Getting To Know Your International Contacts

I asked Jill, my contact in Ireland, to answer this week’s questions. Jill works at Saplings Westmeath. There are five Saplings schools, each located in a different area of the country. Saplings schools are for children who have been diagnosed with Autism. Jill has been employed with Saplings for 6 years.

• What issues regarding quality and early childhood professionals are being discussed where you live and work?

Jill: When I first came to Ireland from the US, Ireland was in the midst of a national push to deal with an increasing incidence of Autism in Irish children. New schools were opening everywhere, and the Irish government was throwing tons of money into any programs that were geared towards Autism. I was living in Boston at the time and working with Autistic children at the New England Center for Autism (formerly the Efficacy Research Institute). I came to Ireland because I wanted to be on the cutting edge of this new mission to help Autistic kids. I wanted to help set up programs, and collaborate with other teachers. The first year was GREAT!! And then, suddenly, Ireland’s economy tanked. As the government scrabbled to right itself, they started making cuts. And the deepest (and fastest) cuts went to health workers and educators. We all took cuts in pay.....and any upcoming projects were all put on hold...indefinitely.

·         What opportunities and/or requirements for professional development exist?

Jill: Again, due to the economy, any and all professional development opportunities have been shelved for the time being. We do try to conduct our own in-house trainings, usually using online videos or other resources on the web.

·         What are some of your professional goals, dreams, and challenges?

Jill: As unrealistic as it may sound, I dream of living and working in a society that doesn’t deal with adversity by immediately cutting services to the people who need them the most! That is the biggest challenge for all of us who work with children in this country, I’m sure. Trying to make progress with our  Autistic clients, helping them get services, medication, or treatment, offering them a secure and stabile environment –it’s all so much harder than it needs to be because of the budget cuts. The fact that we’re able to help as much as we are is testament to the devotion and self sacrifice of teachers in Ireland. Just think what we could accomplish with adequate funding – THAT is my dream!