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NCR, Philippines |
October - December 2007 |
Volume V, No.4 |
ISSN 1656-0620 |
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Municipality trains community on management
of children with disabilities (CWDs)
By Angelie D. Tabuno
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Kiangan, Ifugao – The Municipal Early Childhood Care and Development Coordinating Committee (MECCDCC) sponsored a two day training-seminar to Barangay Health Workers, Day Care Workers, parents and families of children with disabilities (CWDs) last March 1-2, 2007. According to Municipal Mayor Albert Indunan, the prevalence of children with disabilities such as cerebral palsy, downs syndrome, mental retardation and sensory impairments in the municipality is at an alarming rate. Based on records, a total of 10% of its population of about 15,000 is affected with a number of cases still unreported. The seminar is in support to the ECCD’s objective to provide early identification, intervention and referral to developmental disorders and disabilities. With this, the training aimed to educate the community on the causes and possible interventions for disability. This initiative will hopefully contribute to the development of CWDs into productive adults and members of the society and to capacitate families and service providers in caring for them.
The Regional Committee for the Welfare of Children (RCWC) in coordination with the Stimulation Therapeutic Activities Center (STAC), an NGO member of the Regional Sub-Committee for the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities (RSCWPWD) served as Resource Persons.
Highlights of the training included the orientation of the community on the developmental stages of children from zero to six years of age and the roles and responsibilities of the community by Ms. Angelie Tabuno, Regional ECCD Coordinator of CAR. The facilitators from STAC: Ms. Maria Liza S. Garcia, Physical Therapist; Ms. Fleurdeliza B. Nawew, Special Education Teacher; Mr. Sonny Jim Sali, Occupational Therapist discussed the various categories of disabilities, causes, manifestations and symptoms, prevention and intervention for disabilities.
The advocacy for parents to subject their children for New Born Screening, a clinical test conducted from blood samples of newborns at a certain stage and time to identify potential metabolic disorders that may cause disability, mental retardation and even death was stressed during the sessions.
The training also provided an actual demonstration of therapeutic exercises to rehabilitate and strengthen the physical or sensory impairment of the CWDs. The training of DCWs on special education and behavioral modification techniques opened learning opportunities for CWDs in the day care centers. These contributed to the empowerment of and capacitating the CWD to develop personal esteem in improving their lives independently. Generally, the participants developed a better understanding on the misconceptions and discrimination of the society towards disability caused by cultural beliefs and traditions, wrong upbringing and ignorance.
The results of the training further inspired the municipality led by the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer (MSWDO), Ms. Tina Talosig to push through with the proposed establishment of a Community–Based Rehabilitation (CBR) and SPED Centers, intensify networking and linkaging for financial and rehabilitation assistance, as well as localize an organization of PWDs who will lobby for services and benefits. |
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