The ADHD National Conference -- Empowering The Young AD/HD Adult Thru Transition

Source: http://www.findphilippineseminars.com/seminars/view/413/empowering-the-young-adhd-adult-thru-transition.html

Organized by:ADHD Society Of The Philippines

From : October 25,2010
To : October 26,2010
Time : 08:00 AM-04:00 PM
Venue : St Luke's Medical Center, Global City, Taguig

“EMPOWERING THE YOUNG AD/HD ADULT THRU TRANSITION”

The ADHD National Conference

 

 

In celebration of its 10^th year, the ADHD Society of the Philippines will host its Biennial National Conference entitled “Empowering the young AD/HD Adult thru Transition” on October 25-26, at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Global City, Taguig.  The two (2) day conference will discuss, among others, topics such as, Phases of ADHD and accompanying conditions thru the life span; Assessment process and medical management; Finding a career that works for the ADHD; Peer relationships among individuals with ADHD; Coaching; and Skirting trouble. .  Conference speakers include Dr. Leticia Ho (Clinical Psychologist, Guidance Counselor and Educator), Dr. Ma. Monica Cardinez- Tan (Psychiatrist),  Ms. Rose Aligada (SPED Educator and Administrator of the progressive school Lapis, Laro at Libro) and Ms. Maribel Dionisio (Marital and Family Counselor).  Parents of individuals with ADHD, teachers, school administrators,  professionals and medical practitioners will greatly benefit from the talks that will be given by these experts.

 

The AD/HD Society of the Philippines, a non-stock, non-profit organization, was established in year 2000 by a group of parents of children with AD/HD, medical practitioners (developmental pediatricians, psychiatrists and psychologists) and educators (progressive school owners and SPED practitioners). The Society aims to increase public awareness about the disorder, as well as provide the necessary  support for individuals with ADHD, as well as their parents and the teachers ..  Through the years, support groups for parents have been formed , school caravans were conducted, parenting and teachers’ seminars were initiated,  national and regional conferences were held, and advocacy activities were undertaken  to empower individuals concerned.  Volunteer parents, teachers and doctors are the prime movers of this group.

 

For more details on the conference, please call the Secretariat at tel no: 426-8568; fax no: 927-3463; cell no: 0918-9079159; email at: info@adhdsociety.org and at website: www.adhdsociety.org

2nd Singapore Math Learning Festival

Volunteer Tutors Needed!

Inviting everyone to come tutor this coming Saturday. Just 2 hours to help a child to read better, speak better English, practice the multiplication table and so on will have a big impact on a challenged life. You have much to share! Join us. Send me a note if you have questions. Please share thanks.

Come join us as we tutor the children from He Cares Foundation www.hecaresfoundation.com 

 this coming Saturday (hopefully the weather is good).

1PM, at the 3F, Brgy. Bungad Hall, QC (near West Ave. - Baler). Pls send me a message if you want to join tina@papemelroti.com thanks

Are you SPED teacher material?

photo credit: http://www.ideadeaf.org

When I learned about my son's condition, I studied special education and wanted to become a SPED teacher.  However, as I witnessed my son grow in the SPED school with his teachers, I noticed how hard it was to be a parent, and a SPED teacher as separate persons, what more if I became both?  As much as I would love to help, I will never compromise my children's well-being over others.  So, I bid adieu to becoming a SPED teacher and focused first on getting my son all better.

In conversing with his teachers and from observation, I learned that to become a SPED teacher, one has to have the following:

1.  An inherent love for children

Not just for special children, but for every child.  Teachers are second parents.  They should play the role of primary caregiver when the children are within their care.  All children have needs and these differ with every child.  Knowing the nature of a child is crucial for every teacher.

2.  Loads of Patience

Since special children need special care, teachers should have more than the usual amount of patience.  Some special children learn slower than usual, others are too hyperactive, while others are too talkative.  Just imagine a room with five to ten children with different disorders.  If a teacher cannot handle this situation, then she is not fit to become a SPED teacher.

3.  Diploma/Certification

All professionals have certain qualifications to meet in order to work in the Philippines.  A SPED teacher requires a diploma in Bachelor of Elementary Education major in Special Education.  An individual who wishes to become a SPED teacher but has a different field of study may opt to take a certification, or a Master's degree, which will take about two years to complete.

To find schools offering SPED courses, go to FindUniversity.ph

4.  Good working relationship with other professionals

Teachers of special children need to work with other professionals such as doctors, therapists, and counselors.  It is important that you understand your responsibilities with each one and that you do not overstep theirs.

5.  A wild imagination

Children have them, so should you.  It helps to keep children on their toes since most of them also do not like being bored with nothing to do.

I may have three or four of these traits, but maybe it is still not up to me alone.  I had to think of my family since I am a mother already when I started studying SPED.

Teaching is said to be one of the noblest professions.  If you have a calling to teach, then do it.  However, if you are unsure, it is best to seek another profession.  Teaching is not just arts and crafts and pretty little things.  Teaching is tears, bugs, dirt, and mucus.  Just think of all the children whose minds and dreams you might damage along your way if you're just doing this out of a whim.

If you're still sure that you want to care for God's special children, there is a 24-unit Special Education Certification Program at the Philippine Normal University.  They also have a Graduate Program with streams in teaching children with intellectual, visual, and auditory disabilities.  Check out PNU's website here.

Choosing the right school for your special needs child

my son with his SPED teachers and Principal

Assuming that you already had your child assessed, the evaluator probably will suggest therapy (occupational, physical, speech, or behavior) for your child.  The evaluator will also suggest that you child be placed in a regular school that accepts a special needs child, or a special education center/school.

Most developmental pediatricians/psychologists/diagnosticians have lists of these professionals/centers according to their location, so you can try and see which ones can work best for you.

There are considerations when choosing a school/center for you special needs child:

1.  Accessibility - or as the realtor says, "location, location, location."  Is it near your abode?  Is transportation readily available?

     Why is this an important consideration?  Depending on the condition of your child, some children with special needs are irritable and gets easily bored.  If it takes a lot of time to get to your destination, you might have a problem while on the street. Some tantrums take long to pacify.

2.   Budget - the care for a special child does not stop with paying the tuition fee.  There's other school expenses, transportation allowance, food, medicines, doctors, and the therapy (which for a year, is more than the cost of tuition fees).  Pick a school that will not be a burden for the family, especially if you have more than one child.  There are public schools that are at par with private special schools.  Public school teachers are also adept in teaching as they are required to attend seminars and conferences to enhance their craft. NGOs also finance some public school facilities. Along with the right therapy, I don't think public schooling is a bad choice.

3.   Facilities - one of the most important factor is air-conditioning.  A cool and serene place is a must for children with special needs.  Some schools also offer therapy, so you don't need to go to a different center for that.  Mobility is also an issue if your special needs child is on a wheelchair. 

4.   Class Size - what is the teacher:student ratio?  Smaller class size is better, so you'll be sure that your child gets the attention he needs.

5.   Competence of the staff/educators/principal - I placed this as number five, because you cannot be sure of their competence the first time, so you will know this along the way.

6.  Curriculum - ask for their curriculum.  Special needs children develops easily with a play-based program.

Regular schools that accept children with special needs must have staff that can handle the child.  Children who are accepted in regular schools are mostly those that can cope with the environment physically, socially,  emotionally, and mentally.  The school at least, should have a guidance counselor that has an experience in handling special children. This guidance counselor should have the capabilities to shadow teach when necessary.

The school principal together with the guidance counselor will initially talk with the parents to discuss how they can be of help to your child.  Sometimes, they will make you sign an agreement that states that you agree with their rules and regulations, like submitting required documents on a prescribed date.

A good school-parent relationship is vital to the development of your child, so before you talk to them, write down your questions so you will not forget key notes.

To help you with your search, click on the following links:

Regular Schools Accepting Special Children
SPED Centers in public schools
Government Special Schools
Private Special Schools

Read more information on how to choose the right school or center for your child from aboutkidshealth.com.

When to Decide on Getting an Assessment

photo credit: http://www.speechandlanguage-therapy.com/assessment

When I was teaching Kindergarten, I was asked several times by many parents how their child was doing.  Is he participating in class?  Did she recite today?  Did he get into a fight?  Those were samples of questions I get everyday.  Often, I will just smile and say that their child did good, and that there is no problem.  However, there were about one or two times that I needed to ask a parent for a serious meeting.

A serious meeting entails worry, anxiety, doubt, and confusion.  Sometimes, tears fall.  A hug, a handshake...

As a teacher, it is my duty to inform parents if there is a possibility that their child has special needs and needs to be assessed.  Sometimes, you can be met by anger, but this stems from denial and confusion; and of course, sometimes, if you do not speak well.  People do not know, so they do what they do know and that is to act as if nothing has happened.

Please note though, that when a teacher tells you that your child needs help, it is NOT a confirmation that your child has a disorder.  Some children are delayed, and this may be the cause of the worry; but, as what I always think, it is better to be safe than to be sorry.

Early intervention is the way to go in special education.  When a child is diagnosed early, then he gets help early.  This gives us more time to help the child and change some inappropriate behaviors before they get worse.

So, when the teacher asks you for a meeting, be sure to go.   There should be no "what ifs" when it comes to rearing your child.

It is not, however, the duty of a teacher to tell you that YOUR CHILD IS A SPECIAL CHILD or that YOUR CHILD HAS AUTISM (or other disorder).  A teacher is a guide, not a diagnostician.

The most effective person that can see if there is a delay in your child is you as you are with the child most of the time.  You might want to equip yourself with the knowledge of what you have to expect when your child reaches a certain age.

To start with, you might want to check if your child has Developmental Delays.  There are developmental milestones that every child has to meet.  If those were not met, then you call them a developmental delay. Delays are seen in:
      a.  Motor Skills - standing, walking, grasping objects, standing on tiptoes
      b.  Communication - ability to understand and talk
      c.  Cognitive - thinking and analysis
      d.  Socio-Emotional - show appropriate emotions or responses, making friends

A checklist is a very useful tool that evaluators use.  You can find a similar one to diagnose learning disability here.  The CHAT or Checklist for Autism in Toddlers here.  One on ADHD in children can be found here.  There are more checklists that can be found all over the internet, however, the formal diagnosis must come from a certified developmental pediatrician or psychologist.

If you suspect that your child needs to be assessed, you can find a developmental pediatrician nearest you in here:

List of Developmental Pediatricians in Metro Manila
List of Developmental Pediatricians in the Provinces

Remember, not everyone is the same.  A child loved is never lost.  Have faith. :)

1Pangako

I saw this campaign just now as I was browsing through Autism Society's website.  This is a campaign that is close to every parent's heart.

Hearing people use the word "autistic, retarded, or mongoloid" is very demeaning, hurtful, and derogatory.  We cannot stress enough to please stop using these words.  I wrote about it a long time ago, when Sonia Roco was running for senator.

Still, people use the term for their own purpose, like Fr. Villegas who said the same exact thing as Mrs. Roco. Still some, doesn't even know what autism is. My son has never been slow in his 13 years of life, Fr. Gudalefsky.

The community of special children is increasing every moment.  Special kids are born every minute around the world.  Meaning, millions of people are hurt whenever you use those terms in a negative way.

We parents should educate other people about this condition.  "They do, because they don't."  Meaning, they do it because they do not know any better.  They are not us.  They do not feel what we feel.

So, let's make a move!  Be a proactive parent, join in, and make some noise!  Set your statuses to:

"Gumawa ako ng @1pangako na kikilos para mahinto ang maling paggamit ng salitang "autistic" bilang katatawanan or insulto. Isusulong ko ang tunay na pagtanggap at pagkalinga sa mga taong may disabilidad."

Grab a twibbon:  http://twibbon.com/join/1pangako

Use your twitter accounts and follow @1Pangako.

Please help put an end to the use of "autistic" as a slur in Filipino everyday language.

Read: http://autismsocietyphilippines.blogspot.com/p/a-promise-to-end-joke.html

Like the facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/1pangako

SPED Seminars

MANILA, Philippines - Patricia Muñoz, a fully-credentialed special education teacher in California, is scheduled to conduct the following seminars:  

Preparing an Effective Individual Education Plan (IEP), a Vital Tool in the SPED Program on Aug. 12;  
Utilizing Instructional & Curricular Modifications for Special Needs Students in an Inclusion Program, Aug. 19;  
How to Cope When Your Child or Student is Special, Aug. 26; and  
Utilizing Effective Strategies to Serve the Needs of Special Children.

All seminars will be held at 98 Matatag, Bgy. Central, Quezon City with tel. nos. 0916-4280737, 383-3898 and 434-6064. Se minar hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; registration starts at 8:15 a.m. Weekday classes on the above modules may be conducted as per special arrangement.


From:  http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=833389&publicationSubCategoryId=70

Counseling and Guidance Fair 2012

SP & SPED: Building Bridges Together

1st Out & Fun Games Program for Exceptional Children

Multiply is going bye-bye

So, Multiply sent me mail saying that they will be closing Multiply sites except those that will be used solely for ecommerce, or to that effect.  Here it is:

Hello. Stefan here, writing you from Multiply HQ in Jakarta, Indonesia.

As most of you are probably aware, Multiply's mission has evolved over the past year and a half to become the biggest and most beloved ecommerce marketplace in two very exciting markets, Indonesia and the Philippines. As our focus has shifted, we have reviewed all of our operations, and made some decisions that will affect everyone here.

• From December 1st, we will unfortunately no longer be able to support Multiply in its current form - notably we will be removing the social networking and content sharing part of Multiply (photos, videos, blogs, social messaging, etc.). We have decided to discontinue providing and hosting these services, as we have concluded that other Internet sites who are committed to social networking services will do a better job serving you than we can.
• For our existing users of social networking features, we will be providing easy ways for you to either download your stuff (photos, blogs, content, etc), or migrate it to other online services. We'll announce the precise details shortly. It will be your choice whether to download, migrate or just let your content lapse (and get deleted).
• For our existing ecommerce users (both buyers and sellers) in Indonesia and the Philippines, there will be no action required.
• Regarding any existing Multiply Premium subscriptions we will refund any unused balance, and apologize for any inconvenience this will cause. Please contact customer service to request a refund. Note that this is for Multiply Premium, not the ecommerce related Multiply Trust product.

I am aware of how disruptive this news may be, and understand the disappointment that it may cause. Ultimately this was a business decision, critical to our to success moving forward. Instead, we are excited to pursue our own mission to give the 350 million consumers in Indonesia and the Philippines a great way to buy and sell items online. Our singular focus now is for Multiply to retain its status as a vibrant e-commerce destination in Southeast Asia in the years ahead.

I suspect that many of you will not like this news, and am sorry to have to deliver it now. I hope that you will be able to understand the reasons for our decision and thank you for being a part of the Multiply community over the past eight years.

Stef

So, it means that Dale's blogsite from Multiply will be taken down, so I have to find another place to put all his pictures and videos or whatnots to.  Maybe I'll just create a page in FB or something.

Helping Dale With School

Note:  This post has Filipino words.



Since Dale is now in Grade 7, everything levels up.  So here comes Filipino and AP (Araling Panlipunan, also known as Makabayan).  What we do is study them beforehand so when he comes to school, he knows some of the answers to the questions in the book.  One of his assignments was making his own fable.  I never thought that he would try making one, because I have always done his assignments (Yes, I am a bad mother!).  I was shocked when he said, "Here you go.  I think I have corrections, Mom!"

While I read what he made, I forced myself not to laugh.  I told him that we're going to fix it, but he did great.  Read what he made below:

Isang araw, mayroong maliit na pagong.Siya ay sa isang baybayin.Siya ay gutom at nagsimulang maghanap para sa pagkain.Sa kanyang paraan para sa paghahanap para sa pagkain niya nakilala ang isang sanggol alimango.Alimango ang sinabi "Saan ka pupunta?"."Ako na naghahanap para sa pagkain."Sinabi pagong ang."Alam ko ang isang lugar na puno ng pagkain."Sinabi ang alimango "Sa Aqua Cove! Makikita ninyo ang maraming ng pagkain doon, ngunit mag-ingat, ang panganib sa iyong paraan, ako gutom. Ko dapat dumating sa iyo.".

Kaya ang pagong at ang alimango ay nagsimulang ang kanilang mga paghahanap upang mahanap ang Aqua Cove upang makahanap ng pagkain upang punan ang kanilang stomachs. Ngunit sa kanilang paraan ay dumating pating isang! Sila ay tumakbo palayo mula sa pating, at pating ang chased kanila. Ang pagong at ang alimango May stuck sa isang patay na dulo. "Huwag matakot." Sinabi pating ang "Ako ay isang vegetarian". Kaya sila ay dumating at sinabi, "At bakit ka habol sa amin?". "Dahil alam ko ang pinakamabilis na paraan upang Aqua Cove." Sinabi pating, "Ito ay karapatan sa dulo ng kasalukuyang tabi sa amin." Kaya sila jumped sa kasalukuyang at off ang sila pumunta!

Ang mga guys naabot Aqua Cove tulad ng pating ang kanilang sinabi. "Salamat ng pating." Kanilang sinabi. At pagkain ay delicous! At sila ngayon pahinga sa kanilang mga bellies sa buong.

Ang Wakas.

When he passed his work, I included his original work so his teacher can see that he really did his homework, and maybe laugh a little.  :)

image from casapinka.typepad.com

Anyway, some homework or projects require some artwork and creativity.  I found a website that sells artistic tapes.  The tapes can be used as borders or just something to spruce up a journal or poster.  I haven't had the opportunity to purchase one, but I think from the pictures, it is a very cute way to be creative.  One tape is a hundred bucks, and some are bundled so you can get them much cheaper.  They're called Washi Tapes and you can check them out from Hey Kessy. :)

Prohibitions on Ridicule and Vilification Against PWDs

As stated in the RA 9442 or the Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities.

Deliverance from Public Ridicule

Public ridicule shall be defined as an act of making fun or contemptuous imitating or making mockery of persons with disability whether in writing, or in words, or in action due to their impairment/s.

No individual, group or community shall execute any of these acts of ridicule against persons with disability in any time and place which could intimidate or result in loss of self-esteem of the latter.

Deliverance from Vilification

Vilification shall be defined as (a) the utterance of slanderous and abusive statements against a person with disability; and/or (b) an activity in public which incites hatred towards, serious contempt for, or severe ridicule of persons with disability.

Any individual, group or community is hereby prohibited from vilifying any person with disability which could result into loss of self-esteem of the latter.

Penal Clause

Any person who violates any provision of this Act shall suffer the following penalties:

(1) For the first violation, a fine of not less than Fifty Thousand pesos (P50,000.00) but not exceeding One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) or imprisonment of not less than six months but not more than two years, or both at the discretion of the court; and

(2) For any subsequent violation, a fine of not less than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) but not exceeding Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00) or imprisonment for not less than two years but not more than six years, or both at the discretion of the court.

Source: NCDA and autismsocietyphilippines

If you're troubled...

Halos lahat ng aspeto sa buhay, nagka-problema na ko.  pamilya, anak, asawa (super problem to the maximum level), kalusugan.  i will not deny that i have done some stupid things that i thought will make those problems go away.

i've been crying for more than half of my life, I came to a point that I'm not sure anymore if there is a God.

Then I realized, if there is no God, then everything is on me.  I have to make do of what I have.  I made a checklist in my head.  Asked myself who and what I was living for.  I called this list, my reasons for breathing.  Topping that list were my children.  And that's enough.  I could've stopped there.  But, everyday, I see things that makes it to the list.  Small things, like seeing a butterfly on the porch perched in a flower pot.

Now, I admit, I am a little scared of dying.  Not because of myself.  I am afraid for the people I will be leaving behind.  I know they will not survive that.  So, even if I felt like giving up, I couldn't.  I've been in and out of the hospital too much, the lab people are sick of me.  But I'm still here.  I still am breathing.  Because I do not live one day at a time anymore.  I live one breath at a time. 

I do think of the future.  I have to, because of Dale (my son who has autism).  The days that I have left here breathing, I would like to dedicate on keeping my family together.  I stopped being angry with my husband's failures or "kakulangan," as my mother always says.  Because I accepted the fact that I, too, have them.  I just had to open my eyes and realize them.

I am teaching my children to love one another, because in the end, that's all they will have left--each other.

I study not because I have to.  it's because I want to.  It makes me feel younger.  Younger means healthier.  I think my parents know this, because even if they sometimes question my decision to continue studying, they do not ask me to stop.

I take my medicines regularly, not because I want to, but because I have to.  If these expensive little pills will somehow, miraculously, give me more breaths to take, then I will take them.  As I said, not because I want to.... coz If it were me alone, I'm ready to die.  But because I have to, coz everything is not about me.

Pain is just a reminder.  Whatever you forgot, pain is there like a ribbon round your finger.

If you're crying because of pain, let them flow.  There is no shame in crying.  But, after you've exhausted yourself enough, stop.   Then face your problems.  Tears will not do you any good except for one thing. It was made to lubricate the eyes... to clean them... like windshield wipers... for you to see clearly again.

Sometimes, we all need a brick wall to bang our heads with, and that's ok.  Sometimes, you may want to die, and that's ok, too.  We're all human, anyway.  Just remember, you are alive for a reason.  Find that reason.  I don't think you need to look far.

Have faith.  Even if we don't see God, it doesn't mean He is not there.  Even if it seems like He doesn't answer your prayers, pray still.  He knows what He's doing.  After all, He is God.

I will not tell you to cheer up.  I will not tell you that I understand your pain.  I am not you.  I will also not tell you that there are people who are experiencing pain worse than yours.  Again, they are not you.

However, you are you.  You know yourself more than anyone.  Go tell yourself what you need to do.  Be brave, little one.

General Questions?

The reason I put up this blog is to keep memories of Dale, and to help other parents like me who have special children.  If you wish to know more about me, Dale, and our journey, please feel free to post them as comments below.

Thank you and have a stress-free day! :)

Update

I have been procrastinating for a long while.  I just didn't have the energy to post since my kidney transplant and then the rejection.  Anyhow, I managed to browse through almost everything on my blog today.

There are numerous comments that I needed to address and delete, as well.  I have to remember to change my settings to require comment moderation.  I can now easily blog, because of my iPhone, but that's another story.

So, what I did was....

• remove all spam comments
• update the therapy centers list
• put up a post where you can post your questions via comments, I will answer them to the best of my ability; if not, I ask my readers to please answer them for me.
• put up a post about advertising

I am aiming a lot for my two blogs (the other is at pinoynanay.blogspot.com).  One aim is to collect revenues from them since I am now an at-home mother because of my illness.

By the way, if you wish to know more about me and being sick, just click on my other blogsite.

Thank you for patronizing this blog and praying for Dale!

Have a stress-free day!