The protest action lasted 24 hours in the center of Dublin. Parents went out to express their concerns about their children's quality of life, calling it a constant struggle. About 50 people gathered in front of the Ministry of Education to draw attention to the lack of places in schools for children with special needs. One of the mothers, Erica Bice, shared that she received a rejection from 12 schools for her five-year-old son, who suffers from autism and Down syndrome.
Erica said: "I need help; I want my son to be accepted into school." She expressed frustration with the authorities, stating: "This is enormous pressure and also helplessness; I feel that I am not a good mother because I am not providing him with what he needs. I need to go and fight for services, for places in schools. I had to exert maximum effort on that day, as he was born. This is a constant struggle."
Support for the protesting parents was manifested not only in words but also in actions: some parents distributed pizza and refreshments to other participants of the protest, which became a sign of solidarity within the group. Parents expressed concerns that this form of discrimination and the exclusion of their children from the constitutional right to education amounts to their children being deprived of school events.
Michelle Redmond from the Talaght area in Dublin shared the story of her son Charlie, who suffers from autism, but was placed in a regular class due to the absence of a special assistant. Michelle said: "He is falling behind; I see him lagging compared to how it was when there were four or five children, and when he received additional support." She added: "He comes home and says that the kids in school are teasing him."
These parents expressed helplessness about the potential delay in their children's mental and physical development.
