Buddy Bear School gets our Number 1 - Donaldson & Elliott
A delegation of Unionist candidates visited the Buddy Bear School in Dungannon to pledge their support for the retention of the school, which has educated children with cerebral palsy since 1993. Amongst the delegation were, Kenny Donaldson and Tom Elliott, Ulster Unionist Party Assembly candidates for Fermanagh and South Tyrone.
In a statement, Kenny and Tom said: “We are all united in supporting the Buddy Bear School. Parents of children with cerebral palsy and other Special Needs should have a choice when selecting a school. Parents are entitled to be informed about the great work of the Buddy Bear Trust in teaching children with cerebral palsy.
“We have pledged our support for the Buddy Bear School and we will strive to honour our word when the Assembly returns. It appears that the Buddy Bear School is only able to help a limited number of children because the Education Boards and Hospital Trusts do not have to inform parents. We will look at this issue when the Assembly reconvenes.
“Buddy Bear crosses all political boundaries. Cerebral palsy can impact on any family regardless of political, cultural or religious background. We have no difficulty in working with fellow MLAs in striving to secure the future for the Buddy Bear School.
“We feel The Buddy Bear School must be protected until the Assembly is able to make a long term solution. A North/ South Conductive Centre of Excellence similar to the Autism Centre in Middletown may be one way of making progress. Children with cerebral palsy from all over Ireland are entitled to be helped.
“We would urge companies, firms, suppliers, clubs, organisations and schools to include the Buddy Bear Trust in their fund raising activities. We all know of the generosity of the people from Northern Ireland and we would urge everyone to be a buddy to the School.
“We had the privilege of seeing the school and meeting one of the youngest children, Ella from Coalisland. Who in the Education Board, local Government or the Assembly will say to Ella’s parents that she was denied the chance of independent living because the Education Boards went strictly by the book in not informing parents about conductive education. We all have a moral obligation to help children particularly children in need. What greater need is there than a child who can be helped but because of red tape the child is left imprisoned by cerebral palsy.
“We will look closely at the regulations when the Assembly returns to ensure that the Buddy Bear School is given every chance to stay open and that parents are fully informed about all the options. Surely common sense and decency should be applied when dealing with parents of children with special needs. The Buddy Bear School has been helping children for almost 18 years. It works in partnership with other Schools and has always welcomed Board Officers and Inspectors.
“We intend to raise this matter with the Members of the Council and the Members of the Education and Library Boards as I have no doubt they support the Buddy Bear’s work with children who suffer from cerebral palsy.
“We are all family men and we can only guess at the pressures on a parent when he/she learns that the child they have been praying for has cerebral palsy. Why does anyone want to add to his or her burden? Surely common sense demands that they should be supported in everyway possible. The Buddy Bear School is only providing for our children what is being provided in the rest of the UK. Parity of treatment for all is needed. Our children deserve the best. Boards spend over a billion on education each year, surely the fees of 5 or 6 children from the five education Boards is not too much to expect without a major debate. Three Boards have paid the fees for over 12 years so why the fuss now? Why are parents not told about the Buddy Bear School? It is not in competition with any school, Special or otherwise. The Teachers Unions welcome the additional resource. We will raise this matter at the highest level of Government.”
UUP candidate Kenny Donaldson indicated that he will be working closely with representatives of the Buddy Bear Trust in attempting to source grant-aid from outside funding sources.”
Mr Brendan McConville thanked the visitors for their support and interest in the school.
Brendan said: “We are delighted that the future decision makers and leaders of the Country have pledged their support for children who are unable to help themselves.
“Buddy Bear and the children it represents brings out the good in people. Hopefully those in the Education Boards and Hospital Trusts will give parents full information and not hide behind the letter of the law. It would be a shame if the work of the Dungannon people and the politicians and church leaders who helped set up the school was lost because information was not willingly given to parents. Boards are urged to send children with cerebral palsy to the school to remove any fear or stress from parents. We will raise this matter at the highest level for the Voiceless Buddy Bear Children,” said Brendan.