An Assessment of Needs (AON) is an assessment carried out by the Health Service Executive (HSE) for children or young people with a disability.

An Assessment of Needs is a separate legal process that is set out in the Disability Act 2005. An AON identifies the child’s health needs and establishes what services are required to meet the child’s needs. Once carried out, the AON will contain the following information:

• Whether the applicant has a disability.
• The nature and extent of the disability. A statement of the health and education needs of the applicant.
• A statement of the services considered appropriate to meet the needs of the applicant and a period of time which would be appropriate for the services to be made available.
• A time period within which a review should be carried out.

The importance of having an AON and a Service Statement put into effect in a timely manner cannot be understated. Research shows that early diagnosis of and intervention for autism, for example, are more likely to have major long-term positive effects on symptoms and later skills. The sooner that a young person’s Special Educational Needs are identified, and the necessary special educational provision delivered, the better for them.

The Disability Act 2005 provides that where a person (or a parent of a person) applies to the HSE for an AON, in relation to a specific need or particular service, that assessment must commence within three months of the date of the receipt of the application. The Act specifies that the AON must then be completed within three months of commencement. In short, once an application has been made, a statutory entitlement to have the Assessment of Needs carried out within 6 months arises.

If you have found your child on a long waiting list with no results or conclusion or if you have had a report carried out prior to 2023, it could be defective. The report should set out all your child’s needs and educational needs, describing in detail and clearly specified in order to assist your child going forward and also those who will be assisting your child.

Please contact our office and will assist you with getting the proper reports your child needs. We are here to help.