A special treat for special children

MANILA, Philippines – “You’ve developed the strength of a draft horse while holding onto the delicacy of a daffodil ... you are the mother, advocate and protector of a child with a disability.” — Lori Borgman, American author and nationally distributed columnist

Responsible parenthood is a challenge that requires infinite love. As an unpredictable adventure where happiness is often interspersed with various trials, it requires considerable creativity, endless fortitude, and infinite patience. Having a child with special needs makes the role even more complex. Although the thought, “Why does it have to happen to my child?” is initially vexing, parents of special children quickly put their own expectations or disappointments aside, and make adjustments. They hunker down to be able to provide the best opportunities for their offspring. True, the rewards of parenting a special child come out of the blue and in the most unexpected ways, but to see him contribute his unique skills to mainstream society can be the biggest compensation of all. In the meantime, families who encounter some setbacks with the needs of their special children need some encouragement, too.

The Center for Possibilities Inc. (CFP) is a non-profit organization that aims to be a sanctuary for children with special needs. For their family and friends, it is a support group to provide skills that will buoy up their hopes.

“The needs of the child are paramount, but just as critical are the needs of the family for support and understanding as we grope with the hows and wherefores of raising children with special needs,” shares CFP founder Dolores Cheng. “I turned to doctors, educators, pastors, for guidance and solace, and realized that the families of children with special needs needed support, too.” With her son as inspiration, the organization was founded in 2008. “I am a single parent and I have been blessed with a son with special needs. His name is Andreas. Raising him, I became exposed to a world of challenges that face not only the children with special needs but also us, their families and friends. It was difficult because special needs was often a taboo subject, and many people were either in denial or ignorant about it.”

But with the right guidance, special children can contribute and become productive members of the community. CPF recently invited Kevin Avelino, a mentally challenged 39-year-old teacher aide as a resource speaker in one of their monthly gatherings. As he chronicled how he became an independent and self-sufficient adult despite his disabilities, he gave new hope to parents with special offspring of their own. Apart from the support group where parents can meet, share, and learn from the experiences of others, CFP has a website where parents, families, and friends can access information. In addition, CFP organizes and hosts seminars, symposia, and other informational experiences for families, caregivers, and the public at large on how better to understand children and their challenges.

CFP has also tried to expand and reach out to other special and disadvantaged children. “You might say it’s a double whammy for these kids,” says Dolores Cheng, about the special-needs children who have been abandoned by their parents.

Activities with Virlanie Foundation, a child-caring institution that maintains two homes for abandoned children with special needs, include parties at the homes and field trips for the children. Various individuals and corporations have been very supportive, with Jollibee and Chowking providing snacks for the children and Rommel Sytin, president and CEO of Foton Motors Philippines, providing transport for the field trips.

We recently joined a field trip to Ocean Park for special-needs children from Virlanie’s Aime home. It was on a weekday when there were no crowds, and the children, ages 12 to 20, were considerably well-behaved. They marveled at the marine life and excitedly roamed the facility with their caregivers. We asked, “Did you plan the trip on a weekday to make it easier to organize?” We were thrown into deep introspection by the unexpected reply. “Partly. And to make it easier for people to be around the kids. ” Definitely, there still is a need to develop a society that shows acceptance, sensitivity, and compassion towards special-needs individuals. To achieve this, a sincere effort for patience and understanding goes a long way. 

* * *

The Center for Possibilities, Inc. is at Amaris II Bldg., 915 Luna Mencias St., Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City with telephone number 725-513 and fax number 723-1242 E-mail Cristina Callejo at cmcallejo@possibilitiescenter.org for information and schedule of activities. Or log on to http://www.possibilitiescenter.org/contact.