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This prompted me to ask myself,
would it be easier for me to
use reading as a springboard
for developing speech and language?
I became more persistent in
searching for an answer. Through
a friend's assistance, I landed
in the good hands of the professors
of the Reading Department of
the College of Education in
U.P. Diliman. It was a hard
endeavor since I continued working
with my clients while going
to school at night. All efforts
paid off since my questions
were gradually answered. I opted
to practice as a reading clinician
for two years to gain experience
and understand reading intervention
better. It was easier for me
since most of the children only
had reading difficulties and
were going to regular schools.
They were not exhibiting any
other developmental problems.
Progress was seen in two to
six months. My load was lighter
and rarely was I frustrated
with the children's performance.
I was happy but I needed more
challenge. I was also starting
to miss being a speech therapist,
the load was heavier and the
work entails a lot more emotional
and physical involvement but
it also entailed a lot more
fulfillment.
It
was a year ago when we have
decided to set up a clinic
in Laguna that I found myself
working as a Speech Pathologist
again. I had to re-learn some
of the skills that were already
rusty. It was also during
this time that I was again
given the opportunity to work
with children diagnosed to
have Autism. I have been in
a special school for seven
long years and have worked
as a part-time therapist in
a hospital set-up but the
responsibility is now greater.
It was also at this time that
I met Kyle, R.A., Matt, Mae,
Lemuel, Dante, Ajo and Glenn.
They were all diagnosed to
have Autism but were exhibiting
good potentials in terms of
developing speech and language.
After a year of working with
them, some of them have asked
for assistance in terms of
their reading skills. I am
now in this journey of exploring
all the possibilities and
of maximizing the children's
potential as well as my own.
There are days of euphoria
and days of frustration, but
this journey has been a lot
more challenging and fulfilling.
I am very blessed to be with
very supportive parents, they
have come to understand and
accept the children's limitations
and have been persistent to
develop the children's potential
to the fullest. We have come
to realize that there will
always be good and bad days.
The important thing is that
we know that in our hearts,
we did the best we could.
The children may not always
perform the way we hope and
expect them to, but the reality
of it is that they are still
kids who may not be in the
mood to study or listen to
the teacher all the time,
children who still prefer
to play and who may insist
in getting what they prefer.
I have always believed that
underneath all the difficulties,
children with special needs
are children first. They differ
in physical, social, emotional,
intellectual characteristics
as well as their learning
styles, interests and pace
of maturation. These are children
who learn by doing, by interacting
with the environment. They
can develop their fullest
potential in an environment
that is accepting of differences
and where adults strive to
meet each individual's needs.
When things get too complex,
and what we do as parents,
educators and therapists may
not work and we become frustrated
ourselves, I have learned
to look beyond all the difficulties
and the differences. When
I start to look beyond the
spectrum, all I see is a child,
and things become clear.
I
maybe their "teacher"
but I opt to be a "student"
for life. I have come to realize
that I have learned more than
what I taught my students.
I have learned to appreciate
small things that we usually
take for granted simply because
we have been used to having
such a complicated life. I
have learned to be more patient
and caring for the needs of
others. I have learned to
enjoy achievements no matter
how small they may be. I have
learned to accept failure
and learn from the mistakes
of others especially my own.
Most of the great lessons
I learned were with my students,
I am eagerly anticipating
what tomorrow would bring.
Having
been in the allied medical
profession for 11 years, I
admit there was a point when
I was considering leaving
the country to search for
"greener pastures".
There are six of us in the
batch and now, I am one of
the two who decided to stay
and serve Filipino children
in need of our services. Just
as Patricia Evangelista, a
19-year old UP student stated
in her prize-winning speech,
"Nationalism isn't bound
by time or place. Leaving
sometimes isn't a matter of
choice. It's coming back that
is". I have decided to
stay, my only wish now is
for the others to choose to
return and share whatever
they have learned and gained.
Nationalism entails giving
something back to the country
that shaped us.
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