Pakie O’Callaghan at SENAP Booklet Launch.

By Carol Gilbert - Saturday, October 13th, 2007

The official launch of SENAP took place in the Westlodge Hotel, Bantry on Saturday night, October 13th. SENAP also made available on the night, Booklets on advice and support for parents of pre-school children.

A “must” for all parents of children up to five years old, was the description of the booklet compiled by parents for parents, which was launched by Pakie O’Callaghan at the Westlodge Hotel last Saturday.

Speaking from his own personal experience as the parent of a child with a disability, Pakie O’Callaghan "Bull Island Fame" gave a humorous account of the Bertie Ahern Tribunal after which he officially launched the "Parents' Guide" booklet stating, " This book is an essential guide to parents of all children aged 0-5. If this was available when our daughter, who has a disability, was born, both Fionnulla and I would have been well informed and our daughter’s life may be different now."

A cheese and wine reception started the evening during which Martin and Mary Ann and their set dancers presented a display of Irish dancing, Tracy O'Driscoll performing a superb solo exhibition, followed by Aislinn Collins who sang beautifully. Catherine McCarthy, Chairperson led the speakers who included John Allen, former Cork Hurling Manager, who gave a brief history of his own personal experience.

Following the buffet a raffle, which was officiated by Graham Canty, local football hero and Cork full back. The top prize of a two night break at the Trident Hotel, Kinsale, was won by Sean Meehan, known by many from 103fm, following which the crowd filled the dance floor to the sounds of 2nd Shift.

Those attending included Senator Dan Boyle, MCCs, Danny Crowley and Jim Daly, Clonakilty town councillor, Cionnaith O'Sullibháin, Séamus Greene, Dublin, Director of NPSA (National Parents and Sibling Alliance), Conor McCarthy, Skibbereen and Cork Footballer and Seán O' Riordan Chairperson of the NPC-Primary also attended. Thanks were extended to everyone involved as the event was very well supported from sponsorship, donations and ticket purchases.

A Mother’s Story

“It’s the not knowing that is the worst and all the “ifs” when you do find out your child has a disability.” explains a parent of five children, one of whom has a disability. After three sons, a daughter was a very welcome addition to their family and initially nothing pointed to the fact that there was a problem with the little girl. She was slow in all the developmental areas, but this fourth time mother thought it might be a gender thing and that she might have a quiet, lazy baby girl on her hands after three lively lads.

Only when a fifth child was born, during a midwife’s check-up on the new baby, was the three year old’s speech difficulties and lack of co-ordination noticed. The child was initially referred to a Speech Therapist in the HSE and from there to CoAction for assessment. At the age of 3 years 3 months, the little girl was assessed by a Child Physiologist and Speech Therapist as having a mild learning disability.

The mother talks of the heartbreak a parent experiences when finding out their child has a disability. She explains there is a grieving process to go through, and then the acceptance of the situation. She speaks of so many questions and uncertainties about the future and the mixed emotional feelings of denial, sadness and self-blame.

Today her little girl is a happy sociable child. She has had intensive occupational therapy and speech therapy from a dedicated team at CoAction who have worked very hard to bring her on. She attends mainstream school, has a Special Needs Assistant allocated to her and the benefit of a resource teacher and a speech therapist within the school. The mother says the child’s speech has improved dramatically and she loves school work and is very happy.

The mother’s full story is contained in the booklet entitled A Parent’s Guide, which details the normal developmental milestones for all parents of children up to the age of five years. With 20% of the population having some form of learning difficulty, this booklet sets out clearly and simply what your child should be doing at a specific age. Whilst some babies are, indeed, slow and lazy, the book lists motor, language, social, adaptive and cognitive skills and at what ages a child should be able to achieve specific tasks. It lists warning signals, specific disabilities, their key features and also explains who and where to go to for help and advice and guides parents through all the steps they must take to ensure their child receives the help they need.

Formerly West Cork Parents Action Group, their new name was also announced last Saturday, SENAP (Special Educational Needs and Parents).