Cara Darmody outside Government Buildings – Photo Credit Mark Darmody
Disability rights campaigner Cara Darmody (13) continues her weekly protest at the Taoiseach’s Department, a protest which began in the middle of June. Ms Darmody yesterday completed her fourth consecutive Tuesday protesting, in an effort to make the Taoiseach act to stop the breaking of the Assessments of Needs law.
This law specifically states that autistic children must be assessed within 6 months of their application. It currently takes the HSE many years to deliver this service forcing many parents to try to find and pay for a private assessment. The Assessment helps the family to identify what if any therapies may be beneficial for the child and to aid in securing a suitable school placement. The Government is 100% aware of this law being broken according to Ms Darmody and has allocated funding to help clear the backlog.
The protest will be paused for the Summer when the Dáil takes its Summer break beginning on July 11th.
Cara attended yesterday despite having a fractured knee sustained while playing for her Ardfinnan GAA on Sunday last and poor weather in Dublin.
