MARCH 30 is a momentous occasion for 22 children with special needs enrolled at the Intervention Center for Autism and Related Exceptionalities (iCare) as this marked the day their efforts for excellence and independency were recognized.
iCare, owned and managed by Renato Tangonan, is a school committed to provide efficient and effective quality therapy and educational services to children with autism and other related disabilities using the scientific procedures of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) as the foundation of intervention.
Last Saturday afternoon, special kids and their parents attended iCare’s third recognition day for early intervention, primer, intermediate and transition program levels.
Awards and medals were given to the kids with their parents standing along them with proud and happy faces.
They were also inspired by the messages and stories from iCare’s special guests: Brina Kei Maxino, lady with down who is now working as an assistant teacher and also a Special Olympics International Global Messenger; and Winston Maxino, a corporate executive and was declared as the Happiest Pinoy in 2010.
“We intended (to) invite them (in order) to inspire our parents and also to the learners with intellectual disabilities. To give them hope na kahit meron silang ganyang (that even though they have that) situation, dapat hindi yun ang dahilan para ma-disappoint sila (it won’t be the reason why they will be disappointed). But rather, they have to strive more para maging (so that they will be) successful sila. And, of course, with the help of iCare,” Tangonan said.
Among the 22 children with special needs, Tangonan said that three of them will be moving to a regular school as they already have the capability to manage themselves.
“Normally yun yung mga nakakapag-follow na sila ng (these are the children who can already follow) instruction, they can sit on the chair and work on the table even without support. I mean just give them the activity and they can do it by themselves. And then hindi na sila nagwawala (they no longer have tantrums), they can manage themselves. So with that, pwede na sila (they can now study in normal schools),” Tangonan said.
MeAutism: Work for SPED graduates
Last February, iCare started the creation of a business entity intended to provide employment for their special education graduates.
MeAutism, according to Tangonan, is made for people with special needs, to give them jobs that are within their capabilities.
“Kasi (because) as early as now, nag iisip na kami kung saan sila pupunta (we are already thinking where they are heading) after schooling. We will providing them employment plus possible home for them,” Tangonan said, adding that they want to assure the parents that their children will have a better future despite their special needs.
The business is also in line with their new course to be launched soon, the Transition Program II which will focus on teaching the children technical skills that will be useful after they will graduate and find work.