Autism student a 'shining example'

SPECIAL NEEDS: A 17-YEAR-OLD student with autism who achieved extremely high marks in the Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) was yesterday hailed by Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe as a shining example of what can be achieved by students with special needs transferring into the mainstream education system.

Kevin Walsh, from Greenfields Road, Ballincollig, collected his results along with his 15 classmates from Coláiste Choilm principal Pat Kinsella yesterday morning. To his delight, he had got an average of 94 per cent across his six subjects.

"I actually came here two years ago, transferring from Scoil Triest, the special needs school in Glanmire, because I have autism. It was very hard to start out, but it just all fell together and the class were brilliant. I am actually glad I got to be in the class with them because they're all lovely people and the teachers were very supportive and very helpful.

"I'm delighted with my results. I'm hoping to do a course in computers in the National Learning Network. I'm good at computers and there was a lot of IT in the LCA, so I would like to move on from that a bit and get some qualifications."

Kevin's mother, Catherine, said that she was delighted for her son and while she was always aware that he had ability, she was particularly impressed by the fact that he was able to do six subjects and was encouraged to do by Mr Kinsella and the staff at Coláiste Choilm.

"Every case is individual but with autism it's never over. My advice to other parents is never say they can't do this or they can't do that - the abilities are there. You have to put 100 per cent also into the child - you have to be there to support him when things do go wrong."

But the last word to Kevin: "I would say to people with children with autism going to mainstream, just stick with it and open up and don't close in no matter what. Keep your supports open and just stick it - it will all turn out fine in the end if you put the effort in."

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times