Seminar on Behavior Modification at Home and School

March 9, 2019

8:30am - 12:00nn

Learn the basics of analyzing inappropriate behaviors and apply various strategies and techniques to modify these.


About the Speaker:

Barbra Angela Dans Paguia graduated Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education / Minor in Special Education, College of Education at the University of the Philippines year 1984. She has units in Masters in Family Life and Child Development, College of Home Economics in the same school, year 1992. She worked for University of the Philippines, UP Integrated School, College of Education as Instructor 1 - Early Grades Teacher from 1985-1988 and became Instructor 1 as Preschool & SpEd Teacher at the University of the Philippines, Department of Family Life & Child Development, College of Home Economics from 1988-1992.

Teacher Baba as she fondly called is the Co-Founder and currently the Program Coordinator and Director of Bridges Foundation, Inc. She is also the Co-Founder of Links Learning Center (Pre-school).

• Co-Presentor: Mabuhay: Augmentative & Alternative Communication Arrives in The Philippines, ” 16th Annual Conference of Closing the Gap, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A., October 25, 1998

• Speaker/Lecturer for Bridges Foundation, Inc. and by invitation various Institutions on the following topics (1992 – 2011) :
   On Special Education: Augmentative and Alternative Communication for Individuals with Special Needs
   On Special Education: Structured Teaching
   On Special Education: Behavior Modification
   Special Education: Teaching Beginning Reading, Writing and Math
   Special Education: Assessment , Individualized Educational Planning
   Special Education: Art & Creativity for Special Children

• Workshop Speaker - Special Education 101 and Teaching Creativity , Early Childhood Education Seminars, University of the Philippines, Department of Family Life & Child Development, College of Home Economics; Summers of 1989-1992

• Workshop Speaker - Teaching Creativity In the Early Grades; University of the Philippines, College of Education’s Annual Summer Program: Trends & Integrated Approaches In Teaching The Early Grades; Summers of 2009-2016.

Seminar Fees:

Pre-Registration (until March 5 or until slot lasts)
ASP Member- P 500.00
Non-Member- P 600.00

On-site Registration
ASP Member- P 600.00
Non-Member- P 700.00


Seminar Details:
Date: 09 March 2019 , Saturday
Time: 8:30AM - 12:00NN
Venue: ASP National Headquarters, #9 11th Jamboree Street cor. Sct. Fuentabella, Brgy. Sacred Heart, Quezon City
Map: http://bit.ly/1LwgklB

Pre-registered participants may pay to Autism Society Philippines, Metrobank, Kamias Branch Account Number 047-3-04751874-2. Please email the scan copy of your deposit slip with the name/s of participant/s and contact numbers to autismphils@gmail.com and bring it on the day of the seminar. On-site registrants or walk- in will be accepted depending on the availability of slots. There will only be 70 slots available. No refund will be given to participants who do not show up on the date of the seminar. For more details, please call ASP at 02-9035496.

The ASP Education and Empowerment Program serves as a platform to educate Filipino parents and professionals on the various interventions, modalities and theories surrounding Autism Spectrum Disorder. Their application and implementation are left at your discretion. The views and personal experiences of the speakers are their own and may not necessarily reflect the views of the organization.

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Family Support Group for the month of February

ASPs monthly family support group sessions bring together parents, siblings and other family members to talk about their journey in living with autism. Participants share their experiences and draw enlightenment and strength from others going through the same challenges. We welcome members and non-members to this intimate gathering. New ASP members are encouraged to join.

Momie Peng with sons Patrick and Angelo

Our facilitator for this month is Ms Peng So. Momie Peng is a current ASP National Trustee. Peng juggles between being a full-time, hands-on-mom to her two gems on the spectrum, Patrick and Angelo; and, with her husband, empowering her other adult children in handling the family business. Peng has inspired many with her fortitude in guiding Patrick (who graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University) and Angelo (who undergoes functional life skills and pre-vocational training). By a fortunate stroke of serendipity, Peng was introduced to ASP and autism advocacy; and she has never looked back. Advocating for autism acceptance and inclusion has become a part of her daily agenda. She inspires others to think beyond the autism diagnosis and to enrich the lives of children with autism by gifting them with valuable life experiences.

Date: 16 February, Saturday
Time: 1:00PM - 4:00PM
Venue: Autism Society Philippines National Headquarters
Address: #9 11th Jamboree Street cor. Sct. Fuentebella, Brgy. Sacred Heart, Quezon City
Map: http://bit.ly/1LwgklB

Sign up for the Family Support Group via the on-line form below or call +632 903.5496. Only 15 seats are available.

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Posted in: 4parents

Seminar on All you need to now about Autism

February 23, 2019

1:00pm - 4:00pm

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects a child's ability to communicate and interact with others.  Our speaker is Dr. Ermenilda Avendaño who will expound on the process of diagnosing autism. This is also ideal for parents of children newly diagnosed with ASD as Dr. Avendaño will include all the facts about autism that every parent should know and explain the different interventions and what can and should be done at home. Parents will have the opportunity to ask anything they have wanted to know about autism.

About the Speaker:

Ermenilda L. Avendaño, MD, FPPS, FCNSP, FPNA, FPSDBP is a Child Neurologist and Neurodevelopmental Pediatrican.

She is currently the Chief of Child Neuroscience Division , the Section Head of Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics and a consultant in Child Neurology at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC). She is also a consultant at the St. Luke’s Neurodevelopmental Center at St Luke’s Medical Center, Quezon City. Dr. Avendaño is currently the Vice President of the Philippine Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.

Dr. Avendaño graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biology-Accelerated degree at the University of Santo Tomas. She obtained her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Santo Tomas College of Medicine and had her postgraduate internship at the Santo Tomas University Hospital .

She had her Pediatric residency training at the Children's Medical Center Philippines and continued as Chief Resident after her 3 years' residency. She completed her fellowship in Child Neurology then proceeded to a fellowship ih Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center.

Dr. Avendaño had a visiting fellowship in Child Neurology and Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics at Newcomen Centre, Guys Hospital, London . She trained for the Griffiths Mental Developmental Scales at Tumbatin Clinic, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Australia.

Society Memberships:
Fellow , Philippine Pediatric Society
Fellow, Child Neurology Society Philippines
Fellow, Philippine Neurological Association
Fellow, Philippine Society of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics

International:
Member, International Child Neurology Association
Member, Asian and Oceanian Child Neurology Association
Member, Association of Research in Infant and Child Development


Seminar Fees:
Pre-Registration (until February 19 or until slots lasts)
ASP Member- P 500.00
Non-Member- P 600.00

On-site Registration
ASP Member- P 600.00
Non-Member- P 700.00


Seminar Details:
Date: 23 February 2019, Saturday
Time: 1:00PM - 4:00PM
Venue: ASP National Headquarters, #9 11th Jamboree Street cor. Sct. Fuentabella, Brgy. Sacred Heart, Quezon City
Map: http://bit.ly/1LwgklB

Pre-registered participants may pay to Autism Society Philippines, Metrobank, Kamias Branch Account Number 047-3-04751874-2. Please email the scan copy of your deposit slip with the name/s of participant/s and contact numbers to autismphils@gmail.com and bring it on the day of the seminar. On-site registrants or walk- in will be accepted depending on the availability of slots. There will only be 30 slots available. No refund will be given to participants who do not show up on the date of the seminar. For more details, please call ASP at 02-9035496.

The ASP Education and Empowerment Program serves as a platform to educate Filipino parents and professionals on the various interventions, modalities and theories surrounding Autism Spectrum Disorder. Their application and implementation are left at your discretion. The views and personal experiences of the speakers are their own and may not necessarily reflect the views of the organization.

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Posted in: 4parents,4pros

Why Filipinos should say "No" to the "Boyet Challenge"

The Autism Society Philippines condemned the latest social media experiment called "The Boyet Challenge" (where participants mimic the title character from the soap opera "My Special Tatay") as thinly-veiled instruments of ridicule of those who live with autism and intellectual disabilities, just as the Philippines began to the commemorate the National Autism Consciousness Week on the third week of January.

This is in response to the increase of posted videos of Filipinos doing their versions of this fictional character with a developmental disability, which began in December 2018.

In January 2019, the ASP called out YouTube influencer Benedict Cua on Twitter for posting a "72-hour Boyet Challenge" video. The ASP appreciates how Mr. Cua apologized in writing and via video; and has since taken down the original post.

Since our Facebook and Twitter posts, this story was covered by GMA News, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Abante TNT, Abante VisMin, Remate, Yahoo News Philippines, PEP.ph, Coconuts.co, Kami.com, among others.

Our call for kindness has spurred questions and conversations via comments and direct messages worth sharing here.

I like Ken Chan and his portrayal. Why are you against "My Special Tatay"?

The Autism Society Philippines respects the rights to creative expression of performance artists, writers and producers of TV and film in the interpretation of fictional characters who have autism and intellectual disabilities.

We condemn the "Boyet Challenge" social media trend involving the imitation of a popular fictional character named Boyet, because it uses traits of persons with disabilities for the purpose of comedic entertainment and social media notoriety. Sadly, this includes Mr. Chan (who joined and supported the Angels Walk for Autism years ago) who often slips into his Boyet character outside the context of his soap opera.

Ganun naman talaga magsalita ang mga may autism. Uma-acting lang naman kami, kasi fans kami ng show.

"My Special Tatay" is an undeniably popular show with a wide audience base. When the show launched in August 2018, Ken Chan articulated his aspiration to be a "voice of people with autism". This made us hopeful that his portrayal of a man on the spectrum will inspire compassion and respect for persons with autism and intellectual disabilities as human beings, who do not deserve being spoofed in the name of comedic amusement.

We would like to share a list of honest and nuanced portrayals of characters with autism and/or intellectual disability worth emulating: Alden Richards in Eat Bulaga's Lenten Special "Kapatid" (2017), John Lloyd Cruz in "The Trial" (2014), Gerald Anderson in "Budoy" (2012), Terence Baylon in "Ipagpatawad Mo" (1991), among others. We are keen on watching how Arjo Atayde's character with autism in "The General's Daughter" (2019) will be developed. The Autism Society Philippines serves in an advisory capacity on film and television projects that will further the understanding of autism through media.

We especially commend actor Gerald Anderson for starting a foundation which trains dogs to serve in rescue missions and to act as service dogs to children with autism -- after his show ended and without the intention to promote his television project. He also partnered with Kiehl's Philippines to raise funds that will provide free therapy for children with autism from indigent families.

Wala pong masamang intention ang mga gumagawa ng challenge. Pampa-good vibes lang po ito.

Ginagawa po ang challenge para magpatawa. Bakit po naging nakakatawa ang mga taong may kapansanan na nahihirapan magsalita o parang musmos magisip? Hindi po makatao na gamitin ang hirap nila na pampatawa! Hindi po makatao na gawing katatawanan ang kanilang kaibahan! Para po sa mga milyong-milyong pamilyang Pilipino na may minamahal na may kapansanan, hindi po ito nagbibigay ng "good vibes".

This is a harmless social media gag. It has no effect in real life.

Here's an effect which can be measured by empirical data. With the popularity of the Boyet Challenge and its variations like the "Kapag lumingon ka ..." and the "This is my voice after watching #myspecialtatay ...", measured in post volume, likes, comments, reposts and number of compilations, it appears that it is now acceptable to mimic persons with communication challenges in the name of entertainment and social media virality. The term "Boyet" is now an emerging euphemistic insult for anyone likened to persons with autism and intellectual disability -- just search #boyet on Twitter.

As an ethnographic observation, the thousands of people who have posted this challenge expose a dark layer of society who think persons with disabilities are different, therefore less than them and are laughable. This perpetuates the culture of bullying that Filipino children and adults with autism and intellectual disabilities have to live with everyday.

This may be just a TV show or a way to rack up social media likes for some; but this is real life for persons with autism and their families.

We are free to express ourselves. We are protected by freedom of expression by law.

The freedoms we enjoy as citizens carry obligations. We should not abuse these freedoms by infringing on the rights of others to exist with dignity. Persons with disabilities are protected by the Magna Carta of PWDs. Republic Act No. 9442 (the ammendment to RA 7277) protects PWDs (which include those with autism and intellectual disabilities) against ridicule and vilification. Violation of this law carries fines and prison time. Pursuit of legal action is an option the Autism Society Philippines is ready to take as a last resort.

What can I do to help the #no2boyetchallenge campaign?

Send this FAQs to anyone in your sphere of influence who has posted a #boyetchallenge video. If you have made a #boyetchallenge video, delete it now. If you are a parent, please talk to your kids. If you are a teacher, please discuss this in class. If you are part of a student group, please create a campaign on campus. Take a stand! And read more about the Autism Society Philippines' 1Pangako campaign at http://bit.ly/1pangako.

There is no need to pick fights. Many who have participated in this challenge quickly recognize the disability slur once it is pointed out. Think of this as an opportunity to teach and inspire change. Peace to all!

About the contributor. Mona Magno-Veluz serves as the National President of the Autism Society Philippines. She engineered many of ASP's widely successful national programs and campaigns, such as Autism Works, 1Pangako, Project ChocolatA, Project GourmA, among others. She writes about parenting, family history and disability inclusion. She is a mom to three kids and a grandma to 12 cats. Find her on Twitter @mightymagulang.

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Posted in: media,myspecialtatay,no2boyetchallenge,social-media

National Autism Consciousness Week 2019

Angels Walk 2016, MOA Arena

Autism is a lifelong developmental exceptionality, which may challenge an individual’s ability to communicate, socialize and adapt to the world around him.  One in 100 Filipinos are on the autism spectrum, translating to approximately 1.2 million of our countrymen living with autism today.

The Autism Society Philippines is one with the nation in celebrating the Philippine National Autism Consciousness Week (NACW) to be held from 20 to 26 January 2019. This annual observance was made possible by President Fidel Ramos' Proclamation 711 of 1996 – in inspiring acceptance, accommodation and appreciation of persons with autism (PWAs) in society. The activities of the week promote action by the public and private sectors towards enabling PWAs to live with dignity, enjoy equal rights and access, function independently and contribute productively. We would like society to strive beyond “awareness” and to inspire genuine inclusion -- through acceptance, accommodation and appreciation!

"Pagtuon: Tugon sa mga Pilipinong May 'K' dulot ng Autismo" celebrates PWAs #Kakayahan #Kagalingan #Kakanyahan #Katalinuhan #Kapansanan.  We hope to inspire awareness, acceptance, accommodation and appreciation of autism in all sectors of society.  Public and private institutions are encouraged to spearhead creative activities, events and programs, towards building opportunities for our neurodiverse population.  We recognize that to effect the changes we need, we must work together.

Calendar of Activities

Template for the National Autism Consciousness Week Banner — http://bit.ly/2sobYIm

Calendar of Activites -- http://bit.ly/2QQpgXZ or see below.

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Posted in: nacw