Ballinrobe school says ‘yes’ to inclusivity with new special classroom

THERE was a time in Mayo when those who learned, spoke or acted in a non-conforming manner were shoved out of site. Too often, they got ‘the dunce’s corner’. At worst, they’d be sent into a mental institution or a mother and baby home, where they would rarely see the light of day.
Irish society has thankfully changed, almost beyond recognition, since then. While the services for people with special needs can range from deficient to non-existent, there is at least an effort being made to accommodate these people and help integrate them with the rest of society.
A wonderful example of that can be found in Ballinrobe Community School, a co-ed secondary school that has just opened its first – and hopefully not its last – dedicated special classroom as a support for students who have special needs.
When this lowly scribe first set foot here as a student in 2008, this was not one room but two, floored with dull carpet, dismal double-glazed windows and sterile whiteboards.
Today, it is utterly transformed. The carpet has been ripped up for a gleaming new floor. The shelves are stacked with books, toys and other educational tools specifically tailored to the growing number of students with special needs. There is also a small dimly lit sensory space at the back for students who may experience sensory overload at any point in the day.

Heart of the school
The special classroom – Room 25 – is located right at the heart of the school, and intentionally so. Installing a modular unit (there are already two on the school grounds) would have been cheaper and easier. But that wasn’t the way former school principal William Culkeen wanted it done.
In the words of his successor, Julie Anne Collins, locating the special classroom just off the main foyer, near a junction busier than the Red Cow Roundabout, ‘has ensured that our students feel included and connected to the wider school community’.
Two students currently access Room 25, and it has capacity for four more enrollees.
All of this comes at a time when, by Ms Collins’ admission, the 820-student school is struggling to meet the demand for places due to its building’s capacity.
“A building should never limit a child’s access to education, but that’s our current reality,” she told those gathered at the launch of the special classroom.
“Families have recently moved to the area and they haven’t been able to secure a place here. That’s not something that the only school serving the community should ever have to tell a family.
“We envisage this class being full in the next two years, and worry about the impact this will have on families who are relying on their local school. Their child needs an education in their community, moving forward on their educational journey with their friends and family.
“Our long-term vision is to expand our provision for the development of our new extension to include three additional special classes,” she continued. “This extension will represent a major milestone in the school’s history, not only adding space but making our school a central focal point to fully support the diverse needs of students throughout our community.”

An indelible mark
Room 25 is the product of two years of work, planning and petitioning that began following an address to staff by Amanda McGuinness, a former board member and manager of Irish autism charity AsIAm.
“I remember that evening well,” recalls Ms Collins. “It was a cold, dark November night after a long school day, and yet Amanda’s words left an indelible mark on all of us. Her message was powerful and inspiring, and it resonated deeply with everyone in the room. It is that inspiration that led us to invite her back here today as we celebrate the opening of our new special class.”
Amanda was then given the floor. She spoke about being the mother of three autistic boys, and how difficult it can be to get a school place for children with special needs. Scarce at primary level, they are ‘like gold dust’ at secondary level.
“And it shouldn’t be gold dust. It shouldn’t be a fight that the families have to do,” said Amanda. “That’s why I’m so grateful to the school in Ballinrobe for what you’ve achieved; not only the beautiful setting, but that sense of inclusivity, from the moment I walked in the door, when I walked into the class.”
But it’s clear that Ballinrobe Community School won’t stop working to enhance its facilities, for its students and for the wider community.
There are also two stalled ‘emergency works’ projects to attend to: a safe floor in the school gymnasium and improved access to outdoor facilities for wheelchair users. Fundraising is also ongoing to build a new fitness gym on the school’s pitch across the road. Like the rest of the school, this facility will be open to the entire community. Because Ballinrobe Community School does not pull down the shutters at 4pm. In winter, its halls fill with the melodies of Music Generation and Ballinrobe Musical Society. The rest of the year, its pitches and gymnasium are used by local sports teams.
Julie Anne Collins describes her school as ‘the beating heart of the community’.
That’s no slogan, it’s a fact.