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 others being 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
(Applied Behaviour Analysis in Local Education). The group had 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 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.
The
activities of Drogheda ABACAS School would be impossible without
the generous support of local businesses and local people and the
organisers of the Valentines Ball thank all those who have contributed
to fund-raising over the last six years.