To Label or Not to Label Reflection Paper on Totoy Guro’s Special Education Labels in the Philippines

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Totoy Guro is a blog written by a Filipino teacher. It is a personal space on the Internet where he shares his insights, notes and personal experiences as an educator in the Philippines. The article listing Totoy Guro’s reasons for espousing the use of “labels” for children with special needs (CSN) is a good insight from a teacher’s perspective. Totoy Guro enumerated that using labels for CSN strengthens the teachers’ roles because labels identify the exceptional students’ needs in the classrooms. He also opposed the use of euphemisms for exceptionalities as this prevents people from truly understanding what needs understanding. He said euphemisms promote gossips and unfair labels among children, parents and even teachers. Instead, he recommended public and classroom discussions to educate everyone about exceptionalities.

Reading about students’ exceptionalities and special education (SPED) has opened my mind about the topic. The most experience and knowledge I have about it was a special classroom in my high school where the lone SPED teacher conducted lessons to students with disabilities. These students joined their class the same way regular students would, but gathered daily in the SPED room long after the regular students have gone home. Inside that room was a mystery unknown and uninteresting to me until now. 

Totoy Guro’s piece on using labels gave me an overview of what regular students, CSN, parents and teachers stand about exceptionalities. SPED and exceptionalities are facts of life everyone should accept, deal and live with respectfully of one another. As a parent and future educator, I know that having correct diagnosis of students’ learning disabilities is beneficial for the concerned student, parent and family of the student and most especially, the teacher. It is the start of addressing the necessary accommodations, therapy and changes in order to make the CSN succeed at school.

Totoy Guro has freely used the term label to mean this diagnosis. However, I understand also the possible negative reaction of those who oppose the use of labels for the stigma and wrong connotations they give. The same way that our society today has opted for politically correct phrases and terminologies in order to appease people groups coming from diverse backgrounds and concerns. Adopting politically correct phrases though is synonymous to watering down the issue, if not totally evading it. The problems with using labels then is miscommunication and lack of respect for those who are different from us. Job 6:25 KJV says, “How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?” Right words set us towards the correct path. Arguments divide people, familites and societies. We need and deserve truth all the time, but we need to serve it with love, respect, understanding and encouragement all the time too.

Reference/s

T. G. (2011, September 3). MY LIST WHY “LABELS” FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS ARE GOOD [Web log post]. Retrieved June 19, 2016, from https://totoyguro.wordpress.com/2011/09/03/my-list-why-labels-for-children-with-special-needs-are-good/#comments

Quezon City, Pasig City developmental pediatricians

I was given a list of developmental pediatrician to consult with regarding possible learning special needs of my 5-year old son. Teachers say he is hyperactive, non-sociable and couldn't focus in class activities.

1. Dr. Ma. Theresa Arranz - Lim
   Unit 1414 MATI Building Medical City Ortigas Ave. Pasig City 1600
   Telephone 635-7890 local 5187
   
   or
   
   Room 273 MAB 3 Cardinal Santos Medical Center Wilson Street Greenhills West San Juan Telephone 727-7001 local 2273
2. Dr. Marcelino G. Reysio - Cruz Capitol Medical Center
   Telephone 372-3825 to 44 local 3234
   Direct Line 371-2106
   Schedule M, T, Thursday and Sat from 9am-4pm
   Secretary is Ms. Mildred
   Initial consultation fee is P3500 for about 1 to 2 hours consultation, succeeding professional fee depends on the case of the kid
   *Dr. Reysio - Cruz sits at the board of a special education - regular school in Diliman, QC
3. Dr. Alexis Reyes
   Philippine Children Medical Center
   Telephone 924-6601 to 25 local 273 or 928-5448
   Secretary is Ms. Emma
   Initial consultation fee is P3000 for about 1 to 2 hours, succeeding rate is about P500/session
   Schedule Saturdays 8am-5pm
4.  Dr. Vilma Bagay-Salcedo
   St. Luke's Medical Center Room 524
   Telephone 7231083, 722-6161 local 6524
5. Dr. Jocelyn Eusebio
   Eusebio Medical Clinic
   Telephone 911-8257
   Schedule is MWF 1-5pm
   
   or
   
   St. Luke's Medical Center
   Room 203
   Telephone 723-1063
   Schedule is Wednesdays and Fridays 9-12nn
   
   or
   
   UERMMC
   Room 103
   Telephone 716-1783
6. Dr. Jacqueline Navarro
   Unit 907 MATI, The Medical City
   Schedule is MWFSat 9am-12nn or TTh 2-6pm by appointment
   Telephone 636-2818 or 635-6789 local 5104
   Mobile 0915-5319224
   
7. Dr. Jocelyn S. Sanchez
   Neuro Developmental Pediatrician
   533 Medical Arts Building
   St. Lukes Medical Center
   
   We got to consult with her but through the clinic of Dr. Marc Reysio-Cruz. She was sitting in for him as he was abroad. Initial consultation is the same rate, and for the succeeding sessions we were told to proceed to her St. Luke's clinic after three months of occupational therapy.
   

Music Time Activity, Kids' Schedule and Routine

Dev-pedia recommends having routines to help our little boy. I've always wanted to have a family schedule. Attempted to implement several ones too but failed. Until today.

Kids' daily schedule on the wall

Kids' routine
Using four pieces of A4 board paper, I made a table with two columns and about 12 rows and provided blank spaces for the kids to write in their names on top. I have identified these activities:

1. Building Time - play with blocks, tinkertoys
2. Tech Time - wii games, ipad or TV
3. Music time - piano lessons, musical activities/crafts, making happy noise
4. Outdoor time - play outside, stroll to pick up rocks/leaves/feathers/flowers
5. Sports and fitness time - swim, jog, exercise, dance
6. Art time - paint, color, draw, mold clay
7. Reading time - books and handwriting practice

Breakfast, morning and afternoon snacks as well as lunch and dinner have been keyed in by me. Bed time too. I left an extra hour for own time where they may do whatever they choose, as long as they only ask for dad/mom's help for a maximum of three times. Plus, all toys used during own time need to be packed away on their own.

So far so good. :)

Music time activity
First activity on my list is to build our own drums out of cans then use it to play along with our favorite songs.

Dr. Marc Reysio-Cruz of Capitol Medical City, Occupational Therapy in QC

Incredibooth time with the kids

Carlos' teacher told me that he may need a special education teacher since he has a hard time focusing and is hyperactive. A meeting with his teachers and the guidance counselor who evaluated him ended with a list of developmental pedia to consider.

I went with the nearest choice who was Dr. Reysio-Cruz. A parent-friend told me that he used to be a member of college-based organization Campus Crusade for Christ. Dr. Reysio-Cruz is also part of Headway School for Giftedness in Quezon City.

Developmental Pedia
It turns out that it's costly to consult with a dev-ped. A consultation ranged from P3,000 to P3,500 per session according to the Quezon City-based dev ped list given to me by his school. Their clinic's schedule is also very full. The earliest booking I got was three weeks after I called to be booked, only because I live near and the secretary's willing to put me in once a client backs out.

Fortunately, Carlos was seen two weeks after I asked for a schedule. One dev-ped clinic I called said their earliest vacancy is three months from the time I called.

However, when we got to the clinic of Dr. Reysio-Cruz, I was informed that he had an emergency meeting so another doctor will check Carlos. She was Dr. Jocelyn Sanchez of St. Luke's. She asked me questions about my pregnancy with Carlos along with his growing years. She would like to know the quirks I find about my little boy. I said he's more energetic compared with other boys and tends to focus on some tasks he prefers.

Dr. Jocelyn S. Sanchez - MD, Nuerodevelopmental Pediatrics
St. Lukes Medical Arts Bldg. Rm 533 Tuesdays and Saturdays 2-6PM by appointment
Telephone: 723-0101 local 6533

Diagnosing ADHD in 5-year olds
Aftewards, she had a one-on-one session with Carlos.

1. She made him do some block creations after she has built them. I heard she asked Carlos to build a bridge. 
2. Then it was time to do physical activities, like standing on one foot for some seconds, hopping, throwing and catching a tennis ball.
3. She asked Carlos to write.
4. She also showed Carlos photos and asked him about what he saw. Carlos had to describe the activities, relationships of the people in the photo. He was also asked to name all that he can see there.
5. She asked what Carlos' birthday was, where he lives, the name of his best friend. I would hear him answer confidently, but when the questions went to what he would do if he's tired or cold, his voice turned soft.

All the time, she was writing her notes.

Borderline ADHD with occupational therapy sessions
Aftewards, Carlos came out of the room and told me it was finish. I was called back in so she may explain her findings.

She said Carlos did well in the test though he would squirm in his place whether he was sitting or standing up. The little boy was in constant motion. She wanted to wait until he turns six years old when his brain reaches more development.

In the meantime, she suggests Carlos gets occupational therapy help in order to aid his schooling. Two to three times per week, she recommends. After three months of OT (occupational therapy) she would like to see him again, this time in her St. Lukes clinic.

Doctor also said she will email some recommendations for Carlos' school, which may include pairing Carlos with a role model, sitting him at the front.

Occupational Therapy in QC

1. Capitol Medical Center - Before session starts, Carlos need to be seen by a rehabilitation therapist first Telephone 372-3825 local 2106 P450/session
2. Child Therapy Center - Rm 1001 The One Executive Condo 5 West Ave, QC Telephone 502-4299 or 0917-843-8385 Teacher Raul P450/session
3. CHIPS - 441-5018 P1,500 initial evaluation P500/session Ms. Juliet