Written for SA2Eire by a Member
We emigrated to Ireland in September 2019. My husband, myself, our 6 year old daughter Saphira, and our almost 3 year old son Keian, who has Down Syndrome.
Before we left South Africa, I contacted the Down Syndrome Ireland group to find out about schools and support services. They were incredibly helpful and said that most schools accept children with special needs, depending on the type of disability.
I started phoning schools while we were still in South Africa, as soon as we knew when and where we were moving. I spoke with Saphira’s school about Keian attending the same school as his sister, and they told me to contact the Early Intervention (EI) team in Ireland.
We went back to our doctor, explained what we needed, and brought Keian along to the appointment. The doctor referred us to the EI team, writing a letter on our behalf and sending it directly to them.
They contacted us about two weeks later for a consultation. They wrote down everything Keian could and could not do, and asked what areas we needed help with, for example speech and toilet training. The EI coordinator said she was going to put Keian’s name on the list for Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Speech Therapy, and assessments with a dietitian, as well as hearing and eye tests.
All of this happened just one week before lockdown. During lockdown they continued to contact us with questions to better understand the type of support Keian needs. There was a meeting scheduled to discuss his case, after which the support plan would begin.
A note on financial support: To apply for the Domiciliary Care Allowance, you will need a doctor’s letter stating the nature and severity of the disability. It is worth getting this sorted as soon as possible after you arrive.
The people here are very helpful and kind. Never in South Africa did we feel like the system cared as much as it does here. That has meant the world to us.
