'We may not have known her potential' - mother says daughter with Down syndrome was given inaccurate school assessment

Susan O'Brien has raised concerns regarding the adequacy of assessments conducted by the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) for her daughter, Ciara, who has Down syndrome. Despite Ciara excelling in her education, achieving a distinction in her Leaving Cert Applied, O'Brien argues that the testing methods do not cater effectively to children with intellectual disabilities. She advocates for more relevant and adaptable evaluation approaches that align with the unique needs of these children to ensure their success in academic settings.

'The assessments done by the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) do not meet the unique needs of children with intellectual disabilities. We need more flexible and relevant evaluations,' stated Susan O'Brien.

'Ciara's success shows that with the right support and testing, children with Down syndrome can achieve great things, but the current system is failing them,' Susan emphasized.

Read at Independent