Although May is Better Hearing and Speech Month, you can help raise awareness every day! Check out the website of the American Speech-Language –Hearing Association at: www.asha.org

National Council on Disability Affairs:

Persons with Disabilities finally get 20% discount from Mercury Drugstores

Starting May 1, 2011, Persons with Disabilities can already use their Discount ID cards to avail of the 20% discount pursuant to RA 9442 on the purchase of medicines and from all Mercury Drugstores Nationwide.

However, before the compliance of Mercury to the said law, the Food and Drug Administration of the Philippines (FDA) released a decision, finding Mercury Drug Corporation liable in violating Chapter 8 Sec 32 (C) of RA 7277 as amended by RA 9442 in relation to AO 2009-0011 on three separate counts of complaints filed against them. The resolution released on February 22, 2011, fines MDCI branches in San Juan, Cainta & Conception, Marikina P50,000.00 on each count of the violation and warns MDCI that any future violation may result to graver sanctions.

Mercury Drug Corporation, one of the largest drugstore chains in the Philippines, had earlier supported the petition of the Drugstores Association of the Philippines, Inc. (DSAPI) to prohibit the implementation of NCDA Administrative Order No. 1, Series of 2008 together with RA 9442.

Although MDCI will continue their support to the Drugstore Association of the Philippines on their petition to the Supreme Court to declare RA 9442 unconstitutional MDCI has committed to implement the 20% discount to comply with the law.

Procedures in ID Issuance to PWDs:

NCDA Administrative Order Series of 2008 (Revised as of March 10, 2008)

B.1 Any bonafide person with permanent disability or his/her caregiver can obtain an application form from either of the following registration centers:

• Office of the Mayor
• Office of the Barangay Captain
• NCDA or its regional counterpart
• DSWD Offices
• Participating organizations with memorandum of agreements with the Department of Health

B.2 Applicant shall fill up the form, attaches two 1? x 1? picture with his or her signature or thumbmark behind.

B.3 He or she shall obtain a clinical abstract duly signed by any licensed private or government clinic or hospital-based physician and attach it with the application form.

B.4 Applicant, care-giver or registration center personnel then brings or uploads whichever is applicable, the application form and clinical abstract to the nearest City of Municipal Health Office or its satellite offices or stations at the barangay.

B.5 The receiving health office shall screen and perform the necessary medical and other allied medical assessment they deem necessary at no cost to the applicant for the accuracy of the entries with the actual and permanency of the condition of the PWD. If PWD is not ambulatory, the receiving health officer shall do a home visit to validate the entries and disability.

B.6 If entries of the application form and clinical abstract match the actual health condition of the PWD, the form with all attachments goes to the Health Officer of the Main City or Municipal Health Center.

B.7 The City or Municipal Health Officer shall fill up the certification form which shall be designed, reproduced and archived by the City of Municipal Health Office and shll contain but not limited to the following minimum information:

1. First Name, Middle Initial and Last Name of Applicant PWD
2. Diagnosis
3. Complete Address
4. Birthday
5. Gender
6. Father’s Name
7. Mother’s Name
8. Control Number
9. Physician’s signature over Printed Name and License Number

B.8 The City or Municipal Health Officer shall affix the control number on the certification form and application form and sign the certificate of disability. The City of Municipal Health Officer shall then enter the duly signed certificate of disability to the Philippine Registry for Persons with Disabilities that can be loaded from the DOH National Office Website.

B.9 Applications that were disapproved shall be advised regarding the deficiencies and shall be allowed to reapply until complied.

B.10 The applicant or care-giver shall bring the duly approved application form and certificate of disability to the City or Municipal Social Welfare Office or NCDA for issuance of the identification card.

B.11 The nearest local Social Welfare Office or NCDA may screen applicants further and require a social case study if warranted.

B.12 If found to be a valid application, the receiving officer of the local SWO or NCDA shall record control number and issues ID to PWDs.

B.13 As to the disability that is not apparent, the establishments may ask from the PWD additional documents as proofs as to his/her disability.

C. Validity and Renewal of the ID Card

The ID card issued to the PWD shall be valid for three years only for the purpose of issuing identification cards. The first issuance shall be for free. For renewal due to expiration, loss or damage, the issuing authorities, Mayor, Barangay Captain and NCDA shall charge minimal fee for the new ID card.

First Organic Market

on

Saturday, May 12, 2012

TIME: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

At Baguio Pines City Lion’s Club

Governor Pack Road, Baguio City

Organic vegies, herbs, fruits, muscovado sugar, fruit wines, honey and organic ice

Proceeds will go to A Child’s Dream Foundation, Inc.

For inquiries, call 446-6121 or 639178119032

Summer is here! And yes, a lot of people are planning their most awaited vacation.  I, too, am doing just that.  Baguio is one place a lot of people have in mind because of its cooler breeze in the late afternoons ‘til early mornings, a getaway from the humid lowlands. Another option to alleviate the summer heat is the great wide beach. From my recent overnight trip in Puerto Galera a few days before the Holy Week, the beach front was way too crowded already. They come in groups:  the whole family (dog included), barkadahan, workmates, playmates, bosses, wanderers and lurkers.  But then again I still enjoyed myself… being mesmerized by the sunset , being calmed by the gentle waves, being barefoot in the sand, people-watching in their bikini tops and trunks, getting a taste of this and that, giving in to the infamous Mindoro Sling. It brought relaxation to exhausted nerves, may it be brief, I welcomed it with open arms.

Now in planning for a little trip, here are some tips I would like to share as per my experience:

1. Get-to-Know the target destination – Google it, read blogs and threads from online communities about it (its way informative and realistic than those provided by travel sites), ask people feedbacks. It’s wise to know the important details of the place before going there.
2. Always keep your sunblock and Off lotion handy – it is summer and if you are not careful enough  you would find yourself as red as steamed crabs at the end of the day. So bring the necessities: sunglasses, caps, sunvisors, buri hats, bandanas and sunblock to protect you from UV rays.  Ok drop the umbrella if you’re at the beach, it’s just not rightJ.  Ward off mosquitos and other insects with the magic of the OFF lotion, you don’t want to go home stricken with dengue or with red itchy patches as a souvenir. Oh and they come in sachets.
3. Bring loose change (in 20s and 50s) and coins – it is more convenient that way. You don’t want wasting precious time by waiting to have your one thousand peso bill changed. Five hundreds too.
4. Bring water with you all the time – avoid dehydration period.
5. Travel light – you don’t want to burden yourself with heavy luggage. Summer means thin clothes, shorts, spaghetti straps, sarong, slippers, aqua shoes.
6. Never ever forget your Camera – capture moments. It may be well ingrained in your memory bank but it sure is fun to share it with other people.
7. Buy souvenir shirts over key chains – I am making it as a hobby now. It is one tangible and useful remembrance of the place and of the experience.

My take, go go GO TO BOHOL…can’t take my mind off the pristine waters and white sands of the Virgin Island, and the kindest people too. Hey, it’s more fun in the Philippines!

(Shared by Jennylyn Sison)

There is no love, like a mother’s love

no stronger bond on earth…

like the precious bond that comes from God to a mother, when she gives birth

A mother’s love is forever strong, never changing for all time…

and when her children need her most,

a mother’s love will shine.

God bless these special mothers,

God bless them every one…

for all the tears and heartache,

and for the special work they’ve done.

When her days on earth are over,

a mother’s love lives on…

Through many generations,

with God’s blessings on each one Be thankful for our mothers,

for they love with a higher love…

from the power God has given,

and the strength from up above.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the Mothers out there! (^,_,^)

Now I can talk.

Now I can swing.

Now I can sing.

And wishing to learn more wonderful things…

Thanks to the people who care And think about our children with special needs.

Thanks to all the therapists!

A poem by Tony, a 7 year old boy diagnosed with PDD who has been receiving speech therapy for almost two years and receives speech therapy at school. (Brownsville, Texas)

When we think about our special needs children, we think of an endless list of issues. Most clients – children, parents, referring doctors, caregivers, and significant others – whom we have encountered at the center, would like to have their child talk, stay settled when seated, learn a lot, and be able to write. To present a simple and helpful resolution for these, I would like to focus on speech, behaving well in various settings and how an Occupational Therapist can play a big role to achieve such priorities.

 We need to understand factors that may influence the development of speech. Being visual in nature, we appreciate things that are seen without realizing what’s beneath. When teaching and treating children with speech delay, we think of strategies to enable them to speak. We talk directly with them but end up frustrated when we don’t get any positive response. Others present simple pictures, cards, or actual objects to develop their identifying or labeling skills. For some, this can be achieved.  For children with coexisting issues like behavioral, cognitive, sensory issues and neuro-motor (fine and gross motor) delay, this could mean a long-term and challenging intervention. Our role is to provide the proper occupational therapy assessment to identify the limiting factors of speech skills.

Various skills such as visual perceptual or cognitive, neuro-developmental & sensorimotor (fine/gross motor) processing, are all composite (but not limited) to communication development and are covert in nature. Unlike activities of daily living or self-care, work or play behavior (leisure, interests), environmental and psychosocial support systems are easily seen or observed (overt in nature) and are also important in the Occupational Therapy assessment. It contributes a greater impact to the achievement of speech skills. After competently assessing all these factors, careful planning of treatment and implementation will be employed. The following are essentials to effective speech development among our children:

“Effectively plan a simple routine during teaching or structured setting”.

Teaching opportunities are not limited to the center only.

For example in the house, assign an area (e.g. entrance door with chair and shoe rack) where you can adopt the “removing of shoes and socks” task that we do at the center before your child goes in to any area of the house. Ask him to “sit and wait” before getting his favorite things.

Rationale: The benefits of these simple yet substantial activities promote vocabulary development. Consider any repetitive or routine act, acts of discipline for compliance like lessening impulsivity or not grabbing things, to carry-out simple rules like behaving in the classroom, while in transit, or at the church, house or community. All of these can impact receptive and speech communication development, behavioral impulse control, attention or focus and concentration. If you are consistent in carrying-out these simple tasks it creates a great impact in the child’s general learning.  We tend to ignore the implications of these basic things. It is only when we learn to appreciate the simple attributes (e.g. settled in sitting and complying with simple instructions) in life can we expect to appreciate the greater ones.

“Mean what you say”.

Children with special needs can be processing a lot of information in their mind (e.g. people around, noise, physiological needs-hunger and thirst) and to add some instructions to carry-out something could be uneasy to accommodate or can even be confusing.

For example, when you state, “Remove your shoes”, make sure that the child will really do it. Many parents/caregivers fall short of this since they are the ones who are removing the child’s shoes. Wise advice, don’t steal the child’s opportunity to learn and do this. As much as possible, allow them to initiate the task. In case the child is not receptive when delivering the instruction, you can do the activity with him. You can guide his hands to convey the message “remove your shoes”. Assistance level is very crucial in teaching. For kids who are learning to be receptive and to speak, it is best to try using verbal instructions initially to achieve this level of communication. If he displays inadequate response, then give at least 10-15 seconds for him to process and respond to the verbal information before giving the next level cues through gestures. When response is not achieved, only then can we employ physical cues.

Rationale: We want the kids to learn and respond by displaying receptivity to verbal instructions and later express this in words (speech).  We also want them to respond by not depending on gestural and physical cue. It wouldn’t be a problem having you around as a parent in guiding them to do things but we must be very wise about this, what about in your absence? The child can be left inadequate doing their tasks (e.g. self-care, leisurely activities, play) and we don’t want that to happen. Remember that God made a wonderful creation including the brain – its wonders and abilities enable a person in life. In the medical profession, they always emphasize the principle of “plasticity of the brain”. The brain has the ability to adapt and impact other systems to be functional.

Note: Various Occupational Therapy approaches have been combined to come up with strategies/techniques. The principles stated are not limited to the examples provided but can be used with other treatment interventions.

Our team at A Child’s DREAM Foundation, Inc. is always happy to share our skills and abilities on a personal level to our clients. We hope that you learn basic, effective pointers in dealing with your children with special needs. Just approach us and we will be more than happy to teach you other practical techniques in managing your child’s issues.

The variety show featured the different talents of our children.

Joachim Rosen Bagul-lo, confidently recited the poem Early to Bed. Alexander Daupan, sang beautifully Bruno Mars’ Just the Way You Are. Jan Angelo Cuello sang, with gusto, Willie Revillame’s I Love You. Lorie Ann Cuello performed Justin Bieber’s Baby Baby.

Aside from singing, the kids danced to the music of Kendeng Kendeng. A surprise number was given by Jiwon Kim, one of the UB students, who played “My Heart Will Go On” on the saxophone. A slide show of the different art lessons entertained the cheering children.

The UB students expressed their joy. Julianne Detran, who found us online and chose A Child’s DREAM to be the Foundation they will assist in creating print, word and online advertising materials, shared how much more each of the children gave her compared to  what she has given them. John Anver Baylon, the photography enthusiast, agreed that he will miss the children who have made an impact on him. Jiwon Kim, the video creator, announced his anger at himself for not being able to speak Tagalog as the kids readily addressed him. He worried about the language barrier but realized there was no need for translation because everyone spoke the language of love.

Jossie Daupan, Xander’s aunt lovingly spoke on how Xander bloomed since his very first time living with them a year ago. His time in DREAM contributed to what he can now accomplish. She even produced a slideshow on his transformation. Each of the UB students received a thank you gift from the Daupan family.

The students were rewarded for their work and behavior. Singing Stars went to Xander

Daupan and Janjan Cuello. Dancing stars went to Lala Cuello and Joachim Baggul-lo. Most Behaved was Lala Cuello. Most Punctual was Joachim Baggul-lo. Best in Art were Xander Daupan and Carlo Mendoza. Most Diligent was Joachim Baggul-lo. Best Listener was Patricia Cardenas. Best Speaker went to Janjan Cuello who also got the Most Polite award. Book lover went to Jerhenz Bendaen. Most Free Spirited Award went to Paolo Mendoza.

The college students presented a beautiful bouquet of flowers as a token of appreciation for DREAM’s openness to accommodate them. Although it is a course requirement they were complying with, they had more emotional involvement. There was a marked difference in the children’s openness, response and enthusiasm brought about by the regular art classes. Borrowing from Bruno Mars’ hit song; they simply loved all the kids…just the way they are!! We hope to add more fun classes this year.

The whole world is going blue to increase awareness about autism. It may be the front porch, city hall, banquet or party, just light it up blue.  Here at DREAM, we’ll be wearing blue and advocating for our kids with autism. We are here to help!

Light It Up Blue, in its third year, is a unique global initiative to help raise awareness about the growing public health concern that is autism. Iconic landmarks around the world will turn on blue lights to show their support. Empire State Building, Niagara Falls, Rockefeller Center, CN Tower, Canton Tower….and many more have joined last year. Check out their website www.lightitupblue.org to see this year’s list of participants.

“If you’re an underdog, mentally disabled, physically disabled, if you don’t fit in, if you’re not as pretty as the others, you can still be a hero.”
– Steve Guttenberg

“Disability is a matter of perception. If you can do just one thing well, you’re needed by someone.”
– Martina Navratilova

“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”
– Mark Twain

The only disability in life is a bad attitude.”
– Scott Hamilton

“The message I’ll share…is that inclusion is extremely important for kids with and without disabilities.”
– Clay Aiken