A Monaghan mother who has three children with additional needs is warning parents in a similar situation to prepare themselves when looking for respite care inn the future. Two of Edel Sweeney's children have complex additional needs. Following recent advice from a father interviewed on Northern Sound who told parents to get their children registered for respite care now, Edel filed an application with the HSE for her kids who have been diagnosed with complex needs.
She received word back that one of them would be granted respite care - when it eventually comes to Monaghan - but, one was refused a place. The child who was refused, had recently been moved from the highest level on the autism sensory disorder spectrum of 3 to 2. Assessors also deemed the 12-yr-old girl no longer suffers an "intellectual disability". This is because her parents have, for years, been paying private professionals to bring their daughter on intellectually.
Edel questioned the decision and has now received another letter informing her that her eldest child does - in fact - qualify for respite care. Edel worries about other parents who won't be aware or as vocal as her: "I would plead with everyone out there struggling with a child with autism or with an intellectual disability; Down's Syndrome etc.," Edel told Northern Sound, "If their life is hard at the minute and they're struggling if they contact us via our Facebook page Monaghan Needs Services, they can send us therough a private message and we can email them over the application form for respite to them but,m I would urge everyone who has a child with a need 'Get on that list'".
