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Luke Maiden of The Saplings School Rathfarnham Please Support Saplings in a sponsored Bike Run from Dublin to Kinsale, on Sat 8th May.
When Luke Maiden started in Saplings School for Children with Autism aged 5, his language was so delayed that he could barely put three words together. After three years of special education and therapy at Saplings, Luke is a changed boy.
“He now talks fluently,” says Luke’s mother, Rowena. “And he’s learnt how to read and write. Not only has Saplings taught him how to communicate, but it’s also given him the coping ability to attend the local national school for his first class every morning.
He absolutely loves it and is making friends.”
Although Saplings is a recognised "Pilot" Intensive Autism Therapy School, parents must fundraise to provide full-time Speech and Language, Occupational, and Group work therapy in the school.
They also fund an additional behavioural supervisor - to ensure that all of the children and their families get the kind of home/school support they need to overcome the challenging behaviours that occur with severe autism.
Each month they must raise a total of €14,000 just to maintain these posts.
Recently Saplings had to let go of their full-time Speech and Language Therapist because of funding problems. Luke’s granddad, Pat Brown, was horrified when he heard the news.
“He was heartbroken that other children won’t get the chance that Luke has been given,” explains Rowena. “He felt really strongly about doing something to help his grandson’s school.
So he got a team of his Harley biker friends together.
The sponsored ride from Dublin to Kinsale is their gift to Saplings School and the kids who attend there.”
Saplings School Rathfarnham provides one-to-one education to 24 children on the autism spectrum.
The educational and therapeutic team work together to teach everything from lifeskills – such as toileting and coping with visits to the dentist – to communication, reading and writing and the national curriculum.
Children who are non-verbal are taught to use sign language and to communicate with pictures.
Most importantly for the children and their families, Saplings tackles the extremely challenging behaviours – such as tantrumming, aggression and self-injury – which often accompany autism.
And when they are ready; like Luke, the Group work tutor teaches them through play and co-operative task work to learn in small groups, ready for "Big School".
“Without the early intervention provided by their school,” adds Rowena, “many of the children who attend Saplings would face institutional care from an early age. The school is literally a lifeline for the kids and their families. We can’t afford to not keep it going.”
One of the easiest ways to help is to go on to our MyCharity Page and make a donation to support the Group Work Tutor by sponsoring the Bikers. Every single cent raised will go towards maintaining this valuable service for another day.
• For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Adrienne Murphy at 086 363 2554.
Saplings is a registered charity No. CHY 14453.
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