MANILA, Philippines — Question: I have a nephew who is deaf and blind. He just turned three years old. He is such an active and sweet child. We’ve never had anyone with disability in the family so it is difficult for us and we want the best for him. I want to help his parents find a school for him. I already found schools that cater to deaf children and blind children, separately. Is there a special school that caters to deaf-blind kids? – Concerned Aunt.

Teacher Genevieve Says: The only school that has a program for children who are deaf-blind is the Philippine School for the Deaf (PSD) located in Pasay City. Previously known as the School for the Deaf and the Blind (SDB), it is the only school with a program that caters to children with dual sensory impairment. The school makes use of augmentative communication materials, behavior modification techniques and other specialized approaches to optimize the potential of this unique group of children.

PSD has a preschool program where your nephew can be enrolled in. PSD is headed by Dr. Yolanda Capulong, a seasoned educator and one of the pioneers in teaching children with sensory impairments. You may contact the school through telephone no. 8316431.

Children who are deaf-blind are not necessarily completely deaf nor blind. They can have varying degrees of vision and hearing losses, the severity of which varies from child to child. The key feature of this multiply-handicapping condition is that it limits access to auditory and visual information, the two senses primarily used in the teaching-learning process.

THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY INTERVENTION

In sighted children, at least 80 percent of their learning occurs through the sense of sight. In children who are blind, natural opportunities to learn incidentally are severely limited. Coupled with the inability or difficulty to communicate, children who are deaf-blind need specialized intervention to be able to integrate what they perceive through the sense of touch, smell and movement in order to learn concepts and explore their world.

It is important for early intervention to be given now when the child is in a period of critical development, what is called the window of opportunity, when the brain still has maximum potential to develop and learning occurs at an optimal rate. Even if the child is deaf-blind, he can still be taught concepts and skills that would equip him with the capacity to engage in the normal activities of childhood best he can. Early intervention can also support your family in dealing with the child’s special needs and help you explore options for further intervention.

You have been blessed with an angel, an “active and sweet” one at that! Children with special needs can teach us more than what we could actually teach them. Having a child with a disability in the family “glues” the family together with a sense of purpose to give this child all the opportunities it could possibly give to make him live as “normal” a life as possible. December 3 is the International Day for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). Let us come together to honor all PWDs and their families and in our own special way, stand up for our special learners who have brought so much meaning into our existence.

QUESTION: I recently passed the board exam for teachers. I am a graduate of BS Commerce and took up units of Education. I would just like to inquire if it is possible for me to become a special education Teacher? What is the process or course that I need to study?

You can become a SpEd teacher given your desire to continue enrolling in professional advancement courses in order to qualify to teach children with special needs. Knowledge and skill can be taught, but the desire to teach special learners and a positive attitude are difficult to acquire, if not inherent in the person. Expressing your desire to be a SpEd teacher is the first step in becoming one!

The next step is to equip yourself with the knowledge and competencies to become an effective SpEd teacher. You have to possess knowledge of exceptional conditions, alternative assessment and grading, behavior modification strategies, curriculum programming for children with special needs, designing an Individualized Educational Program (I.E.P.), and teaching methods and strategies for different kinds of learners, as basic competencies every special educator should know. You can do this by enrolling in graduate studies in SpEd or by attending post-graduate seminars and conferences in teaching and handling special learners. Depending on which area of specialization you would like to focus on, there are seminars and workshops hosted by different advocacy and professional groups, as well as government agencies and non-government organizations, that are open to all who are interested to learn more about children with special needs.

Lastly, gain experience and journey with the rest of the disability sector and advocates for PWDs in standing up for our special learners. One of the most important roles of a SpEd teacher is being an advocate for children with special needs.

Believe me when I say, you’ll never see the world again in the same light. The SpEd teacher sees joy where others see despair, plenty when others see a great lack, and hope when there seems to be none.

Welcome to the world of SpEd!