MANILA, Philippines — Summer workshops can be productive venues for children with special needs. These activities can bring out the best in your child. So rather than just staying at home while school’s out, this is the perfect way to keep your child productive the whole summer.

Here are some summer activities that the Students and Campuses Bulletin compiled for children with special needs.

Start with art
• The Independent Living Learning Centre (ILLC) offers a visual arts (painting and drawing) workshop for the artistically-inclined children with special needs, from April 11 to May 27. They will be guided by a team of professional visual artists and special educators. Apart from honing the participants’ artistic abilities, work behaviors such as impulse control, problem solving, attention span will be enhanced. An art exhibit will culminate the course. Call 721–7405 or visit www.illcphilippines.com.
• Bridges Foundation, Inc. will hold an art workshop from April 19 to May 7. There are two sessions for ages eight to 14 years old, and for 15 year-old teenagers. Call 372-0752 and 372-0753 or email at bridgesph@yahoo.com.
• TW Community of Enablers is holding art workshops with artist E.R. Tagle and with an occupational therapist. Classes are on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Call 846-9668 or 0917-5368022

Special life skills
This special and life skills programs are all offered by ILLC:
• Augmentative Communication Program for students with no or minimal verbal communication skills, will individually and functionally assess the participants to help identify alternative forms of communication for them. Methods such as the ‘Total Communication’ and the ‘Picture Exchange Communication System’ will be implemented in collaboration with the students’ family.
• Culinary Arts and Food Services workshop aims to teach basic cooking skills. Recipes and modes of instruction will be customized according to the students’ interests and needs. Marketing, costing and serving may be included depending on the participants’ readiness.
• Computer Skills Program is developed by a pool of special education and information technology experts. A baseline computer skills assessment and an individualized education plan will be developed to offer the participants personalized instruction.
• Social and Life Skills Program aims to enable students to conduct themselves and relate with others in a more socially acceptable manner. Practical and enjoyable activities will be offered to foster friendships and to build important social and life skills.

Performance Level
• ILLC holds a dance workshop on contemporary and age-appropriate dance moves to enhance the students’ coordination skills and physical stamina. To boost the participants’ confidence, adequate opportunities will be provided for them to showcase their talents.

A karaoke and group singing workshop teaches children how to perform solo and in a group, and in the process enhance their self-confidence. A karaoke night will culminate this workshop. Visit www.illcphilippines.com.

Sporty summer
• The TW Community Enablers is also holding different sports summer workshops, which include basketball and taekwondo. Sports instill confidence, sportsmanship, leadership, and determination. Kids will also learn from the pros. For basketball they will learn from the Philippine Basketball League players. For taekwondo, learn from coach Nestor Madelar, vice president of the International Taekwondo Federation.
• Aqua Therapy is a good activity for children with special needs to aid restoration, extension, and maintenance of quality functions for persons with disability. Therapy Works, one of the pioneers in aqua therapy in the country is holding individualized summer swimming sessions. For inquiries, call 8530121. Therapy Works is located at726-D Quirino Ave., Paranaque City.
• ILLC will conduct a bowling workshop. This program was specifically designed by a team of bowlers and special education professionals. Apart from developing the participants’ bowling skills, motor and sensory experiences will be offered to help the participants regulate their behaviors and emotions. A culminating tournament will be organized to help identify potential bowlers to compete in the Special Olympics.