A Child's D.R.E.A.M. Foundation, Inc.

I went to a talk by Dr. Francis Xavier Dimalanta on "Picky Eaters" today at Sanctuario de San Antonio in Forbes.  I was there early and ended up talking at length with the speaker himself 

(there are advantages to being an early bird after all :P).

In the course of our conversation, I learned about a pediatric therapy center he had put up in Baguio "A Child's Dream (Developmental Rehabilitative Early Assessment and Management) Foundation, Inc.".  They offer PT, OT and speech therapy as well as special education services.

If you would like to learn more about them, do check out their website:

http://achildsdream.ph/home/

Contact Info is as follows:

Pines City Lion's Club, Governor Pack Road, Baguio City

Tel. No: (074) 446-6121

Mobile: (0917) 811-9032/ (0916) -587-8674

Open Mondays to Saturdays

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Email: info@achildsdream.ph

Some inspiring evening: Reception launch for A Special Place - the Philippines first residential community for adults with autism

I was invited by my mom's friends to go to the launch of A Special Place at the Filipinas Heritage Library in Makati.  A Special Place aims to build the first residential community in the Philippines for adults with autism in Batangas.

Some of the investors/ contributors towards building A Special Place.

Karen Davila came to talk about her experience as a parent with a child on the spectrum.  Even if I am not a parent, I was moved by her words and concerns that she voiced for her child (who is actually an adolescent now, I think). 

Cathy Cham, mother to two very talented young men.

Tweetie de Leon showed her support too.

Lirio Covey, who started this project and is the president of AAAP, talks about her own journey from living in New York and finding that her heart is really here in the Philippines.  She also talked about her own son who lives in a residential community.  Dr. Covey introduced A Special Place to the group.

http://adultautismphil.wordpress.com/2012/01/10/meet-lirio/

Patricia Licuanan and Vicky Garchitorena came, although I wasn't able to take a picture of them.  Gloria Diaz was there as well.

A bird's eye view of the community.

List of activities, both recreational and income-producing.

Carlos Cham talks about his design for A Special Place.  He made this design as a 'dream' home for his brother Vico and as part of his thesis (which he defended recently).  He never thought that it could become a reality :).

Macky played the music for the reception as well as the "Lupang Hinirang" at the beginning of the event.

Vico created some art work on the computer during the break.

He also had some artwork on display for the silent art auction.

Here is a link to a video of Vico Cham in action :).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyhL7iWHAdg&feature=share

The place where the event was held was the old airport /tower.  Maybe I will try to translate this one of these days.  It shall take a lot of effort.  Maybe an english translation is available...anyone? 

Some inspiring evening :).  Galing ng pinoy!

For more information:

Association for Adults with Autism in the Philippines

DSAPI Rockwell exhibit

I was walking around Rockwell (Power Plant) with a friend last week and chanced upon an exhibit by the Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines, Incorporated (DSAPI).  

The exhibit was set up to commemorate the 20th anniversary of DSAP and the 10th National Down Syndrome Consciousness month.

 Amazing talents! :) 

For more information, check these out:

DOWN SYNDROME ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC.
2^nd Floor, 6372 Agrifina Building, Camia corner Meleguas Streets, Guadalupe Viejo, Makati City, Philippines
Tel. Nos.: + 63 (2) 895-36-06 or Tel/Fax No.: + 63 (2) 895-96-42
E-mail:DSAPI email
Website / Facebook / Yahoo Group
DSAPI – Davao Branch Office:
c/o Trinitas EENT Health Clinic, Cembrano Bldg. 412 Malvar Street, Davao City
Tel/Fax:  (82) 305-51-96
E-mail:  dsapi_davao@yahoo.com
DSAPI – Cebu Branch Office:
8^th Floor, Cebu Holdings Building
Cebu Business Park, Cebu City
Tel.: (32) 415-83-30 local 807
E-mail:  dsapi_cebu@yahoo.com

A Child Can Foundation, Inc. (ACCF)

A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to visit the center (and offices) of

 A Child Can Foundation, Inc.  It was a good opportunity to learn more about services that are available in Manila in case I need to refer kids to them, but also a good opportunity to meet the program director, Anna Romualdez because they also refer kids to our school.

The entrance / reception area is very welcoming.

I was given a tour of the center and was very pleased to see how bright, attractive and pleasing the place was.

The following pictures were taken in a general shared area where the kids sometimes come to do 'big' group activities. 

One of the one-on-one areas.

Curtains enclose the room to ensure some privacy.

Pictures and mobile schedules used by the kids.

Play area.

A place to do circle time or storytime.

In the other part of the center, they have smaller rooms where children can work one on one or in small groups.  In the afternoon, these rooms serve as learning centers for the kids in the school readiness and social thinking programs.

The different signs and pictures indicate what they focus or work on when inside that room or area.

The doorway to the restroom.

A child's communication book and what seems like a schedule or a choice board.

I wasn't able to take a picture but there is also a big area in the middle of the rooms where the kids can work on gross motor activities and play games.  

I was very interested to know that they have different programs such as one-on-one programs, a school readiness program and a social thinking program. 

For more information on their programs, please click on the link below.  

A Child Can Foundation, Inc. programs

All in all I was very happy with my visit here,  thanks to Anna Romualdez and Kye Lerma for taking the time to take me around and explain things to me :).

For more information, here is their contact information:

                    4th Floor Eight One EightBldg

                    818 Arnaiz Ave. (Pasay rd.), 

                     Makati                       

Telephones: 632.892.2486 or 97

Email: admin@achildcan.com

website: A Child Can Foundation, Inc.