I propose to take Questions Nos. 63 and 64 together.
Policy on the programmes, interventions and supports for children in education is a matter for my Department. Decisions in this regard are informed by research and advices received covering a range of matters including pedagogy, school curriculum, special needs and child development. The role of the SESS is to attend to the training needs of teachers on foot of these decisions.
In selecting and developing suitable programmes, the service is guided by advices from my Department, aegis bodies of the Department where appropriate, relevant research and best practice. My Department is satisfied that research does not support the exclusive usage of any one approach as a basis for national educational provision for children with autism. It is for this reason that the preferred policy is for a child centred approach based on the individual child's needs. It is important that children have access to a range of approaches so that their broader needs can be met. While ABA helps to improve behaviour, other approaches, such as Treatment and Education of Autistic Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH) and Picture Exchange Communications System (PECS) are just as important in developing children's communication and speech skills. SESS engages annually with the Director of TEACCH Autism Program TEACCH provider - University of North Carolina, USA to provide access to teachers in Ireland to either a two-day or five-day TEACCH course. Teachers attend for training as required. The SESS has developed the Contemporary Applied Behaviour Analysis (C-ABA) Course under the direction of Dr Patsy Daly. This course provides an introduction to ABA for practicing teachers in special education settings in Irish schools. The course trains teachers to 'design, implement and evaluate' interventions to change the behaviour of students in their care. This course is accredited within the context of the Post-Graduate Certificate/Diploma of Continuing Professional Development for Teachers working with Students with Special Educational Needs (Autism) by the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG).
