ASP Joins Forum on Education for PWDs

By: Tiffany Tan, ASP Board Secretary

As part of the 33rd NDPR Week Celebrations with the theme “Making the Rights Real for Filipinos with Disabilities”, the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) sponsored a Forum on “K to 12” Program and the Education of Persons with Disabilities. The forum was held at the CHED Auditorium, UP Diliman Campus, Quezon City on July 19, 2011.

The forum aims to sight Implications, Preparations and Directions on the Basic, Tertiary and Technical Education for Persons with Disabilities; in the light of the K to 12 Program. The K to 12 model involves Kindergarten, six years of elementary education (Grade 1 to Grade 6), four years of Junior High School (Grades 7 to 10) and two years of Senior High School (Grades 11 to 12). The two years of senior high school intend to provide time for students to consolidate acquired academic skills and competencies.

As part of its mission in prioritizing Early Detection and Early Intervention/Education of Children with Autism, the organization was led by Ms. Peng So (ASP-National Vice President), who also chairs the Education Committee. She was joined by Mr. Ranil Sorongon (ASP Executive Director) who also served as member of Panel of Reactors in the said forum.

ASP Executive Director Ranil Sorongon (middle)
with Gen. Eliseo Dela Paz (left) and Dr. Rose Aligada

Other Trustees who came to support the event were Ms. Evelyn Go (Treasurer), Ms. Carmel Almendrala (Trustee) and Ms. Fredeswina Javier (Trustee), with Ms. Rosalyn Marie Gison Sorongon (Special Educator), and this author.

From ASP: (from left) Trustee Fredeswina Javier, Treasurer Evelyn Go,
Vice President Peng So, Secretary Tiffany Tan, Trustee Carmel Almendrala
and Executive Director Ranil Sorongon

Among the participants were members of the Philippine Coalition on UNCRPD, Mr. Lauro Purcil, lead convenor, Mr. Ronnel del Rio, President of the Philippine Chamber of Blind Masseurs, Ms. Celia Garcia of PAVIC, and several members of the Philippine Federation of the Deaf.

Mr. Rizalio R. Sanchez, Chief, Information, Education and Communication Division (IECD) of NCDA, gave the welcome remarks and talked on the policies and mandates on the Right to Education for PWDs. Mr. Mike Limon, Assistant Chief-IECD of NCDA, served as forum facilitator. The invited panel of speakers were as follows: Dr. Yolanda Quijano, Undersecretary Department of Education (DepEd), Dr. Isabel Inlayo, Director, Office of Student Affairs, Commission on Higher Learning (CHED), and Atty. Teodoro C. Pascua, Deputy Director General for Field Operations of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Other Parent Support Organizations who joined the Forum were Dr. Rose Aligada, Board of Advisers of AD/HD Society and Gen. Eliseo Dela Paz, External Vice President of Parents Advocates for Visually Impaired Children (PAVIC).

Mr. Mateo Lee, Jr., OIC of National Council for Disability Affairs distributed certificates and tokens to the speakers and reactors and gave the closing remarks. Click here to continue reading on the Forum on K to 12 Program and the Education of Persons with Disabilities (Implications, Preparations and Directions) in line with the 33rd NDPR Week.