BBCY and ASP: Partners in Honing the Advocacy Skills of Parents of Children with Disabilities

By: Rona Diaz, Documentation Office BBCY Project

QUEZON CITY – United by their common dream of providing better lives for children with disabilities (CWDs), the Breaking Barriers for Children and Young Adults with Disabilities (BBCY) Project and Autism Society Philippines (ASP) embarked on another meaningful partnership, this time to hone the public speaking skills of both parents and staff. The training, organized by BBCY, was focused on experiential learning; enhancing speaking prowess through state-of-the-art speech workshops. Participants were artistically, charismatically and professionally molded to become effective advocates for their children.

ASP Chair Emeritus Dang Koe (inset) with the participants

The training encouraged the parents to be voices for their children. “This activity did not only teach us how to prepare our advocacy speeches or create presentations, but it taught us above all to be brave and articulately speak of the cause of our children before the public audience.”

During her lecture-workshop, ASP Chair Emeritus Ms. Erlinda U. Koe, who facilitated the training, imparted some practical advice on how to prepare and deliver advocacy talks. The knowledge provided was transformed into live demonstration, as selected participants presented their group outputs in the plenary and were given tips for improvement.

Participants during their group discussion

When asked for her objective evaluation of the parents’ aptitude in public speaking, Ms. Koe said that the parents’ willingness to learn is a good indicator that their communication skills can be developed, especially with practice and hard work. “I would like to see them going out in public, reaching more people and getting the limelight of advocating the rights of their children”.

Convinced of the training’s role in helping them fulfill their responsibilities toward their children’s development, the parents expressed their appreciation for the activity.

(from left to right) Mr. Randy Arcenia, BBCY National Project Director Ms. Visitacion Apostol, ASP Executive Director Ranil Sorongon, ASP Chair Emeritus Dang Koe and BBCY Vice Director Hazel Joy Borja

ASP Executive Director Mr. Ranil Sorongon capped off the training by orienting the participants on the R.A. 9442 and the compliance of Mercury Drugstores with the 20 percent purchase discount for their children’s medicines.