they were drawing up that report before the seven Supreme Court judges in Jamie's case to get brownie points, to show that they were dealing with the issue of autism and education," she said

A decision on whether the task force report should be used in evidence in the McNabb case is expected tomorrow. The State's legal team is arguing that the report merely contains advice to the minister, which he may accept or reject. The Government is funding three schools for autistic children in Dublin and Cork, based on the system of applied behaviour analysis, which the McNabbs are seeking.

Meanwhile, the Government will be urged to scrap legislation it hailed as a radical step forward for disabled people at a mass protest tomorrow. Hundreds of people from a coalition of campaign groups are expected to gather at the Mansion House in Dublin at 7.30pm to call for the Disability Bill to be brought back to the drawing board. They say disabled people will be worse off if the bill is enacted as it contains no real rights and waters down entitlements. Equality Minister Mary Wallace says it will go a long way towards putting disabled people at the heart of the community.