Riain Verdon attends pre-school in Enable Ireland Sandymount. He is a happy, playful child who will celebrate his fifth birthday next month.

Riain’s day begins when he is picked up from his home in Dundrum by coach and brought to Sandymount. He shares a classroom with 11 other children: six able bodied boys and girls from the immediate area together with six children with disabilities from the wider south Dublin area. All the children play and learn together with three teachers on hand to ensure each child gets their full attention.

Riain is very happy coming to Enable Ireland every day. On Fridays he loves going to the pool next door and swimming with his mum. Riain was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy from a very young age and also has a learning disability. The support services in Sandymount mean Riain gets all the help in needs in terms of physiotherapy and occupational therapy.

Riain’s mother Lisa is delighted with the progress he has made since he started pre-school three years ago. Early diagnosis of his condition and a swift introduction to Enable Ireland by doctors in Holles Street where Riain was born means he enjoys, much like any other four year old, a full and active life.

His term in Sandymount is coming towards the end (Riain will attend a Junior Infant’s school in Ballsbridge in September, but will continue to receive therapy and treatment in Sandymount). Leaving Sandymount will be a wrench for both Lisa and her son. Lisa has made friends with other mothers who come to the school. However, she is happy in the knowledge that Enable Ireland will still be very much part of Riain’s life for many years to come.

Above: Riain with his mum Lisa in Enable’s Sandymount centre.

Killian Pugh from Sandymount has been attending Enable Ireland since last September. Three mornings a week his mother brings him the short distance from Park Avenue for the pre-school créche service.

Like Riain’s class, Killian’s is also fully integrated. He is able-bodied and his classmates are able-bodied as well as disabled. Not yet three years of age, Killian is another child who loves his time in Enable Ireland. His day is filled with play and activities of all kinds with a break at mid-morning for some munchies. Killian will probably enjoy another two years in Enable Ireland before beginning in a nearby primary school.

For his mother Theresa, Enable Ireland is as much a pleasure as it obviously is for Killian. In fact, Killian is her fourth child to have passed through the doors of Enable Ireland, Sandymount.

Theresa cites a number of reasons why she keeps bringing her children here. “I love the noise in this place,” she says. “You sense the happy atmosphere as soon as you come in. You never see a grumpy face and the most common sound you hear is laughter. The atmosphere is really good and you can tell from looking at all the children’s faces how glad they are to be coming here. It’s a lovely, lively centre and I have to say all of it is down to the staff. They are terrific with the kids and very personable with all the parents who come in.”

Theresa Pugh considers herself very fortunate to have so many children come to Enable Ireland. Through word of mouth from parents, the Sandymount Centre has little need to advertise. The current waiting list stands at two years for its pre-school facilities.

Above: Killian presents his mum with a gift bouquet he made for Mother’s Day.