What is our aim?
Our aim is to secure funding from the Department of Education and Science for an ABA school attached to St. Catherine's Service, and for the HSE to provide the health supports these children desperately need.

What is ABA?
Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) is an internationally recognised, scientifically proven method of teaching children with autism.

Why do we want an ABA school in Co. Wicklow?
There are currently 12 ABA schools around the country and Co. Wicklow is the only county along the eastern and southern seaboard without an ABA school.

All of our children have been assessed by experts who have recommended ABA education for them. We have seen the success our children have achieved in Barnacoyle. More than 40% of children have moved onto their local National Schools. Children who were previously non-verbal can now speak. Non-verbal children can communicate with their family. A whole new world has opened up for all the children.

We cannot allow our children to regress or lose the progress they have achieved by having this vital service withdrawn.

We want all children with autism in Co Wicklow who need ABA to have access to it. For that reason St. Catherine’s Association Ltd. and the Barnacoyle Parents Group have submitted an application for full funding for and recognition of an ABA centre of education for Co. Wicklow. The application was submitted to the Department of Education, the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive in October 2006 and is currently being considered in conjunction with twelve other such applications.

Click here to download the Fact Sheet.