Alana Cairns, Andy Anderson, and Kerry Dennett started The Rainbow Children Facebook page to aid those caring for children with conditions such as Asperger’s syndrome, autism, dyslexia, and ADHD.

Andy, whose son Jack has Asperger’s syndrome, told the Reporter: “We set up the page as a support network. We found that there was a huge gap between mainstream and special needs education. Jack is able to attend Haldane Primary but there are issues of school that bother him.

“Simple things like fire alarms, busy halls and a break in routine can make him panic, so we want to raise a bit of awareness. I think sometimes there’s a bit of lack of understanding around these conditions and we want to sort that.” Andy says Haldane Primary’s head teacher Karen Hollern has been a massive help to Jack.

He said: “She really understands his needs and can’t do enough for him. By no means is this to say mainstream isn’t good or they have massive problems, it’s just addressing the gulf between the mainstream and special needs schools.

“For example, Jack is terrified of the fire alarm, by law the school have to have drills, so instead of him worrying constantly, she comes and gets him and takes him to a quiet space before the drill. She’s now trying to get a ‘nurture’ room set up in the school. It’ll be like a mini-sensory room, a quiet space where these kids can take half an hour to be on their own away from the bustle of the school. I think its an excellent idea.

“Vale of Leven Academy has a base already for children with special needs, I don’t see why primaries don’t have them. We’re trying to make school days enjoyable for kids instead of just coping until they get home.” Andy says the Facebook page has received support from all over the country and from parents with children who suffer from a range of conditions. The group say they hope the Rainbow Children can spark a change in the community to help the schools and the children themselves adapt better.

“It’s really encouraging to see. Our ultimate goal is to have schools adapt to these invisible disabilities, just like they adapt for children with physical disabilities. I know there have been so many cuts recently it will be difficult, but I’d just like to raise a bit of awareness with schools, teachers and other parents. We hope to meet parent and teacher councils from different schools in the area, we’re meeting with Hazel Sorrell this week and hopefully Terry Lanagan soon.

“There’s many small changes that schools could try that could make a huge change for children with conditions under the umbrella of autism or anxiety.

“We just want parents to know they’re not alone. If they have a bad morning, or bad day, there’s other parents there to speak to and take solace from other people’s experiences of the same thing.”