Dimalanta: Opening remarks

RADIANCE is the brightness of light. When all seems bleak, there is a glimmer of hope, there is a stream of light, at the end of the tunnel, one experiences the warmth and radiance of the sun’s rays.

This is how it is with special children. When parents learn that their child is special, everything looks dark. One logs into the internet to find out what the special condition is all about.

Post your reaction to the Manila hostage crisis

One questions God. Why me? What am I to do?

One asks others.

One struggles to paint a picture, mold the clay, catch the shadow, in an effort to grasp and understand the new reality.

In searching for answers, one consults a DREAM TEAM – a developmental and behavioral pediatrician who refers the child to a physical therapist, and/or an occupational therapist, and/or a speech therapist. Then one gets a special education (SPED) assessment.

The initial comprehensive evaluations are followed by sessions for therapy needed. Therapists and teachers design individual programs to improve daily living skills, speech and language.

Training for telling the adults what you need. Learning how to eat. Going to the toilet. Socializing.  Sharing food and toys.

The whole family adjusts. Schedules are arranged. The grandparents help. The parents juggle schedules. The siblings give way.  The care givers multiply in number to include all people who care.

Diets are studied. Supplements like cod liver oil and colostrum are considered. Medication is evaluated.

In this age where the buzz word is INCLUSION, the special child is welcomed into a dance therapy class like in “A Child’s DREAM…To Dance!”, where he is taught by Teacher Cherry T. Velarde-Mactal, and where he follows the hip-hop dance routine of the normal child, or the ballet instructions of a similarly aged child who has been to ballet class.

INLCUSION in photography workshops & contests. Congratulations to Onel Gundran (daughter of Autism Society of the Philippines – Baguio Chapter President Jenny Gundran) who won first prize in the recently concluded Baguio 101 Photography Contest.

INCLUSION in sports, like the Special Olympics Philippines.

INCLUSION in school. This is what we aim to focus on. After the special education (SPED) assessment, and SPED sessions, our objective is to mainstream the special child in regular school.

INCLUSION in the play ground. As Fr. Gerardo Costa has psychologists and play therapists at Sunflower Children’s Home.

INCLUSION in children’s parties.

INCLUSION in family reunions.

INCLUSION at mass and worship services.

INCLUSION in life.

If you have children who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, behavioral problems, cerebral palsy, developmental language disorders, down syndrome, hearing & vision problems, learning disabilities, mental retardation, sensory impairments or a child who is gifted, bring them to A Child’s DREAM (Developmental Rehabilitative Early Assessment & Management), Baguio City’s first therapy clinic for special children, registered with the Securities & Exchange Commission since 2003.

Let us help you see the light. Bask in the radiance of knowing how you can integrate your child into society. Text 0917-8119032. Email info@achildsdream.ph. Visit www.achildsdream.ph today!