Some of the pupils who benefit from the ASD Unit at St Michael's NS, Castlepollard.

Festive fundraiser for Castlepollard ASD Unit

Published: Sun 3 Dec 2023, 11:00 AM

By Sinéad Devine (mother of Jack)

Today in every community is someone on the autism spectrum, whether a daughter or son, niece or nephew. Few lives are not touched by autism.

I am writing on behalf of the families and staff of the boys who attend the ASD Unit at St Michael’s NS, Castlepollard. Such units are the heart of our children’s development, inclusion and learning.

With that being said, we are hosting a tractor run fundraiser in Castlepollard on Saturday December 16 at 6pm. All donations on the night will go directly to the Autism Unit.

It will be a fun night out for the whole family; Mr and Mrs Claus will arrive on a horse drawn sleigh to meet the children, and the Grinch might also show up!

Tea, coffee and cakes will be offered for refreshment.

The tractors will parade around the town, and the one with the best decorations and lights will win a prize. A sensory room has been provided at Castlepollard GAA hall for anyone who needs it.

A raffle with fantastic prizes is also promised, along with lots more on the night.

The reason we are hosting this fundraiser is to support the school further and enable them to provide regular activities and experiences that will benefit the pupils as they progress and ready themselves for the future.

While the school receives funding from the Dept of Education, more is always required, particularly in the current climate. The school organises therapies such as horse riding, yoga and swimming lessons, and there are further plans to broaden the variety of activities – but transport costs have hampered those.

While we are delighted with the new modular building opened last June, we are conscious of the cost of sensory equipment which evolves and changes as our children grow.

At school, the boys have access to a sensory ball-pit which was part funded by the parents association, Westmeath Hunt and Collinstown Farmers Market.

We thank sincerely each of those groups for their generosity, as the facility is essential for the boys to regulate, which in turn allows them to learn.

As a mother to one of the 12 boys who attend the unit, I know the world can be a scary place for our children. With added challenges such as sensory processing disorder, developmental delays or being non-verbal, life on the spectrum can be tough, particularly when it comes to communicating everyday needs. To know they are in a safe environment that is meeting their needs is priceless.

The boys have support from the principal, their teachers and SNAs, and we thank them for all the work they do in caring for our children. The added therapies and equipment in the classroom are vital to support the children’s individual and complex needs, which is why we need your help.

Please come and support us on the night for a very worthy cause. We look forward to seeing you all.

Comments from families

Ollie’s mother: Ollie enrolled in St Michael’s ASD unit three weeks after receiving his diagnosis. He went from a boy who struggled with emotional regulation and making friends to a happy, social boy thriving and excelling way more than we could ever imagine. We owe so much to his teachers and SNAs, who have nutured and help him blossom.

Harry’s mother: This is Harry’s first year in the St Michael’s NS ASD unit and he has managed to overcome a lot of challenges. We would be lost without this unit, amazing teachers and SNAs. Our son comes home with a smile every day because he has people who understand him and his quirks.

Gage’s mother: Gage is young boy who didn’t have any school available for him in his own town, Mullingar. St Michael’s opened their school to Gage and because of the work his teacher and SNAs have put in, Gage has become this strong amazing young man.

Liam’s mother: Since joining the unit, Liam has achieved more than I could ever have imagined. He went from being non-verbal to verbal and is learning so many new life skills. He has made some lovely new friends and he runs into school so happy every morning. I can never thank the staff enough for the work they do every day.

Oscar and Ross’s mother: Oscar and Ross have come on so well in their years at St Michael’s ASD unit. We were divided as a family till this unit opened; now they can be in their own community with their siblings and start to make friends.

Conor’s mother: Conor has thrived at the St Michael’s NS ASD unit. He has overcome so many challenges he faced and we are so proud of the progress he is making. We are so thankful for all the support from his teachers and SNAs.

Patrick’s mother: Patrick goes between mainstream and the ASD unit as he needs some extra supports. The unit provides more one to one time for him and gives him the space he needs to decompress when overwhelmed. We are so lucky to have these services available to us so close to home.