Cork woman reveals the invaluable support of Special Needs Assistants

A young Irish woman has spoken about the importance that Special Needs Assistants have played in her education as she graduated from college today. 

Jessica Ní Mhaoláin shared a moving post on Facebook which has received over 24 thousand reactions at the time of writing. 

"Tomorrow morning at 10am I will be conferred with a Masters in Government in UCC," begins the eye-opening Facebook status. 

"This is my second conferring in two years – the first was for my Bachelors of Science in Public Health in 2014. I'm 24, and have spend 20 years of my life in full time education. This all sounds like a normal story doesn't it? But I've left out one key fact: I had the help of an SNA for half of my full time education in Ireland."

The 24-year-old was born with a vision impairment called Occulocutaneous Albinism which means she can only see five feet ahead of her. 

The Cork native revealed that her disorder meant that education became near impossible for her as a child. 

"Imagine yourself sitting in a classroom, surrounded by other students and a teacher writing about a history lesson or an Irish verb on the chalkboard. All very normal isn't it? Now close your eyes, imagine what it would be like to rely only on sound for your education.

"Relying only on sound to learn how to spell, add and subtract, read, and write. Because that's what I had to do, until SNA's were introduced by the Minister for Education in 1999 – which was Micheál Martin."

Jessica went on to discuss the invaluable support Special Needs Assistants gave her throughout her education. 

"When I eventually got the invaluable resource of an SNA's help, I had the help to do things I couldn't because of my sight: notes, explanations, descriptions of what was going on in class.

"Simply put, I would not have finished primary school without the help of my SNA. I definitely would not have sat either my Junior or Leaving Cert without an SNA.

"Every child has a right to education, and it's near impossible for a child to learn if they rely on sound alone.What is wrong with this society when it is deemed ok for a SENO or Department official to cut an SNA from a child for the sake of a financial bottom line?

"Because while I'm graduating tomorrow morning, there will be children and parents in Cork who were where my parents once were. And they will be wondering whether their child will achieve an education like I have, because an SNA and a chance to learn equally as others do has been taken away from them for the sake of saving money."

And it seems Jessica's post has struck a chord as the post continues to garner a huge social media reaction.