Senate approves Bill 3560

Persons with Disabilities received a very timely gift for Christmas in the form of Senate Bill No.3560. The bill also known as “An Act establishing the institutional mechanism to ensure the implementation of programs and services for persons with disabilities in every province, city and municipality,” was approved by the Philippine Senate on December 16, 2009.

“We are grateful for this law. However, we have to be vigilant and promptly react,” reminds Ka Lauro Purcil, Education Committee Head of UNCRPD.

The bill include exploring livelihood opportunities and other undertakings that shall enhance the health, physical fitness and the economic and social well-being of persons with disabilities ; and for Local Government Units to establish PDAO (PWD Affairs Office) to address the specific needs in their local jurisdiction such as ordinances or policies; accessibility; gathering and disseminating information; and funding.

Ka Lauro, himself a PWD, reminds ASP members to continue working in partnering with government as instruments of services. “Public servants are duty bearers in the fulfillment of these laws. We, persons with disabilities, are duty bearers too. Let us move with solidarity and fervor to ensure their full implementations.”

The bill also amends the term “Disabled Persons” to “Persons with Disabilities”, as the PWD is a person first, before his disability.

“Disabilities should never be a hindrance to excel in one’s chosen field. By being assets in society, many PWDs are breaking barriers and changing the misimpression that they are a burden to the nation,” said Pia Cayetano, principal author of the bill and Chairperson, Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development.

Autism Society Philippines will be celebrating the 14^th Autism Consciousness Week dubbed as "Giant Leaps... Transcending Boundaries" this January. We enjoin all members, supporters, friends, and loved ones to meet up at SM Mall of Asia on January 24, 2009 for the yearly tradition of Angels Walk to generate autism awareness.

Click here to read more about Senate Bill 3560

Special Season's Greetings from ASP

footnote:
Our special artist is no other than VICO CHAM, 18 year old. He is the featured artist in our Autism Beyond Borders Conference Souvenir Program.

Watch out for his ONE-MAN EXHIBIT on Jan. 17, 2009 as we celebrate ASP's 14th Autism Consciousness Week. (stay posted for details).

Why Angels Walk in the Malls

It is only fitting that the next Angels Walk for Autism on Jan. 24 will be held in, where else but, the SM Mall of Asia.

Malling is a way of life for Filipino families. But for families dealing with Autism, enjoying the malls may not come that easy. It requires preparation by the family for the child.

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how an individual interprets what he sees, hears, touches and tastes; thereby impairing his understanding and use of language, and his adaptation to his environment.

Imagine how the senses of a Child with Autism (CWA) are bombarded in a mall setting, with all the seemingly strange sights, sounds, smell, and people around them. Some of them may cry, some may throw tantrums, and others may exhibit "socially inappropriate behaviors." And some, yes, may get lost – which will be a very difficult situation if the CWA happens to be non-verbal, too.

But imagine also how a family feels when, while dealing with their CWA’s behaviors in the mall, the people around them are all staring, if not sneering. And judging: "spoiled brat" referring to the child; "hindi marunong magpalaki ng anak" – referring to the parents.

Really, it is not only the children with autism who need to be educated on malling. There is also a need to educate the mall-goers, and the public in general, on understanding autism.

Walk with Angels

"If we did something for People with Disabilities (PWD), then as an industry, we would be contributing significantly to an often neglected sector of society," said Annie Garcia, president of SM Management Corporation during her speech given at the National Conference of the Philippine Retailers Association last August.

SM swept a total of seven awards (for seven branches) as the Most Handicapped Friendly Establishments during this year’s Apolinario Mabini Awards (August 6, 2008).

They more than deserve the awards because their barrier-free and safe environment for persons with disability (PWD) includes not only their building facilities.

Most importantly, SM people – from the managers down to the frontliners, understand and show compassion for PWDs who may not have physical disability requiring special ramps and comfort rooms, but need all the understanding and compassion they could get.

As Ms. Garcia told other retailers, "I speak to you about our special customers, the customers we should also care for, the ones that need greater understanding, the ones that need our eyes, our ears, our legs, our minds and our strengths, and most importantly our hearts. We know that it is truly all about understanding."

The Angels Walk for Autism celebration
at Music Hall, Mall of Asia

Source: Angels Talk, Manila Bulletin Schools and Colleges Section, January 2009

U.S. Autism Prevalence Rises 57% in 4 Years

Bethesda, MD (December 18, 2009) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released their national autism prevalence report today, confirming that the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders in the United States is 1 percent of the population, or one in 110 of children 8 years of age in 2006.

The long-awaited report was conducted by the CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network in 11 sites in 2006 and tracks prevalence in children 8 years of age. The Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network is a group of programs funded by CDC to determine the number of people with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in the United States. The ADDM sites all collect data using the same surveillance methods, which are modeled after CDC’s Metropolitan Atlanta Developmental Disabilities Surveillance Program (MADDSP).

“This report confirms what we at the Autism Society have been saying for years about the prevalence of autism in America and the critical importance of early identification and interventions. For the first time, we are hearing our government acknowledge the real increase in autism and validating the impact this condition has on individuals, families and their communities,” said Lee Grossman, Autism Society President and CEO. “The question still remains: How bad does it have to get before families receive appropriate lifespan services?”

This report presents a number of other important details, including:

* The study suggests that while better diagnosis accounts for some of the prevalence, a true increase cannot be ruled out. The report also underscores that “efforts are needed to understand how complex genetic and environmental factors interact to result in symptoms which make up the autism spectrum.”

* The report again highlights that delays in identification still persist. Children in 2006 were being diagnosed only five months earlier on average than those in 2002, thus still missing the critical years of early intervention. (In 2002, children were diagnosed at an average age of 53 – 66 months, and in 2006, the average age was 50 – 60 months.) The report laudably notes that the continued lag in identification needs to be addressed as a public health concern so that this nation “can ensure that children in the U.S. receive optimal early intervention services.”

* Increases in prevalence among minority population were significant, with a 91 percent increase in Hispanic children (with 144 percent increase in Arizona contributing to this) and 41 percent in black non-Hispanic. There was a 55 percent increase in White non-Hispanic.

* Prevalence in boys was found to be 4.5 times higher in males than females. The report states one in 70 boys and one in 315 females have autism.

* This study gathered data on prevalence and cognitive impairment, showing a 90 percent increase in children with borderline intellectual functioning and a 72 percent increase among children with average to above average intelligence. As intelligence testing is unstable in the autism community, further analysis needs to be done to understand this change.

* Overall prevalence was lower among the sites with access to health evaluations alone, so sites that did not include educational evaluations likely underestimated ASD prevalence for that site. The lack of educational data would have impacted the cognitive functioning analysis as well.

It is important to note the ADDM study does not cover adult prevalence or those children who receive diagnoses later than 8, which can be common in the Asperger’s community, where the average age of diagnosis is 11 years old.

The ADDM report, which was conducted in the states of Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Wisconsin, is consistent with the Department of Health and Human Services National Survey of Children’s Health, published last October.

The increasing numbers have long-term economic costs to the country, as autism is a chronic medical condition affecting people across the lifespan. The Autism Society calls on the U.S. government to address the pressing need for community-based services to ensure a better quality of life for people with autism and their families and to increase funding for research into what factors put people at risk and treatments that will mitigate the severest medical symptoms affecting people with this chronic medical condition.

To know more, click here.

Mission, not Impossible

By: Cathy Genovia ASP Program Assistant

This article is dedicated to Lone Ranger, Dr. Ismael Pastor

“Ayan na si Ms. Autistic,” (Here’s Ms. Autistic), one of the unforgettable greeting I received during the just concluded 3-day live-in Annual Consultative Workshop at Cherry Blossoms, Ermita, Manila last November 18, 19 & 20.

To those greetings I received, I tried to keep my composure and gave my best smile. “Hindi po ako autistic. Nagtratrabaho po ako sa Autism Society Philippines, isang NGO na tumutulong sa mga pamilyang may mga anak na may autismo.” (I’m not autistic. I’m working for ASP, an NGO helping families with children with autism.)

The Workshops were sponsored by The Center for Health Development-Metro Manila (CHDMM) of Department of Health (DOH). DOH takes a giant step in inviting and accepting ASP as one its members for the coalition on Policy Development and the Health Promotion Committee

In all the meetings that I attended, I always make sure of bringing a copy of the Magna Carta of Persons with Disabilities (RA 7277)

“Oh, ‘di ba autistic ka, oh…si Ms. Autistic,” (Oh, aren’t you autistic…oh, it’s Ms. Autistic.) said one of the “heavy set” doctors, while mimicking some of the symptoms of autism like hand flapping and avoiding eye contact.

I reminded the good doctor about the existing law which is the amended Magna Carta of PWDs, RA9442. "Bakit, mamumulta ba ako?!” (Why, will I be fined?!), came his surprised remark.

“Opo, at baka pwede rin po kayong makulong,” (Yes, and you might also be jailed.) RA9442 also prohibits verbal, non-verbal ridicule and vilification against PWDs.

Thankfully, after receiving the copies of the Magna Carta for PWDs, Dr. Emma Ruth Cuevas, Chairperson for the Policy Development Committee, helped me disseminate to other members of the coalition, who are otherwise uninformed of the law.

Dr. Emma Ruth Cuevas during the Policy Committtee meeting with the rest of the group

And since autism also falls in the PWD Program of DOH, I suggested to the group to network with the National Council of Disability Affairs (NCDA) on particular issues.

After several meetings, I felt better knowing that autism is not an ignored issue anymore and knowing they are fully supporting ASP’s advocacy gave me a sense of hope.

Committee on Health Promotion of Non-Communicable Disease Program, which ASP signed up as a member is tasked to provide awareness on health and related issues by giving seminars to government health workers and also to doctors and professionals. The committee will include series of orientations on autism to provide understanding of this condition.

members of the Health Promotion Committee

The whole coalition was also invited to join our upcoming Autism Consciousness Week activities, particularly the Angels Walk for Autism, which will be slated on January 24, 2010 at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City

The mission and vision of the coalition does not end here. As what Ms. Marylen Reyes, OIC-Degenerative Disease Office of CHD-MM said “We will now be working together… forever”. Upon hearing this, I can truly say: Mission, Not Impossible to achieve.

To know more about the Medical Priveleges of PWDs, click here

Hooked on EDEIP

ASP Cavite Chapters spearheads another jam-packed EDEIP (Early Detection and Early Intervention Project) Seminar on November 26, 2009. Emilio Aguinaldo Elementary School Social Hall was filled with participants coming from nearby towns and municipalities from Cavite City, Noveleta, Rosario and Kawit.

The seminar was hosted in the municipality of Kawit, located at the base of a hooked-shaped shoreline along Manila Bay. Kawit Mayor Tik Aguinaldo and Councilor Gerry Jarin, were the guests of honor.

Kawit Mayor Tik Aguinaldo during his inspirational message

Ms. Yolanda Labo, DSWD Head of the Municipality of Kawit welcomed the 98 participants, composed of DSWD officials and personnel, daycare workers, public school principals, teachers and guidance counselors, and parents. Other guests included ASP officers and members of Cavite North Chapter and ASP Tanza President, Alma Torero.

Resource speaker, Ms. Jan Peña and the participants of the said EDEIP

The mayor gave an inspirational message and pledged to set up a priority thrust program for Persons with Disabilities in Kawit, Cavite. The mayor also emphasized that PWDs are a blessing and should not be treated as burden to society.

EDEIP resource speaker, Ms. Jan Peña, ASP Bacoor Chapter President presented a video from the Carmona PWDCO (Persons with Disabilities Coordinating Office) as a model program for PWDs in all Cavite municipalities. Jan also emphasized on the importance of early detection to help the participants understand, appreciate and support children with autism.

ASP Bacoor Chapter President,

and EDEIP resource speaker, Ms. Jan Peña

After the seminar came the induction of the ASP Cavite North Chapter, headed by Chapter President Arnel Ejercito. The inducting officer is also Jan Peña, who incidentally serves as a board member in ASP National and heads ASP’s Membership Committee as well as the ASP Cavite Chapters.

“Thank you for all the people who made this seminar possible. Because of this many residents are now more aware of autism. Knowing the signs and symptoms of autism will help give them the early intervention they need,” said Mary Rose Mijares, Secretary of ASP Cavite North Chapter.

Ms. Labo is also thankful for ASP’s support in the awareness campaign for parents and government workers. She looks forward to a second training on early intervention in Kawit.

ASP Cavite Chapters are on fire to spread the news to all LGU’s that it is possible to create and support a program for PWDs. We invite all LGU’s to join us in the January 9-10 2010 “Autism Within Borders” regional conference to learn the how’s of creating and sustaining such program. Click here for more details.