Rogart father hits out at Highland Council over lack of services in Sutherland for children with learning disabilities
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A SUTHERLAND father has accused Highland Council of failing children with learning disabilities living in the county.
Rogart resident Leslie Sharp, whose son has autism, said there were no learning disability schools, no overnight respite facilities and no learning disability youth activity groups in the area.
“The lack of services for learning disabled children in Sutherland is astonishing”, he said. “The county seems to get continually discarded as irrelevant to Highland Council’s priorities.”
He has flagged up his concerns to local councillors and MSPs, but is not satisfied with the responses he has received.
Mr Sharp, who works in the marine industry, said his child had been home schooled during lockdown with limited support.
This prompted him to submit a Freedom of Information request to the local authority in a bid to officially ascertain the services available.
The nearest learning disability schools are St Duthus in Tain and St Clements in Dingwall, meaning Sutherland children are faced with a lengthy journey with diversions for home pick-ups.
“A journey of 30 minutes can easily take an hour or more, and for children with learning disabilities this presents challenges for safety due to behaviour and frustration,” said Mr Sharp.
He added that he felt the authority’s lack of regard for children’s disability services was manifested by years-long delays in renovations required at St Clements and St Duthus - although it was announced last week that progress was being made at St Clements.
Meanwhile respite services are only available by referral at Oakwood in Dingwall and Thor House in Thurso with the latter only open for daycare due to Covid restrictions.
“For many in Sutherland the respite period would be spent driving which defeats the point of it,” said Mr Sharp. “The family services department used to provide transport but this is limited to overnight respite.”
He added: “There are no disability youth clubs in Sutherland and Caithness. SOAR disability youth club in Tain, which my son used to attend before Covid restrictions, has given notice of its closure and the only disability youth group which is due to start operating again is in Dingwall.”
Sutherland County Committee chairman Cllr Richard Gale said: "I do agree with many of the comments made about the lack of facilities for disabled children in Sutherland and that has been exacerbated by the Covid pandemic. Sadly the provision in Sutherland is just not adequate."
He has passed on Mr Sharp's concerns to Highland Council education and disabled services managers.
Sutherland MSP Maree Todd said: “It's vitally important that children with learning disabilities and their families are supported through accessible, specialised schooling and respite facilities.
“The Scottish Government has committed up to £1.75 million of funding for the Haven Centre – a multi-purpose facility for disabled children and young people in Inverness – which is due to begin construction later this year. The centre will comprise of respite flats, an indoor and outdoor play centre and childcare facilities.
“In saying that, I recognise there is a strong case for localised services in Sutherland to avoid long journeys to Thurso and Inverness. As the local MSP, any proposal or application for such a service would gain my full support."
A Highland Council spokesman said: “Appropriate adjustments are made to make sure young people with additional needs can be included in schools within their communities.
“The nearest special schools are St Duthus in Tain and St Clements in Dingwall and there is specialist provision in Wick and Thurso. Pupils resident in Sutherland have previously attended these on a part-time basis.
The rural landscape of Sutherland means a similar amount of travel would be required for young people to access a special school in the area.
“Provision of social care in Sutherland remains a challenge and often involves a considerable drive, either for carers or for children. Children with a disability often have more bespoke packages of care which are part of a self-directed support package.
"Although Thor House is currently not open for respite there is an outreach service for children in Sutherland."
