The Good Balita

Espesyal Pinoy’s Family Day at Downtown East (August 23,’09)

“Having a child with special needs is priceless. Each day, I am faced with a challenge on how to manage my daughter’s behavior, what strategy would best improve her skills, or what new word she will be able to say next,” says Obelia Cutiongco, a mother of a 5 year-old child with Down syndrome named Sandra.

Children with Down Syndrome are born with hypotonia (low-muscle tone), weak legs, arms, back, and jaw which make them sit, walk, and talk at a later stage. They need early intervention through the expertise of an occupational, physical, and speech therapist to make them develop to the fullest.

Statistics show that 1 out of every 2 children born with Down Syndrome has a whole in the heart. DS babies also have eyes & ear defects and hypothyroidism. Obelia’s family is grateful to God that Sandra was born without having any of these complications.

It was on August 13, 2006 when Obelia , the Parent Coordinator of Kids Cove ( a center for children with learning differences ) and its Teacher & Child Psychologist Aulyn Mendoza, organized a workshop for parents, teachers, and therapists of children with special needs.

Obelia with daughter Sandra

On this day, Espesyal-Pinoy Support Group was formed. They were only 13 then. To date, there are 65 members-4 are special education teachers, 5 are doctors, 7 are therapists, there’s 1 Clinical Psychologist, 1 Social worker, 1 Nurse and the rest are parents & relatives of the special needs children.

The children’s profile are as follows:

15 – Autism Spectrum Disorder
4 Down Syndrome,
2 Cerebral Palsy
1- Global Developmental Delay
1 – Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Espesyal-Pinoy provides support among its members through their e-group by exchanging information and experiences which have been beneficial to them as parents. The professionals, doctors and therapists, do on-line consultation to the members. Every quarter, the members get together for a workshop, group counseling session or family activity. Its major events are on raising awareness and fund raising projects to support a needy member, for the Parents’ Development Program, and to put up a Resource Center.

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Espesyal PInoy’s A Myriad of Colors — an Art Exhibit/ Benefit Dinner (Feb.21, 09) From L to R: Aulyn Mendoza (Espesyal Pinoy’s Vice President ), Ambassador Minda C. Cruz, Obelia Cutiongco, world-renowned Filipino artist Mr. Manny Baldemor

Being the President of Espesyal Pinoy and a parent of a special needs child has made Obelia one of the contributing writers of inspirational stories in 3 PInoy Magazines here in Singapore.

Obelia shares, “ It is my desire to reach out to other parents who have special needs children, to those who are still struggling in accepting their children’s condition, and to share the strategies which I have used with Sandra which worked well towards her overall development.

In our support group, we promote political correctness as our special needs population deserve a life free from biases and ridicule.”

(Espesyal Pinoy is open to all Filipinos based in Singapore who are parents, therapists, teachers, doctors, caregivers of special needs children. Obelia Cutiongco may be reached at espmemcom@yahoo.com.sg)

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