UP SLP Panel Discussion

UP Speech Language Pathologists (SLP) facilitated an a panel discussion on “Rehabilitation Science in the Philippines: Predicaments and Perspective” with the participation of ASP UP CAMP Manila, ASP Hagonoy Chapter and ASP Pasay Chapter last 06 April 2014 at UP CAMP Building in UP Manila. The event was attended by 58 participants with included speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, SpEd teachers and regular teachers.

The panel was composed of the following respected practitioners and health stakeholders:

Mr. Anthony Grecia, PhD (cand), MA (C.Psych), OTR, OTPR
President, Occupational Therapy Association of the Philippines

Ms. Ferdiliza Dandah Garcia, MD, CSP-PASP
President, Philippine Association of Speech Pathologists

Mr. Paul Christian Reyes, PTRP
Staff, UP-PGH Dept. of Rehabilitation Medicine, Physical Therapy Section

Ms. Maria Salud Mercado, NBCT
Exceptional Needs Expect, Center for Exceptional Needs.

Hon. Delia Ramos-Pabalan
PT-OT Board Member, Professional Regulation Commission

Mr. Marvin Galvez, MD
Representative, Philhealth, Benefits and Research Department

Ms. Jennette Rodriguez
Secretary, Autism Society Philippines – UP CAMP Manila Chapter

Practitioners and Health Stakeholders group

Participants discussed the practice of rehabilitation science in the Philippines and the different economic and political foundations influencing it.

On Philhealth: Dr. Anawi D. Tolentino, ASP Hagonoy Chapter President shared how some PWDs cannot avail of Philhealth benefits because they are already orphans and they are not beneficiaries of their siblings. These PWA patients may avail of Point of Care of Philhealth once they are hospitalized. Doc Anawi suggests that parents enroll PWAs under Philhealth therefore they are able to become member on their own.

On SpEd in Public Schools issue: There are still a number of municipalities which do not have a special education program in their district schools, contrary to the stipulations of the Magna Carta of Persons with Disabilities. The partnership with the Department of Education is important to addressing the educational needs of our children.

Parents must write to government officials and school administrators to address the needs of the community. The limited professional services -- from speech and occupational therapists -- are rooted in the low number of practising professionals; and can be addressed by the expansion efforts by colleges and universities.

About the author: Dr. Anawi D. Tolentino is the President of the ASP Hagonoy; and a practicing physician.

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Posted in: community,consultation

ASP Catanduanes - GOTIS partner for an assessment mission

(This article is a contribution of Pattie Kozma, ASP Catanduanes Chapter Vice President)

Representatives of Group of Therapist in the South or GOTIS arrived in the island of Catanduanes on 21 March 2013 for a much-awaited assessment and evaluation mission, jointly organized with ASP Catanduanes Chapter. Mr. Erwin P. Bote, Mr. Mike Kelvin T. Esguerra and Ms Hardecyl C. Quiron headed to the Juan Alberto Memorial Elementary School.

During assessment mission

Ms. Jeniffer Torres assisted the participants from various barangays -- MSWO officers, SPED teachers, volunteers, physicians, parents -- for the seminar; while Ms. Liza Molod and Ms. Irene Borja prepared the GOTIS to meet with the 55 patients, whose cases varied from autism to cerebral palsy, from intellectual disabilities to other conditions. Screening of each patient, did not fall short of their commitment, as they carefully showed the parents/guardians exercises and follow through methods.

Much to our surprise, the National President of ASP, Ms. Janette Peña paid our mission a visit. Apparently she had it planned to bring her kids on a short trip and part of that trip involved visiting the Island -- a very heartwarming and humbling gesture.

Our three-day assessment and evaluation mission came to an end, just as the dark clouds brought rain to the island. But as we move on to progressing on the work that has begun, the angels who made this mission a reality deserve our community’s gratitude.

• Mr. Erwin P. Bote, Mr. Mike Kelvin T. Esguerra and Ms. Hardecyl C. Quiron of GOTIS
• Ms. Cynthia Soneja, Ms. Liza Molod & Ms. Irene Borja of JMAMES
• Mr. Mariano Deguzman, Deped OIC-ASDS
• Governor Araceli Wong, Vice Governor Bong Teves & SP Councilors Ms. Shirley Abundo, Dr. Alvin Ravallo, Ms. Gina Pantino, Ms. Kristine Gamil, Mr. Victor Laynes, Mr. John Laynes and Mr. Alex Santos for sponsoring the indigent children
• Mr. Victor Bernal and Ms. Evelyn Teves of ARDCI INN
• Ms. Jeniffer Torres for assisting in preparation of the mission and itinerary
• Dra. Abella, Dra. Arcilla and Ms. Gie Laynes of Sea Breeze Resto for the lunch and dinner
• Mr. & Mrs. Donato for the tour to Bato and Puraran
• Ms. Kristine Arcilla Gamil for the tour at Mamangal Beach

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Posted in: chapters,community,consultation,education,regional,sped,volunteers

APCD conducts Post Yolanda assessment in Ormoc

Mr. Ranil Sorongon of the Asia Pacific Development Center for Disabilities met with the combined ASP Ormoc District 1 and 2 chapters last January 10, 2014 at Pongos Hotel to support family members who live with autism who were affected by Typhoon Yolanda.

Mr. Sorongon oriented the group about his role as the secretariat for the ASEAN Autism Network (AAN) and the APCD; and how these organizations can help the affected families.

He moderated a discussion of specific concerns and raised the following priorities: 1) Rebuilding of the public SPED center and replacement of special education materials lost in the typhoon; 2) Assistance in the diagnosis of children with autism and other disabilities; 3) Continued intervention for the children with autism, most especially occupational therapy and speech and language therapy; and 4) Psychosocial and trauma counseling for parents, caregivers of children with autism. A survey form was also distributed to determine how basic needs of food, water, clothing, shelter, sanitation of each household were affected, how the disaster and the aftermath affected the behavior and other areas of development of the children and how disaster preparedness was implemented before the typhoon.

Mr. Ranil Sorongon is welcomed by the leadership of ASP Ormoc 1 & 2 Chapters

Mr. Sorongon informed the chapter members that the Vietnam Autism Network raised $400.00 from their vocational livelihood projects as a donation to the Ormoc chapters.

Mr. Sorongon encouraged the families present to always keep hope alive. He is confident that we can all rise from this tragedy with the help and support of the national and local governments, local advocacy organizations like the Autism Society Philippines and international disability agencies like AAN and APDCD.

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Posted in: chapters,community,consultation,international,intl,regional

ASP hosts autism parents from Vietnam

The Autism Society Philippines -- through our National Office, Los Baños Chapter and UP-CAMP Chapter -- had a series of interactions with a nine-mother delegation from Vietnam supported by the ASEAN Autism Network. Vietnam is only beginning its journey in autism advocacy; and their exposure to the Philippine experience will hopefully inspire them to create programs to answer their countrymen's unique needs.

The discovery tour was arranged by the former ASP Executive Director Ranil Sorongon, who is now the Autism Expert for the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD). The APCD is a regional center on disability and development, established in Bangkok, Thailand as a legacy of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002. It was created as a collaboration between the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Royal Thai Government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Government of Japan¹.

APCD was endorsed by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) as a regional cooperative base for its Biwako Millennium Framework for an inclusive society in the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 2003-2012. ESCAP identified APCD as the regional center on disability for the Incheon Strategy to Make the Right Real, 2013-2022. In cooperation with more than 30 countries in the Asia-Pacific region, APCD is currently managed by the Foundation of Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD Foundation) under the Patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn¹.

The ASP leadership welcomes the Vietnam advocates

The delegation from Vietnam visited the ASP Los Baños Chapter's Autism Resource Center -- a showcase of grassroots ingenuity and cooperation. They also attended a seminar by Teacher Kate Reyes, arranged by ASP UP-CAMP Chapter in Manila. ASP Chair Emeritus Dang Koe, ASP VP Ces Sica, and ASP Trustee Carmel Almendrala shared their experiences in sustaining autism advocacy over the past twenty-five years in a brief round-table discussion. The trip culminated in a dinner hosted by ASP National at the Kabayan Hotel on 09 November 2013.

¹"Background." Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability, n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2013.

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Posted in: chapters,consultation,international

ASP meets with Japanese economist

Raphael Torralba and Cecile Sicam with Mr. Soya Mori

Soya Mori of the Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization (IDE-JETRO), a quasi-government social science research organization, met with ASP's Vice President, Cecilia Sicam thru the efforts of ASP Program Coordinator, Raphael Torralba last 15 October 2013, to discuss Special Education for Children with Autism.

Mr. Soya Mori is a Japanese Deaf Development Economist who is a member of the comparative research team, working on “Education of Persons with Disabilities in Developing Countries.” The objective of this research project is to focus on the equalization of opportunities and promotion of education of persons with disabilities through legislation, and reveal the roles of and problems facing the current education law system in developing countries.

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) stipulates that persons with disabilities should not be excluded from the general education system, should have access to an inclusive, quality and free education, and should be provided reasonable accommodation of the individual’s requirements. This research project will research and analyze (1) the education policy, including special education, (2) the education law system of persons with disabilities, including laws, rules and guidelines, (3) the actual situation of school attendance of persons with disabilities in general and special education schools, and (4) cases of litigation and complaints regarding education of persons with disabilities in each country to examine the feasibility of the rights established in CRPD. The subject countries are the Philippines, China, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and India.

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Posted in: consultation,international,uncrpd