A YOUNG Drumquin girl, who has cerebral palsy was surrounded by her family and friends for her first Holy Communion recently.

Demi Lee Hackett, who is a pupil at Buddy Bear School in Dungannon, was guest of honour at the special Communion Mass celebrated by Fr Kevin Mullan, PP.

Family friends form all over Tyrone and further a field attended the service with Demi Lee.

Ildiko Veres, principal of the Buddy Bear Trust School in Dungannon, which specialises in teaching children with cerebral palsy was a special guest along with Brendan McConville, chairman of the trust. Demi Lee's classmates also joined in the celebrations.

After the service, Maire Reid, grandmother thanked Fr Mullan for organising such a "very family friendly Mass and service" which allowed family members and friends to join in the readings and prayers.
"It was a wonderful family service for such a beautiful special girl who has touched the hearts of the family and the entire community," she said

Miss Veres, principal, paid tribute to the dedication of Ms Reid and family for their efforts in taking Demi Lee to the Buddy Bear School every day for the last four years.

"It is a credit to Marie and the family that they struggled so hard with the Board to pay the fees to enable Demi Lee to benefit from conductive education at the Buddy Bear School. There are no miracles at the Buddy Bear School. Success is achieved by hard dedicated work by the child and the conductor and the family at home."

CHOCOLATE BUTTONS

"Demi Lee can now walk with the help of a special walking frame and can initiate steps. Demi Lee no longer has to eat mashed or liquidised food as she has been taught to chew.

"We take these actions for granted but for a child with cerebral palsy they have to be taught which takes time and special training." said Miss Veres who was trained in the world famous Peto Institute in Budapest.

"The success of the hard work by Demi Lee, Miss Veres and Ms Reid is very evident at this family party," said Brendan McConville. "Demi Lee can eat chocolate buttons. This is great progress for a child who resisted a spoon being put in her mouth to feed her.

In addition to her physical disabilities Demi Lee has a severe visual impairment, with which she is also trying to cope. Trust in her family and the principal is vital. Thankfully for the Buddy Bear Trust, Miss Veres has not only great talent but great understanding of the challenges."

TYRONE PEOPLE CHAMPIONS

Mr McConville continued, "The Tyrone Community, which helped raise funds when Demi Lee was two years of age can now see that their efforts are well rewarded. Demi Lee has made great progress and with the help of God she will continue to improve at the Buddy Bear Trust School in Dungannon".

Demi Lee with the help of the Tyrone Community was able to go for a while to Summerset to the British Institute for Brain Injured Children because there was no provision in Northern Ireland before the Buddy Bear School opened in 1993.

POLITICAL SUPPORT NEEDED

"We intend to raise the matter with the politicians and potential government ministers as it would be unforgivable and a great disservice to parents of children with cerebral palsy if the Buddy Bear School had to close because parents are not given all the information about the options available. The staff of Special Schools are to be commended for their professionalism and care of children. The Buddy Bear Trust is not in competition with them but wishes to continue to work in partnership with all professionals," said Mr McConville.

"The Buddy Bear Trust has been advised by Ann Marie Johnstone who sold her house in England three years ago to enable her to take her child to the Peto Institute to Budapest that the Education Boards do not give parents information about the Buddy Bear School to allow them to make an informed decision about the best type of education for their child.

"Mrs Johnstone was featured on ITV Newcastle and hopes to be on Stephen Nolan Show to highlight her case with the officers in the SELB that her child should be entitled to attend the Buddy Bear School.

"Mrs Johnstone has moved from England to Dungannon and her son is enrolled in the Buddy Bear School. She claims that the SELB has ignored all her requests to have her son placed in the Buddy Bear School. Mrs Johnstone simply wants the best for her son and to be given the same opportunity as Demi Lee and the other pupils who attended the Buddy Bear School" said Mr McConville.

"The Buddy Bear School was established by the Dungannon and wider community with the help of all the politicians and church leaders. Everyone worked as a family to help a few children with special needs to be educated using conductive education. It would be a great loss to the community and to children if the Buddy Bear School were forced to close because parents were not given information. While Boards have no legal responsibility to give information they have a moral responsibility to give parents as much information as possible. A qualified conductor, who is a recognised teacher manages the school, which has received good Inspection Reports from the Department of Inspectorate.

"We intend to ask the future decision-makers in the Assembly to ensure that parents of children with disabilities are given as much information as possible about all the options and therapies available including the Buddy Bear School.

We value the dedication and professionalism of teachers particularly those involved with children with special needs. The Buddy Bear Trust will continue to work in partnership with all those involved in the education and welfare of children with special needs," – said Mr McConville.

PUBLICITY NEEDED

The Trust is hoping that individuals, clubs, organisations, schools, pubs, hotels and businesses might organise fundraising events for the Buddy Bear Trust. The events would be publicised in the local press, which would help to inform parents of children with special needs about the school. It would also raise funds to enable the school to remain open until the Boards send children to it.

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