“I feel children like Shane are victims of the pandemic.”

The frustrated mother of a teenage boy with special needs from Rathkenny has spoken of how her son has regressed due to being unable to attend school which she says is vital for his development.

Joan Tallon’s 16-year-old son Shane, has cerebral palsy, is primarily visually impaired and is a full time wheelchair user. He needs assistance with everything from spoon feed to toileting.

Frontline worker Joan admits that the youngster Shane who attends St Josephs school for the visually impaired in Drumconrath has regressed dramatically during lockdown so much so that he has recently been assessed by a psychiatrist due to the biting of his hands and his emotional behaviour and physical outbursts.

The Government has been forced to abandon plans for a partial re-opening of schools on Thursday in the face of union opposition.

The Department of Education said the planned return on Thursday was “paused” after teachers and special needs assistants rejected the move.

On Tuesday evening, two major trade unions, the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) and Fórsa, said efforts to reassure staff over safety had failed.

Joan, who works in the National Ambulance Service is calling for schools who facilitate children with additional needs to be reopened. She said:

“Zoom or online is just not for my son due to his vision and his needs.

“We logged into a zoom meeting over lockdown but Shane got so upset, we had to log out. He couldn’t understand why he couldn’t touch his friends hand or sit beside his buddies in class.

He must have sensory input, tactile lessons, OT, physio, music therapy and mobility just to mention some activities of his school day.

“We as patents simply can’t do all this at home while taking care of other children in the home and trying to work as a healthcare worker.

Shane’s Dad Glyn is a frontline worker with HSE on 24/7 call and both parents find it very stressful juggling work commitments and Shane’s therapy which is full time.

“I feel these very special kids get so much from their specialised teachers & SNA’s. My son can’t sit exams or repeat a year at school like other mainstream kids. We are trying to do as much as possible but it’s just not the same as seeing him smiling from ear to ear when he hears the school bus outside.

“Since schools closed, each morning, his first words are “no school.”

“Shane has regressed hugely due to lack of routine which has meant his behaviour and social skills has regressed.

“I feel children like Shane are victims of the pandemic.”

Shane who lives with mum Joan, dad Glyn and twin sibling Robert and sister Lucy (5) has not met up with his cousins, aunts, uncles since lockdown and as Shane resides in the countryside with his parents having to drive outside the 5kms to the nearest park to allow him get a walk safely in his wheelchair.

The teenager is a member of Ability Equine Therapy at Batchelor's lodge but this has also stopped and according to his heartbroken mum Shane misses his horse “Pride” terribly.

Joan enrolled her son into horse riding over three years ago and she says finds it fantastic therapy for his muscle tone and strengthens his core strength, physical movement being an important part of his development as Joan explains:

“Shane does mobility class in his school which empowers his travel the footpaths with his teacher and allow him cross the road safely using pedestrian crossing.

“We were advised following this psychiatrist assessment to take Shane for his usual drive, let him listen to his favourite music in the car. We have been stopped by Gardaí on more occasions but when they see Shane and know our reasons for driving around in circles, they are always more than understanding to his needs.”

Joan works with National Ambulance Service and tries to work as much as possible from home but it’s not always possible with two other children. His parents have watched him getting increasingly anxious by the week and now suffers sleepless nights as Joan explains:

“We fear as his parents, his social skills are deteriorating due to not being able to go to school on the school bus with his carer Pauline and his school friend. Shane gets collected each day from his home by school bus.

“There are two school children in the bus heading to Dublin. There are five children with various levels of disabilities in Shane’s class so the numbers are small.

“Shane has been attending this school since he was four months old for visual therapy on his eyes and the staff at school are like his family.”