Paper on Support Services for Special Needs Children
* Prologue * What is Support Service? Support Services is a system of networks net works working to make a program effective e ffective and efficient. It consists of a wide range of professional-paraprofessional services encompassing various fields, from medicine to social work to special education. What are the different forms of social services? Most people would say that there is no specific list of support services common to all. The kinds of support services available for one organization may not be available, or even necessary for another. It is safest, then, to say that the network of support is deendent upon the needs of an organization and the availability of supporters present. In the field of Special Education, Edu cation, support services may include different linkages and partnerships with local and international organizations, as well as government and non-government institutions. How did Support Services come about? The history of support services is very complex. Historically, families were viewed as the ones responsible for the care and support for their family members with disabilities. There were no government-funded programs to help PWDs, nor were there much NGOs yet. It was only in the 1960’s when some organizations composed of the families and relatives began to campaign for more support and better services. And through the years, our system and network of support services have become what they are now. Many people have moved to acquire ac quire better, more efficient and effective services for special needs children. For this paper, I will be discussing more on the support services extended towards SNC’s parents, family and society; the Parent and Family Support Program and the Adovacy Services, both provided by the Rainbow Intervention Center For Autism Foundation, Inc. (RICAFI).
Rainbow Intervention Center For Autism Foundation, Inc. (RICAFI) Davo City, Philippines, 1996
RICAFI is an intervention center designed to help children with Autism1. It is recognized st as the 1 Autism Center in Davao city and in Mindanao, owned and operated by parents of children with autism. It is a non-stock, non-profit organization led by a nine-person Board of Trustees and managed by ten school officers and three teachers. History of RICAFI
As early as 1994, several children in Davao City were diagnosed with Autism by Dr. lexis Reyes, a Manila-based Developmental Pediatrician. Howerever, there were no school or centers with intervention programs for autistic children, n or were there teachers trained to handle autism. It was only in 1995 that Ms. Carissa Mackay, a special education teacher from Manila, came toDavao and handled on-on-one sessionsfor children with autism. Howver, she could not accommodate the number of children who wanted to be in her class. In August and September 1995, she conducted a series f Parent Modules to teach on behavior modification and teaching strategies for autism. Due to rules on attendance and parent involvement, only nine parents finished the course. After a few months, they again underwent another series of training, this time on more techniques for teaching and on managing an autistic child using a home program. These nine prents, then, decided to organize themselves and establish the first intervention center for autism in Davao City. Thus, the Rainbow Intervention Center For Autism Foundation, Inc. (RICAFI) was born. It was on Septe mber 8, 1996 that RCAFI was inaugurated at Padre Gomez St., D.C. and the day after, classes started with nine children. Vision Children with autism whoa re able to achieve a alevel of independence ad self-reliance so they can become productive and socially accepted members of the society. Comitted and empowered families of children with autism who are able to prvide proper support, values, and skills to enable the children to achieve their fullest potentials2.
Mission To provide appropriate and affordable educational and behavioral programs and lifespan services for persons with disability and their families in Davao City and in Mindanao. Support Services Parent and Family Support Program RICAFI aims to empower the parents, siblings and relatives of children with autism by educating families and assisting them in addressing specific behavior s and setting effectives routines in the home. RICAFI takes care of new families by providing moral support and guidance counseling through sharing of experiences among parents and siblings. What is Counseling? Counselling, the skills of helping people cope w ith personal difficulties through interviews and other procedures, with the aim of allowing them to reach solutions to those difficulties themselves. The term covers a wide spectru m of therapeutic activity, from practical advice given during one or two meetings to sympathetic attention over months or years. Counsellors may specialize in particular areas, such as bereavement, trauma after battle or disaster, or living with serious illness. Other counsellors help particular groups, such as tee nagers, the
unemployed, or refugees. Married couples in difficulties or troubled families may seek counselling together. For RICAFI, they provide counseling to help parents adjust to the strain and demands of having children with autism. It is undeniable that having a child with a special need may cause fears and doubt to parents, and some may even blame themselves for their children’s condition. The siblings may also feel qualms and uncertainties about their sister/brother. In some cases, sibling tend to be jealous of their parents’ attention, desiring to be given as much as the sibling with autism. Counseling helps resolve these issues through “talks” and discussion. S ometimes, parents also seek to hear the experiences of other people who also have children with autism. Relating to their experiences provide new parents with essential insights on how and how not to handle their own children.
