Leonard Cheshire Disability Philippines Foundation, Inc. (LCDPFI) and Save the Children International (SCI) through the cooperation of the City of Taguig and full support of City Mayor Laarni Cayetano, conducted a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on September 18, 2014 at SP Hall, Taguig City.
The main goal of the activity is to study and raise concerns of persons with disabilities (PWDs).
LCDPFI invited Dr. Marie Grace Gomez, Assistant Professor 5 of the Special Education Area, College of Education – University of the Philippines, Diliman as moderator for the discussion. Dr. Gomez finished her Doctor of Philosophy in Education major in Special Education and Doctor in Philosophy in Education major in Guidance at the University of the Philippines, Diliman. She assists in several community works and conducts seminars/trainings in coordination with the Special Education Area’s Projects.
Nine (9) questions were asked by Dr. Gomez to raise concerns among daycare center workers and parents. The questions were about laws, needs, barangay programs, educational programs, services, acceptance in the family, school and community, and wishlist.
After the discussion, it was found out that there is a need for awareness of the laws covering the PWDs and CWDs among the participants, also, PWDs and CWDs needs more attention in terms of services, and education and barangay programs. Some of the wish lists of the participants were as follows: Dagdag kaalaman at seminars para sa mga daycare center teachers (Education and seminars for daycare center teachers); Programa mula sa national, local at barangay na makakatulong sa mga PWDs at CWDs (National, Local and Barangay programs that will aid PWDs and CWDs); Kaunting tulong pinansyal, facilities at mga serbisyo para sa mga CWDs (financial assistance, facilities and services for CWDs); and Medicines.
On a positive note, the participants were able to identify attention, and tender, love and care (TLC) as the primary needs of CWDs thus, they are practising it both in school and home.