Hanafin faces FF backlash over autism education (Irish Examiner)
EDUCATION Minister Mary Hanafin was last night accused of a "lack of compassion" towards pupils with autism as she faced a showdown with Fianna Fáil backbenchers on the issue.
The crunch meeting is expected to see tension over the restricted use of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) in schools erupt again.
Ms Hanafin was thrown onto the defensive last month when former minister Mary O’Rourke accused the Department of Education of having a "blockage" when it came to helping autistic pupils.
With almost two thirds of FF backbenchers calling for ABA to be made more widely available, according to a Newstalk poll, Ms Hanafin is expected to come under pressure to change course at the party meeting.
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"The cordial quality of pear or plum
Rises as gladly in the single tree
As in the whole orchards resonant with bees."
- Emerson
04 Mar 2008, 1:14 pm
