The City Division of the Department of Education here has provided in-school instruction to 54 children, requiring special care and attention, to mainstream their educational needs.

Mario Orais, school principal of the Maasin City Special Education (SPED) center, said in an interview that out of the 54 children, 27 have hearing impairment, 18 are intellectually disable, eight have learning disability and one is visually impaired.

Orais also encouraged parents of such children to enroll them at the center as they are still accepting this month.

He said parents should not hide nor feel embarrassed rearing children with disability, rather they should exert all efforts to expose them to society through the SPED Center so at least they can learn basic skills to offset their shyness.

The special class for these special types of children was established in the city since May 10, 2010, Orais said.

He acknowledged the help and assistance extended by non-government organizations, such as the Leyte Island Association for the Deaf (LIAD), in defraying the basic expenses for these kids.

Francis Mallorca, LIAD Regional coordinator, said a dormitory for these children, especially the deaf and the mute, is already functional inside the campus of the Tomas Oppus Pilot School, the school where these types of children attend classes.

Mallorca said the dormitory caters not just special children in Maasin but also other towns of Southern Leyte, including the neighboring towns of Leyte province.

Source:http://pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?menu=2&;webregion=R08&article=1301344410206

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