Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Therapy Works, Inc.

Got to go along with a visit to Therapy Works, Inc. last Saturday. Thanks again to Ting and Randy Bello for taking me along!

Pool for aquatherapy.

One of the therapists.

Slide in the outdoor play area.

OT room with vestibular balls and hooks in the ceiling for swings and hammocks.

Kitchen where they also do cooking activities.

Common room for groups. To the left are dividers for kids who need a more structured space.

One of the individual speech therapy rooms.

In front of the very insconpicuous building. Therapy Works, Inc. occupies the two bottom floors but may soon add another floor for their services.

Below is an article regarding Therapy Works, Inc.

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/199914/aquatic-therapy-and-child-with-au

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

I have just started a new job as a special education consultant at a regular preschool in Mandaluyong. I had meant only to visit the school and to use it as another entry for my blog, but I somehow ended up with a part-time job as well :).

It is a progressive school and the aim of the founders was to establish a school in the tradition and standards of the Bank street approach to education. They have a good number of classes from Toddler, Nursery and Kinder (ranging from 1 y/o to 5.5 y/o). It is an inclusive setting and they have children with special needs in the different classrooms.

This is definitely a new setting and a new role for me, which is one of the reasons why I took the job. I am eager to learn new things and am open to new experiences :). I can't wait for the kids to come back to school in June and I am looking forward to meeting and working with their families, as well as the very supportive and enthusiastic staff at Explorations.

I don't have my own pictures of the school, but feel free to click on the link below to see the website (which has a gallery of pictures).

http://www.explorationspreschool.org/

Contact Persons: Didi Manahan / Lisette Fajardo

Address: 928 Luna Mencias cor. Socorro Fernandez St.,

Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, Philippines

Tel. No.: (632)724-3320

Telefax: (632)724-4271

Mobile No.: (+63) 915-2853658

Email Addresses:info@explorationspreschool.org

Our Lady of Pilar Montessori Center

Last week I got to visit another school (finally!) after a long time :). Our Lady of Pilar Montessori Center (OLPMC) is in Pilar Village, Las Pinas. It is owned by the family of a childhood friend, Orange Garcia, who was gracious enough to take me around and also let me sit down and talk with two of their SPED teachers.

OLPMC accepts students from CASA (preschool) level up to high school. They also have students with special needs who spend at least an hour a day in the regular ed classrooms for modeling and socialization, and also for "skills" subjects. For academic subjects where they may need more assistance, they are taught by the special ed teachers in a separate room to allow for more individualized instruction.

Here are some pictures from my visit :)