CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Department of Education (DepEd)-Central Luzon Wednesday, July 19, said that 178 Special Education (SPED) Program centers across Central Luzon are now ready for persons with disabilities or PWDs.
The DepEd-Central Luzon said that the Sped centers have been prepared in line with the celebration National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week.
According to the DepEd Enhanced Basic Education Information System (EBEIS), a total of 4,771 elementary Sped students and 1996 secondary Sped students in Central Luzon were enrolled during the school year 2016 to 2017.
DepEd-Central Luzon said that Secretary Leonor Briones highlighted the inclusion of children with special needs as among the primary projects and programs of the department.
The creation of the Special Curricular Programs and Student Inclusion allows the development of an Inclusive Education Framework (IEF), which will determine the basic education requirements and improve the planning and monitoring of related programs to better serve children with special needs, especially learners with hearing impairment.
DepEd-Central Luzon cited as an example four-year-old Raphael (not his real name) who has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD, a common behavioral disorder that make kids act without thinking, have hard time focusing, and become hyperactive. He is one of the 98 students under the Sped program of the Baliuag North Central School in Bulacan (BNCS).
Along with 177 other Sped Centers in Central Luzon, BNCS caters to all children with disabilities both physical and mental.
Sped teacher Rubyrizza Cruz, who has spent most of her teaching years handling learners with disabilities, said her fulfillment as a teacher goes beyond what is expected as she is delighted and inspired to help children like Raphael overcome their disabilities and limitations in life. She also acts as a coach for Sped students competing in the Athletics-Paralympics Category, bringing most of the PWD athletes to the Palarong Pambansa annual event.
“Makikita po natin na mas magaling sila sa mga regular na bata sa isports. Natutuwa po ako sa DepEd dahil dito sa Palarong Pambansa ay nabibigyan ng equal opportunity at may inclusive education para sa mga katulad nilang may kapansanan,” Cruz said.