Welcome to the website of
Drogheda ABACAS School
Drogheda ABACAS School
for
Children with Autism opened its
doors in
2003 to two pupils and was originally based in Stameen. The
school
expanded rapidly and today caters for eighteen students at our present
home in Fair Street, Drogheda.
Drogheda ABACAS School is
one
of only three ABACAS Schools in Ireland. The other two are based
in Dublin at Kilbarrack
and
Kilnamanagh. The Drogheda
School was set up by parents in counties Louth and
Meath who banded together to form an organisation
called ABAILE Autism Support. ABAILE (which means "home" in the
Irish language) stands for Applied Behaviour Analysis in Local
Education.
ABAILE
Autism Support has three
principal aims:-
Education:
to provide an ABA education for children with Autism and related
communication disorders in the local area.
Parent
Support:
to provide help and guidance to ABA home programmes
Awareness:
to promote a greater knowledge and understanding of Autism in the local
community
Drogheda ABACAS School which
opened on March 10 2003 was the first major project for ABAILE
Autism Support. Drogheda
ABACAS School adheres to the highest standards of international best
practice in ABA education. The school has had tremendous impact on the
lives of local children with autism, many of whom are now
attending local mainstream schools on a full or part-time basis. All
students of Drogheda ABACAS School are empowered to reach their maximum
individual potential through educational intervention which is designed
specifically for each student and based on their unique talents and
aptitudes.
Practical support to ABA home
programmes is provided through
the
sharing of physical resources, teaching materials, training
and expertise. Information and training events are
held on a
regular
basis.
ABAILE
also provides help, guidance and support to parents of
children with autism whether of school-going age or older.
A
well-attended support group meets on a monthly basis and a
youth club
for children with Asperger's Syndrome meets
regularly on Saturday
afternoons.
ABAILE is a member of
and sits on the Board of Directors of
Irish Autism
Action
which is a national umbrella group with over 34 member groups
nationally. The IAA advocates and lobbies at a national level
to
ensure better service provision to people with Autism.
Benefits
& Entitlements:
One of the biggest issues for parents of children with autism can be to
establish exactly what supports are available to them. Irish Autism
Action has put together a comprehensive guide to your benefits and
entitlements which can be accessed
here.
