Center for Children with Disabilities Inaugurated

The inauguration and blessing of Los Baños Community Center, Therapy Intervention and Support Services (LBCC-TISS) for children with disabilities and their families located at the first floor of Lorenzo Meneses Building, Villegas Street, Barangay Baybayin, Los Baños, Laguna, was held on September 17, 2014, coinciding with the 399th Foundation Day of Los Baños.

The refurbishment of old municipal offices for LBCC-TISS is a joint project of ASP Laguna Chapter and the Municipality of Los Baños, funded by the Australian Government through its Direct Aid Program administered by the Australian Embassy Manila. The project was initiated by Ms. Riza Cansanay, past president and the current adviser of ASP Laguna Chapter.

Giving award to Hon. Mayor Caesar Perez

The program started with welcome remarks from Hon. Mayor Caesar Perez. He thanked Australian Embassy Manila for supporting the project and showed appreciation to ASP Laguna Chapter for reaching out and helping people with disabilities and their families. It was followed by a short briefing of the project by Ms. Catherine Lopez, chapter president. It mentions that the center serves a place where trained parents can hone their skills in implementing therapeutic activities for their children and other children with disabilities and not just providing therapy, intervention and support services. LBCC-TISS is also a model of cooperation between an organized parent group and the Municipal Council for the Protection of Children (MCPC) in providing support to families of children with disabilities in partnership with a local chapter of the Autism Society Philippines.

Ms. Georgia Lovell, Chair of the Direct Aid Program Committee of Australian Embassy Manila gave a message. In her message, she mentioned that the project is close to her heart, as she has a young relative that has autism. She also mentioned that project is in line with goals of the Philippine and Australian Governments concerning poverty alleviation and economic development.

The master of ceremony led the guests inside the building for the cutting of the ribbon and blessing, which was officiated by Rev. Fr. Larry Abayon.. The inauguration and blessing ended with a message of thanks from Los Baños Association of Parents of Children with Disabilities, Inc. (LB-APCD) President Genaro Calderon and the giving of symbolic key from Mayor Perez and Ms. Lovell, representing the Municipal Government of Los Baños and Australian Embassy Manila to ASP Laguna Chapter and LB-APCD.

The inauguration was graced by the following: Ms. Georgia Lovell, DAP Resource Officer Ms. Teodora Avila, Ms. Zoe Dutton, Mayor Caesar Perez, Vice Mayor Copie A. Alipon, Councilors Jay Rolusta, Julius Moliñawe & Jonjie Oliva , Municipal Administrator Atty. Genalyn Soriano, ASP Laguna team, members of LB-APCD, trainees and parents of Autism Resource Center and friends.

Ms. Lovell and her party, along with the ASP Laguna team, proceeded to Paciano Rizal Park, where she gave a speech during the program commemorating the town's 399th
Foundation of Los Baños and the annual Bañamos Festival.

About the author: Ian Lopez was the master of ceremonies for the inauguration. He is also a self-advocate currently taking up Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in University of the Philippines Los Baños. He creates maps to help people get to seminars and symposiums organized by ASP-Laguna Chapter.

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The Carol Kisner Project with ASP Laguna Chapter

The ASP Laguna Chapter is the recipient of a one-year grant entitled “The Carolyn Kisner Project: Training of Mothers to Become Para-Teachers of Their Young Children with Autism and Related Disability” from the International Centre for Disability and Rehabilitation (IDCR).

Carolyn Kisner project

The IDCR has members that span around the globe including the Philippines, Canada, Australia and the United States. Its global partners include individuals and groups from the disability community, academia and professional organizations.

ICDR Philippines’ mission is to promote the equalization of opportunities for Filipinos with disabilities. Its many endeavours are guided by the core values of partnership, respect, and mutual cooperation. It firmly believes that disability is a human rights issue and therefore a critical component to social development. The organization's motto is "Concordia Res Parvae Crescent' -- Working together to accomplish more.

This project with ASP Laguna was named after the lecturer, Ms. Carolyn Kisner, MS, PT who specializes in sensory-motor therapy and is the co-author of “Therapeutic Exercise: Foundations And Techniques.”

Under the Carol Kisner project, ASP Laguna will conduct workshops and train ten mothers of young children diagnosed with autism and other developmental disorders and help them equip and implement early home programs. They will be coached in implementing sensory-motor activities to a group of children with disabilities, including their own children.

This one-year program will opened with the selection of 10 mothers who are willing to undergo training and mentoring. Aside from lectures, they will also undergo mentoring in the implementation of home study programs and in training on how to be co-facilitators group sensory-motor activities. Thee group’s learnings in community-based rehabilitation techniques will be put into action from September 2014 to April 2015 -- a total of eight months. For more information you may visit: http://philippineworkinggroup.com/greetings/

About the Author: Ms. Catherine L. Lopez obtained her Bachelor of Elementary Education, Major in Special Education at San Pablo Colleges and her Master of Arts in Education, Major in Special Education at Jose Rizal University. She is the Job Coach for the office and messenger services of Autism Resource Center. She also serves as the President of ASP Laguna Chapter and cluster head for ASP chapters in South Luzon. She is a mother of a young adult with autism who graduated from UP Los Baños in 2017.

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ASP UP-CAMP awarded IBF grant

ASP UP-CAMP Manila, through the mentoring of Mr. Ranil Sorongon and Ms. Carmel Almendrala of ASP National, was formally awarded a grant by the International Bazaar Foundation to execute their “Early Steps Project.” A formal awarding ceremony took place last 10 September 2013 at the Department of Foreign Affairs Building, along Roxas Boulevard in Manila.

Mr. Ranil signing for the document of awarded IBF grant

“Early Steps Project” community-based rehabilitation project strengthens the chapter and empowers neighbors to take control over the therapy and education of children with autism, through:

- Provision of basic therapy and tutorials to children with autism, who belong to the economically challenged families in the City of Manila and nearby places.
- Provision of information and skills to parents of children with autism and volunteers on how to manage children with autism.
- Provision of opportunity to the officers, members and volunteers of ASP UP-CAMP Manila to conduct basic therapy and education services for children with autism.
- Build a family support system where parents, siblings and CWAs who are part of the Chapter are inspired and motivated by their peers.
- Working together to acquire additional support from institutions and non-government organizations.

The International Bazaar is an annual event, led by the Diplomatic and Consular Corps and local concessionaires are sold. The IBF creates a global shopping experience for Filipinos; while providing services to local communities through the capital generated.

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