Congratulations to Yasmin Phibbs O'Connor who recently won the Wicklow Final of the Someone Like Me essay competition run by the Department of Justice and Equality. The competition was about promoting positive attitudes towards different abilities and Yasmin wrote a lovely piece about her classmate Tadhg. Yasmin is going with her Mum, Ms Cheevers and Tadhg to the National Final of the competition this Thursday (10th December) in Farmleigh House in Phoenix Park. We wish her the very best of luck and hope she enjoys the day. You can read her award winning essay here.
Someone Like Me
This is about a boy in my class called Tadhg. Tadhg is 12 years old. Tadhg has autism and is deaf. When you are deaf you will face different challenges in life. The hardest part when you are a child is having to learn sign language without being able to hear. Tadhg uses a cochlear implant and a sound processor to help him hear. These make things easier but he stills struggles to hear clearly.
Our school has a class for children with autism. But Tadhg did so well he moved out of it and into 6th class permanently. Tadhg was in our school Scratch Club, where we made programs on the computers. Tadhg is a natural, I’m serious he is amazing. Just because Tadhg is deaf that doesn’t stop him playing games. Tadhg loves the rough and tumble games. His favourite part of playing games is winning, but who am I kidding that’s everyone’s favourite part. Tadhg is deaf and look what he can do. Although Tadhg is deaf he doesn’t let his deafness stop him from achieving his goals.
When I first met Tadhg I thought Tadhg wasn’t like normal boys that you can just talk to who will understand you straight away, but I was wrong. Tadhg is just like any other boy, he is fun, active and friendly. I hope when Tadhg is growing up people will treat him like any other boy.
Thank you.
Name: Yasmin Phibbs O’Connor
Age: 12
Class: 6th Class
School: Newtownmountkennedy Primary School,
Newtownmountkennedy, Co. Wicklow
Age: 12
Class: 6th Class
School: Newtownmountkennedy Primary School,
Newtownmountkennedy, Co. Wicklow
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