PSID enlivens Makati SPED Center

MANILA, Philippines - Designing spaces for children presents unique challenges. There are issues of safety, durability to withstand the wear and tear from energetic children, as well as design to stimulate young minds.

The considerations multiply when the children happen to have special needs. From color to safety features, everything has to be considered for its physical, emotional and psychological impact on the special child.

This is a challenge that the Philippine School of Interior Design’s (PSID) Advanced Class of 2012 accepted as they partnered with the Makati Special Education (SPED) Center in Brgy. Gen. Pio del Pilar. The students spent one weekend to enliven the school’s ground level and water therapy fountain with colorful murals.

The outreach activity is a pre-event to “Gabay: Dibuhong Umaakay,” their graduation exhibit on Sept 29 at the former Super Sale Club, SM North EDSA, Quezon City. “Gabay” showcases 24 different spaces catering to the needs of the visually-impaired, hearing-impaired, elderly, and handicapped.

The Makati SPED Center is the country’s first public school focusing on special education. It is run by the Makati City government through the Gen. Pio del Pilar Elementary School. There are nine classes in three shifts, each focusing on a particular exceptionality.

 “Our teachers here are trained to handle children with specific special needs,” says Leticia Rosales. gOne of our teachers, Salvacion Calabucal, even won an award from the Metrobank Foundation for her work with visually-impaired students. h

The school thinks about their special students in all aspects, including school design.

“If you’ve noticed, the walls of our classrooms are padded with rubber. This is to protect students, especially those who have tendency to bang their heads. This serves as protection in case they fall down,” explains Rosales.

The partnership between PSID and the Makati Sped Center came about from a regular doctor’s appointment.

 “I was at my ophthalmologist when I raised the topic of finding somewhere to do our batch’s outreach program in. She referred me to another ophthalmologist friend of hers who then referred me to Resources for the Blind,” recounts Malu Nuñez, a member of the class of 2012.

PSID instructor Jake Lazo says he was touched by Makati SPED Center’s warm reception. “They were so welcoming. Plus, they were so open to allow us to implement our ideas for the mural, ” says Lazo.

PSID’s students chose two designs for the ground floor and the water therapy fountain. The first is PSID Rangers, featuring silhouettes of children at play done in vibrant, energetic colors.

”The colors give people an idea that this school is really all about the children,” explains Lazo. “Plus, we opted to use silhouettes of the children rather than put distinguishing facial features to say that whether you are handicapped or not, children are all equal.”

The second is the forest theme for the water therapy fountain, which was requested by the school.

The teachers of the Makati SPED Center are grateful to have PSID help in livening up their building. “They did this all for the kids, and I am so happy they came,” enthuses Rosales.