Educating out of school Children with Disabilities

After scheduling another batch of children who underwent developmental assessment last September ubder a developmental psychologist, 50 children were diagnosed of having a disability majority of whom are with autism and needs behavioral therapy. 

Thus October, the Las Pinas Persons with Disability Federation Inc [LPPWDFI) officers together with facilitators on the project Education children with disabilities through the Community Based Enrichment Program (CBEP attended a 2 day Capacity Building Activity on) Childs Rights Based Approach. The activity was hosted by Asmae in partnership with LPPWDFI as part of the project CBEP Phase II. The 2 day activity was participated by 4 city federation in the National Capital Region namely Quezon City, Mandaluyong City, Valenzuela City and Las, Pinas City. Each city had representatives from their city federation and Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO). The first day learnings included the Human rights principles and discussions on the rights of a whikd as mentioned in the UN Convention on the rights of a Child.  , participants also learned about the 4 pillars in child's rights which are Survival, Development, Participation and Protection. In making programs for children it is important to use these pillars vis a vis the principles in child's rights which are non discrimination, survival and development, participation and the best interest of tge child.

In the second day, the participants learned about that in making programs for children, the Child Rights Situational Analysis is very important. And in order to see the situation if children several tools xqn be used and one of them is the Causal Analysis tool. The attendees were taught how to make a problem tree to see the root cause of an issue and later will make a Solution tree out if it,

At the end of the 2bd day training a workshop was held wherein the 4 cities were to identify a problem of children with disabilities based on the 4 pikkars'Survivak, Development, Protection and Participation, LPPWDFI chose the problem on Survival which states that BOT ALL CHILDREN WITH DISABILITY CAN ACCESS HEALTH SERVICES and tthe following reasons we're identified by the griup' 1. Lack of fqmily support, 2. Late detection of disability of the child and 3rd lack of info regarding health services available in the community. LPPWDFI chose tobakyze the cause of late detection of disability among children and found the following reasibs' parents are not aware of the red flags using the develoental milestones if children. The availability of a develoental pedia for the assessment of these children is another reason. The high cost of developmental assessment is also a reason. This is why LPPWDFI is having batches of children suspected of having a disability is assessed by a developmental pedia so that we can create a referral pathway for them to access the health services they need and address their health concerns  so that children with disabilities can claim theirs to survival and development and later become active members of the society. s

The Las Pinas Persons with Disability Federation Inc (LPPWDFI)  since the time we launched the project to stakeholders in Las, Pinas City, 2 barangays have adopted the Community Based Enrichment Program and has enlisted 17 children with disabilities in Barangay Pamplona Uno and 18 children with disabilities in Barangay Pamplona, Dos. LPPWDFI has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with each Barangay together with a teacher facilitator who have undergone training under the CBEP Program by LPPWDFI.

LPPWDFI monitors the activities done in these 2 classrooms by means of a monthly mm coordination meeting with facilitators. The children in these classrooms undergo inclusive activities specifically created under a module designed for persons with disabilities who have not attended school in preparation for entering Early Child Care and Development Program. In Barangay Pamplona Uno, they have 2 batches of children with disabilities, one in the morning from 9amcto 11am and in the afternoon 2pm till 4pm. These classes are done 3 times a week. Children with disabilities attend each class with their parents or guardian. On the other hand in a Barangay Pamplona Dos their class  is only once a week since they are still looking for a permanent area to serve as classroom in the Barangay. 

LPPWDFI  meets with the 2 facilitators of these areas to update and monitor learning developments of children enrolled in CBEP. These children with disabilities undergone developmental assessment by a developmental oedia as endorsed by ASLLPPWDFI to identify the areas that needs development. Samples of developments reported by facilitators are the following: socialisation skills, there are children with disabilities that before does not mingle with other kids but with CBEP they are now actively playing with others and participating in the class activities. Changes in their behavioral conditions like less tantrums and meltdowns in classrooms, and in their homes. Development in walking and writing skills were also reported. 

As of this writing, LPPWDFI has presented thus projects in 10 barangays, and so far 3 barangays have signified their intention to adopt CBEP in their area whike 2 barangays signified intentions to collaborate with each other so that they can serve more children with disabikities in their area. LPPWDFI continues to lobby and help support in the education of these children until they transition to regular schools. Disabikity should not be a hindrance in the development of these children. Education is for all.