Together to Get There
10 years
"We, Thought many, are on body in Christ." (Rom 12: 4-5)
Monday, December 7, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Deaf Festival: BEST OF 15 YEARS
Hi everyone! Please watch here. We would like to invite you in Deaf Festival on November 16 to 21, 2009.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
On top of the heap
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV
On top of the heap
By INA HERNANDO-MALIPOT
Many people had been awed upon hearing that a deaf girl graduated magna
cum laude. But that sense of awe quickly turned to inspiration when that
same girl delivered a memorable commencement speech in behalf of her
class using merely her hands – and her heart.
Last week, 23-year-old Ana Kristina Arce was all over the news for being
the first deaf student to graduate magna cum laude from the De La Salle-
College of Saint Benilde School. Ana also received the Community Service
award for volunteering to serve in various school programs, as well as
for being the the president of the Benildean Deaf Association, the DLS-
CSB student council, the Lasallian Ministry Program for the Deaf, and
the Summer of Service Program. Ana was also one of the four student
ambassadors in the Summer Leadership Institute in PEN-International,
participated in the 12th Deaf Festival, Immaculate Conception Parish for
outreach program, relief operations for typhoon Ondoy victims and For-
the-Kids mini olympics.
GROWING UP
Ana was born deaf after her mother Vilma was infected by the rubella
virus during her pregnancy. But losing baby Ana was not an option. Vilma
pushed through with the pregnancy and gave birth to Ana on
1986
Seemingly a normal baby at first because she could react to noises, Ana
soon showed signs of deafness when she turned 11 months old.
At the age of two, Ana was enrolled at the Maria Lena Buhay Foundation,
an oral school, where she learned to speak and read lips.
“I learned sign language at age seven and it was easy for me to adjust
to communicate in sign language,” she says.
Being active in the deaf community, her sense of belonging made coping a
lot easier. It also helps that a lot of modern forms of communication
have become available “I can communicate with hearing people using
written communication, e-mail communication, SMS or text,” she says.
Also making things a lot easy for her is a sign language interpreter who
is helpful during interviews, seminars, classes, conferences and
All these make Ana feel no different at all!
MAKING THE BEST OUT OF SCHOOLING
For most people who are differently-abled, studying poses a major
problem and a lot of adjustments in many aspects have to be made. But
for Ana, schooling was bliss. “My parents were always supportive of me
especially with my going to school,” she says.
Looking for a school that would suit Ana’s needs was also something
that needed careful consideration. Her parents enrolled her both in
special and regular schools such as the Philippine Institute for the
Deaf, Philippine Normal University, and UP South to check if any of
these would be ideal for her. Unfortunately, adjustment at these said
schools did not come easy. Her parents then enlisted her at the
Philippine School for the Deaf where sign language is used as the medium
of communication through high school. In her senior year, Ana was
transferred to a private school for the deaf where she finished with
academic honors.
Still, Ana believed there were so much to be accomplished. “Even if I
am deaf, I did not consider deafness as an obstacle to pursuing my dream
of going to college and maybe a master’s degree,” she says.
As a child, Ana always wanted to be a painter. Her inclination towards
the arts pushed her to take up Bachelor in Applied Deaf Studies course
with specialization in Multimedia Arts in DLS-CSB. “I wanted to know
how I could do my best as a deaf person while pursuing my special skills
in multimedia arts,” she says.
She went to the right school indeed as DLS-CSB has a diverse group of
people who made her feel welcome. The School of Deaf Education and
Applied Studies or SDEAS, a department exclusively for deaf students
where the Filipino sign language (FSL) is used as a medium of
communication, also helped Ana in her adjustment,
It also helped that at CSB, the hearing student population is encouraged
to learn sign language through the Filipino Sign Language program. The
program urges hearing students get a deaf buddy especially in extra-
curricular activities to get to know deaf students better.
BEING AN ADVOCATE FOR THE DEAF
Ana says that despite the increasing awareness on people with special
needs, misconceptions about the deaf remains.
For instance the use of the terms “hearing impairment” and “deaf mute
” when referring to them is offensive, she says, because that term
means deaf people’s ears are impaired but they are actually not. “Most
people call us deaf mute but we are not mute. We are simply deaf and can
’t talk because we do not hear what other people say. We are not mute
because our tongues are normal.’’
Ana dreams of writing a book about the aspirations of the deaf. She
implores parents who have deaf kids not to force them to undergo
cochlear implants. “Most of the hearing parents want their deaf
children to learn how to speak so some of them make them wear a cochlear
implant although it’s not always successful. But if kids wear this,
they can’t just participate in physical activities like basketball,
swimming in deep level, and others,’’ she explains.
The best medium of communication, she believes, is still sign language.
Ana also hopes that in the future, hearing teachers of the deaf would
become aware of natural sign language especially in public and private
primary and secondary schools. “Filipino Sign Language should be
promoted as the primary means of communication for the deaf community. I
’m sure deaf children will learn their lessons fast if they use this as
the medium of communication just like me,” she ends.
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/228513/on-top-heap
--
**********************************************************
Institute of Developing Economies, JETRO
Inter-disciplinary Studies Center
Poverty Alleviation and Social Development Studies Group
Deputy Director & Professor (IDEAS)
Senior Research Fellow
MORI, Soya
3-2-2, Wakaba, Mihama-ku, Chiba-shi,261-8545
Chiba, Japan
E-mail: soya_mori@ide.go.jp
Homepage: http://www.ide.go.jp/
Fax: 0+81-43-299-9548
*********************************************************
Relief to Baquio City for Deaf Community
Photographer by: Marites Racquel Corpuz
Dearest Mighty Carol,
The Deaf community of Cordillera will never forget your kindness, we feel cared by GOD through you and your group.
GOD Bless
Ate Rack
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
1st International Deaf Day 2009
Photo by Ryan Jay Bernardo and Mark Joseph Calbay
PRESS RELEASE
PHILIPPINE FEDERATION OF THE DEAF YOUTH SECTION
The Philippine Federation of the Deaf Youth Section (PFDYS) was established last May 2007 during the First General Assembly which consisted of young Deaf representatives aged 18-35 from over the country. It is the wing section of the Philippine Federation of the Deaf, the national federation of 18 Deaf member organizations from over the country and affiliated with the World Federation of the Deaf, a global body recognized by the United Nations.
"To live in a pluralist democracy it is essential for young people to learn about human rights." - Council of
The Hungarian Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (SINOSZ), the launch of “Human Rights, Yes!, is hosting an international conference showcasing the opportunities and methods of the training manual which has committed itself to implement the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to ensure the effective promotion and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities in all areas of life by The Hungarian Parliament.
On
Fewer hundreds of Deaf and hearing participants from different deaf schools, interpreters, and FSL students had been aware about the particular talks of using on 20% I.D discount for Disabled and United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, that are yet fully of services for the Deaf minority such as the rights of our own true Filipino Sign Language and other accessible needs of. There was also having fun games and met new faces where they believe themselves to come through and be part of the oneness of empowered community beyond the aegis future.
contact at pfd.youth@gmail.com
cellphone number: 09279146413
Monday, October 26, 2009
Espesyalista 2009: A quiz bee for Deaf Students
Photo by: Jesus Morales (Deaf Student)
Last
Written by: Bea Francisco
Rizal is my president
Photo by Nadine Canalogos (Deaf Student)
Rizal is teaching the youth people to be good value and leader for our country.
Next year is coming soon, there will be new president 2010, the most people are still undecide whom they want to vote for run president, they still look for the president who is honest, trust and love our country.I feel the same, i still think whom i like to vote. Rizal is my president was showing me and touched my heart, i was thinking and looking at our country right now, there is a lot of youth people, they true know the good value and leader but they dont do because they might think hard to do for our country, some of them are good to do but, the most they do good value and leader for themself not for others and our country.
I hope the people (run for presidents) not forget Jose Rizal what he done for us was freedom, he fought for our love country. I also hope the youth people know good value and leader then they do for others with their true heart.
Written by Jerene Justiniano (Deaf Student)
Friday, October 23, 2009
Free Day! Smartbro Wireless USB
At Plaza Villorana in De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde, there were many Hearing and Deaf students on line noisily for getting FREE Smart Bro USB before it started to open at 1:00pm on October 23, 2009. Around 500 students on line, they were excited to get it. They came there so early around 11:00 am while the Smart Bro still prepared. As hot from the sun, they were patient to wait stay on the line. For Deaf students, they were about 20 to go there to get the free USB. Some of Deaf got frustrated and Hearing students, too. The Smart BRO is so awe-inspiring to the students of De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde. Giving big thank to The Smart Bro.
Written By: Nadine Calagos (Deaf Student)
Wireless USB "SmartBro", this is a good design as BLAZERS that our ANIMO BENILDEAN is ASTIG! I would like to thanks CSB that free wireless usb for Benildean student using the internet when we need for the projects and homeworks that using it.I believe that our Benildean students can do it! Astig!
Written By: Raymond Manding (Deaf Student)
Monday, October 19, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
SDEAS Business Track students tour Gardenia Factory
Last Aug 7, 2009, ENGLICOM, the Filipino-Chinese student organization of DLSU-M, sponsored a tour of the Gardenia Factory in Laguna for SDEAS Business Track students.
The ENGLICOM members and SDEAS students were treated with a video presentation of how Gardenia started and how it grew to be a very successful company today. The video emphasized on Gardenia’s corporate values and commitment to Quality and Consistency in every bread they make. After the video presentation the students were toured around the vast bread factory. The students were fascinated by how big the operation was and how quality is maintained in each stage of the baking process up until the bread is packed and delivered to the customers. The factory tour ended with a visit to the bread shop where visitors could buy different Gardenia products at discounted prices.
After the Gardenia factory tour, the group headed back to
At the end of the day, the students were all tired and some were dirty with mud but both the Deaf and the Hearing students learned something new and surely had a great time. This partnership of SDEAS with ENGLICOM shows that we could all learn from each other if we just set aside our differences and celebrate our similarities.
Written by: Jason Quiñones
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Plans for Secondary Program Initiatives
From August 19-27, 2009 Ms. Shannon was in the Philippines and met up with a number of Deaf students, Deaf and hearing faculty of SDEAS, including a select number of high schools for the Deaf.
The rationale of the visit was to do informal data gathering of the needs and concerns of Deaf students and the Deaf and hearing faculty who are involved in the secondary and post-secondary education of the Deaf in the Philippines
The rationale of the visit was to do informal data gathering of the needs and concerns of Deaf students and the Deaf and hearing faculty who are involved in the secondary and post-secondary education of the Deaf in the Philippines
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Paper Presentation
Paper Title:
Assessment of Faculty Competency in the Integration of Instructional Technology in the Classroom at the School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde
Paper Description:
The main purpose of this study was to assess the current competency level of the
Deaf and hearing faculty of SDEAS would be able to determine their level of competency in terms of instructional technology use in the classroom. The result of the study aimed to provide baseline data that the school can utilize in planning and implementing policy and action-oriented activities for the improvement of its services and the welfare of its clientele-the Deaf students.
Furthermore, the findings of the study will be an avenue for SDEAS faculty to know which area or competency they need to improve on and develop in terms of instructional technology usage inside the classroom and to ensure their preparedness as they faced with the challenges of the current and future advancement of technology.
The result of this research work may help school administrators plan professional development activities that will help SDEAS faculty become proficient in the implementation of instructional technology in the classroom. It will serve also as a basis in developing instructional technology competency standards for current and future faculty of SDEAS teaching the Deaf. Such standards will support and advance the expected instructional technology plan as a cornerstone of SDEAS faculty preparation program as well as professional development plan for SDEAS faculty, staff, and administrators.
Leo Sulse (Author)
Master of Educational Technology 2009
Philippine
Friday, July 24, 2009
FSL IDIOMS SEMINAR
FSL IDIOMS SEMINAR
JULY 24, 2009
12:30PM TO 2:30PM
PEN-MLC
Filipino Sign Language Idioms Seminar is an initiative of the collaboration of the Deaf Studies Area and the Filipino Sign Language Learning Program (FSLLP). The team consisting of Mr. John Baliza, Ms. Tess Buenaventura, Mr. Ferdinand Vizmanos and Mr. Charvie Arreola “brainstormed” about the FSL idioms which are commonly used by the Deaf in the Filipino Deaf Community as well as the by students and alumni of CSB. The seminar is geared towards making the faculty aware of the FSL idioms and in so doing encourage them to use them in their formal and informal discoverse with the Deaf. It is also aimed at enriching their FSL vocabulary. The effort is just part of a series of Faculty Development activities which started with the Basic Research Skills Seminar held last July 10, 2009. Other seminars with such objectives are forthcoming.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Basic Research Skill Seminar
A Seminar on Basic Research Skills was conducted by the School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies for the SDEAS Deaf and Hearing Faculty and Staff last July 10, 2009 at PEN Multimedia Learning Center. It aimed to provide participants with knowledge on basic research as SDEAS and DLS-CSB gear towards research development for the further improvement of Deaf Education. Ms. Maria Veronica Perez was the resource person for the said seminar.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSION:
Lessons from Riku Virtanen
Riku Virtanen is a Deaf-Blind lawyer from
Finland and currently the Vice President of the Threshold Association,
a group that advocates for independent living and human rights.
Augusto-Rosario Gonzales Theater,
5th floor De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde,
2544 Taft Ave, Manila
2544 Taft Ave, Manila
June 30, 2009
9:30 am - 11:30 am
For Inquiries:
email : sdeas.opd@gmail.com
text: 09162657558
text: 09162657558
Friday, May 29, 2009
Study Sign Language and Open Opportunities!
Reach Out to More People!
Discover the uniqueness of Deaf Culture!
SIGN UP FOR FILIPINO SIGN LANGUAGE CLASSES
at the De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB)
Classes are held three hours a week for 14 weeks and are conducted
Reach Out to More People!
Discover the uniqueness of Deaf Culture!
SIGN UP FOR FILIPINO SIGN LANGUAGE CLASSES
at the De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB)
Classes are held three hours a week for 14 weeks and are conducted
by Deaf teachers.
Choose from the following schedule are: Mon/Wed/Fri, or Mon/Fri, or Tues/Thurs, or Sat.
Course fee : Php 2,400.00 (plus Php 535 for those who do not have a
Choose from the following schedule are: Mon/Wed/Fri, or Mon/Fri, or Tues/Thurs, or Sat.
Course fee : Php 2,400.00 (plus Php 535 for those who do not have a
DLS-CSB Generic ID).
For inquiries, please contact the Filipino Sign Language Learning Program
For inquiries, please contact the Filipino Sign Language Learning Program
(FSLLP) unit at the School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS)
office at 526-7441 Local 131 by ENROLLMENT EXTENDED TO JUNE 26,2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
SDEAS General Assembly
SDEAS Vision-Mission
SDEAS Organizational Chart for SY 09-10
Directions for SY 09-10
Reminders
– Attendance
– Deadlines
– Dress Code
– Promotion
Other Matters
Friday, May 15, 2009
Techie would like to say....Thank you
Dear Colleagues,
Studies. It has been 9 years since I first assumed office.
I hope I have helped in many ways to improve Deaf life in CSB and in the
who have shared themselves out of love and compassion, asking not for anything in return but only to see that what they have helped contribute has helped in thegrowth of SDEAS - the department, our colleagues, our students, their families, our partners, people in our partner communities, people who observe and learn from us, and our country. And in the process, see and know that they, too, have grown.
And that we too, have grown with them.
I step aside now with great confidence that SDEAS is in good hands...that the youthfulness, love and dreams that flow from Dean Nicky will nurture and guide us all and the life that breathes in our hearts and in this School.
I step aside now, so I can continue my walk, not to move away but only towards another path in a nearby road, as I will always walk in this journey with you beside me, and if not possible, then in my thoughts and my heart, you remain.
We still got lots of work to do... and it will never end.
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The Deaf young children of the past are here now, ready to learn and experience what we have helped build...so they may live meaningful lives, and that they may find their own inspiration to help in the path of helping others improve their lives.
Children continue to be born, with their families searching for the right path for their children... and so our work continues..
I hope that, in those 9 years, there is a piece worthy to 
remember and be thankful for...as I have so many pieces to treasure especially when I see you happy and confident, ready to take action, and do take action to make a difference.
With us or without us, the dream continues to live on and be alive in the hearts of the Deaf Community. And in our own beautiful way, with them and for them we can continue to do more.
May you opt to continue to walk with us... as we honor our past,
for we are here today for the love that has been sown in this soil. Honor who we are and our history as a school, as a people, and as children of God.
May you opt to continue to walk with us... as we give hope to the future of what we can become, and what we can do for the good of Deaf children and youth, the hearing friends and family of Deaf people, our own friends and family, for the good of CSB and for the good of our country, the Philippines.
May you opt to continue to walk with us... as We celebrate being here now, this moment....for being Who We Are now, this moment... A wonderful, loving, child of God.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
SDEAS and KNU Cultural Exchange Program
SDEAS and KNU Cultural Exchange Program Feb 9,2009
SDEAS and KNU Cultural Exchange Program Feb 10,2009
SDEAS and KNU Cultural Exchange Program Feb 11,2009
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Thursday, February 12, 2009
Education and Integration of Deaf People
Education and Integration of Deaf People
By Theresa Christine B. dela Torre, MAEd
This is a paper presented in the First Asia-Oceania Association of Audiology Conference/6th Philippine Society of Audiology Annual Conference.Held in Dusit Hotel, Makati City on November 27, 2008
====================
Good Morning!.
I am here to discuss what we do at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde to help in the Education and Integration of Deaf people. Before I talk about some key points, allow me to explain a bit the perspective from which I will come from:
- We belong to two different professions that deal with the Deaf population. And so we look at things in a different light.
One such difference is how we call them. While you refer to them as hearing-impaired from a pathological perspective of deafness, I shall refer to them as Deaf people from a cultural perspective. People who may have difficulty with hearing or may not hear at all and may use assistive devices such as hearing aids and cochlear implants, and who at some point in their lives have learned to speak, nevertheless are also Deaf people who share their own interests, culture, language and history.
- In the educational set up of the Deaf and other children with disabilities, we use terms such as self-contained set-up, mainstreamed set up and inclusion. For everyone’s benefit let me just briefly state some unique features:
- Self-contained arrangements – Deaf students attend all their classes with their fellow peers.
- Mainstreamed arrangements – Deaf students attend some classes that are self-contained and some classes with their hearing peers.
- Inclusion – Deaf students attend all their classes with their hearing peers either with accommodation support or on their own.
The Deaf Students
Who are the Deaf students who become members of the DLS-CSB Community? To further understand SDEAS, I would like to start off by stating the issues that Deaf students often bring into the college as they pursue their studies in DLS-CSB. These are :
- Low self worth and confused identity – often there is a negative view of self, poor self-worth, and overwhelming feeling of being a 2nd class citizen.
- Distrusts capability, and capacity to improve knowledge and competence – questions worthiness, has very weak foundational skills in reading, writing, and computation; knowledge of information, basic facts, and others are limited or are sometimes distorted.
This view of weakness further compounds issues of self-worth
- Limited aspirations and Interests – very limited options because their circle of influence revolves around similar job options in their growing up years. And there are of course, very few colleges that offer career training opportunities.
- Poor health due to financial situation of their families. Most of our families belong to C or D classes. 99% of the deaf students receive partial or full tuition subsidy from CSB.
However, with sufficient support and guidance, they graduate and find jobs. [showcase the graduates]
And so, what do we do in the education of our Deaf students? I shall explain by way of introducing to you DLS-CSB and SDEAS .
About De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde
De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde is one of the 18 District Schools of De La Salle
We also offer non-degree course for pre-college students, post baccalaureate courses for students seeking advance training in various fields, and Sign Language classes. Our teachers are Deaf people and we would be glad to coordinate with PSA and Dr. Rodriguez to custom fit your needs to learn sign language.
The Mission of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde has 5 key elements which play crucial roles in our education process. These are:
- Value for community - Learning is possible and nurtured through a sense of community composed of students, faculty, administrators, and other stakeholders
- Value for relationships through transformational experiences - guided by the Benildean Core Values (BCV) of appreciation of individual worth, creativity, professional competence, social responsibility, a sense of nationhood, and our faith.
- Value for mutual support and respect for diversity; and we recognize and address needs, interests and cultures of all learners.
- Value for Faith, holistic human development and national development
- Our role to respond and anticipate needs of individuals, communities, industries and society by developing innovative and relevant programs
This is the context of our learning environment that we help cultivate for our students, particularly for our Deaf learners.
There are 3 major programs that provide support to the Deaf students. These are the Office for Academics, the Office for Deaf Esteem and Formation, and the Office for Partnership and Development.
The Office for Academics is responsible for the pre-college program called Deaf Learners’ Preparatory Course (DLPC) and the Bachelor in Applied Deaf Studies with specialization in Entrepreneurship and Multimedia Arts.
The Deaf studies track focuses on strengthening the Deaf students’ identity, and the elective tracks focus on building competence for employment. Here, you shall see the whole academic team who takes charge of the academic track of the Deaf students in DLS-CSB SDEAS
Side by side with their academic training, the Office for Deaf Esteem and Formation provides extensive formation program involving Guidance and Counseling, Spiritual Deepening, Theater Arts, Dance and Leadership Involvement through student life activities in sports, organizations, and community service. [show Office of Deaf Esteem and Formation]. The counterpart of this office for the needs of hearing students is the Office for Student Affairs.
Together with academic training, SDEAS nurtures the growth of healthy Deaf Esteem rooted in Deaf culture, value for Deaf community and their Filipino Sign Language.
SDEAS also takes part in the nurturance of a positive view of Deaf people in the mainstreamed environment. We actively take part in the education of hearing people through various involvements with the general CSB community, the employers and employees, people’s organizations, media, PSA members and others.
These are opportunities aimed to develop lasting partnerships that will have an impact on improving attitudes, awareness and on operation side, improve policies and procedures that will improve Deaf people’s access to education, employment and human services.
We have offered self-contained set up and no mainstream arrangements for the academic and self-development training of the Deaf. This is both a response to our mission, and a strategy to facilitate greater learning opportunity for our students. As mentioned earlier, we cultivate a Learner-Centered Environment, which allows diversity of needs and cultures to be fully recognized and addressed so we may assist in their growth towards the target level of professional excellence and holistic development we all aspire for our graduates.
However, interaction and full participation in the mainstreamed arrangements are made possible through close coordination of SDEAS with other units of the college. Students pursue their rights to get involved in many opportunities. Official participation in non-SDEAS school activities and initiatives are made accessible through the provision of interpreters, and other appropriate arrangement of opportunities.
In the next 3-5 years, we are preparing the way to increase the career options of Deaf people in DLS-CSB by providing access to other educational opportunities such as degree courses in design, culinary, management, and others either through a self-contained, mainstreamed or inclusive arrangement.
We hope that to be successful in such arrangement, it is necessary to provide extensive educational access support. This support shall ensure full access to information, learning experiences in and outside of the classroom, as well as educational support for remedial and advance training such as tutors, special classes, and others. We hope to have a bigger pool of interpreters for placement in various academic settings, and make use of necessary assistive devices and strategies as tools to support our deaf students in the mainstreamed set up.
Post Secondary Education Network - International, (to know more about PEN please click here ) an international partner of global network of colleges and institutions with postsecondary education program for the Deaf, is helping us in the planning of this change.
Integration of Deaf people
Deaf people are not fully integrated because the communication, information, work processes, relationships, organizations, and others in society are so arranged that only the hearing and speaking members can fully participate in.
While this is so, Deaf people find a way to be integrated in the mainstreamed society. They have learned to adapt, adjust and live productive lives despite the barriers that exist in their everyday lives. They have learned to adjust their lives accordingly to what is available, and to what is not, and creatively respond to the challenges and live a better life.
But then of course, we all seek for a better life for them. More so, they seek a better life for themselves. One where Deaf people would have a full range of options on how to improve their lives, and are able to avail of these options – with freedom to choose when, how and what to avail; and in the course of their experiences and training, they become even more productive, become experts in their chosen fields, and even take leadership roles in facilitating improvement in the lives of Deaf people and the greater majority.
The task of integration of the Deaf in society does not fall in the hands of Deaf people alone. It is a necessity that we, the hearing people fully participate in the process. Not just telling them what to do, but committing ourselves to
- understand their diversity in order to develop interventions and support for their holistic development; and
- have the willingness to effectively work with them in unity and with respect.
And so, aside from training our Deaf students, DLS-CSB SDEAS also seek to help and assist other hearing people we deal with along the way in the mainstreamed society to recognize the value of diversity, respect those who are different from us and learn to effectively work together to achieve the same objectives in many different ways.
And so now as I end my presentation allow me to pose the following questions to the members of PSA
- What else can you do to help Deaf people other than to maximize their residual hearing?
- How can you help beyond the call of your profession?
- The children that you have helped 10-15 years ago are now teenagers or young adults or even older. How else can you help them?
- What would you tell the parents of the Deaf young children who will come to you today? What future do they have that you can participate in creating? What can you do beyond your profession to help create a more positive future for them?
And so, I am glad to be here. I hope that my presentation clearly put across very important messages crucial to the integration of Deaf people in society. Maybe the information may help you along the way. As mentioned by Dr. Enriquez, one of the objectives of forming this society “is to get a complete picture in addressing the problems” of the population we all serve.
I hope that through my presentation, I was able to offer the missing piece that would complete the whole picture that you are looking for.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
DLSU Deaf Awareness Week
Hello SDEAS Faculty and Students!
Please support the SDEAS Exhibit at DLSU-Manila's Central Plaza in celebration of Deaf Awareness Week sponsored by student organization Englicom. In this album, you will see the SDEAS exhibit of Deaf Entrepreneurs, successful alumni, and the FSLLP. There are also photos of Link Center for the Deaf exhibit and Englicom exhibit celebrating Chinese New Year.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
FTK: Some notes on Volunteerism
A big group of SDEAS students and faculty are volunteering their time this coming Sunday, January 18, 2009. Here are some notes from the organizer and some responses from some of the faculty members.
More comments, feel free to comment :)
Dear SDEAS Family,
Magandang Araw!
It has come to my attention about the concern regarding the food for FTK volunteers. Thank you, Ate Agnes for being frank and making me realize the importance of explaining to SDEAS family why there will be no meals for all the ate's and kuya's
I have spoken to the FTK'09 organizers about this and told me that DLSU-COSCA FTK will only provide meals for the participants (kids) and school/center coordinator where the kids belong and as much as they want to, but unfortunately will not be able to provide meals for the volunteers (Ate/Kuya).
Below are some explanations of why DLSU-COSCA FTK will not be able to provide foods for us.
· FTK is a special project led and organized by volunteer students.
· 600+ Participants (kids with special needs, including the Deaf) come from different public schools.
· FTK is not funded by the school, students need to start from scratch and think of ways on how to draw budget/resources for FTK this year (shirts of kids and their meals and not to mention other logistical needs.)
Please, let me share to you a very humble story of mine. When I was still in the bank and still new in the "volunteering world", I met Ms. Tess Buenaventura, I remember her telling me that, volunteering is not an easy job..although its fun doing it, there will be frustrations along the way. She was the one who introduced me to Deaf in St. Joseph and I also started volunteering for the Deaf in ICC Pasig, teaching Arts and Crafts. I, together with the other volunteers, use our own money to buy materials and sometimes use our own money to buy meals for the deaf kids. Basically, volunteer in our own expenses. These activities, most of the time "hurt" my/our pockets, of course it has crossed my mind why the heck I was doing? "I've been here the whole day, I'm tired and starved, why my meals are not free? Where will I get my energy for the next activity?"
In my few years of volunteering, I have come to understand this concern, and my apologies for not right away explaining to you about the FTK meals.
I have realized that I'm here to help the kids and make them happy and not to satisfy my own needs, and if ever I've had my own needs, as a volunteer it is part of my duty to look for answer. I am still learning.
Yes there were frustrations but I never did get the real happiness once I have tried being selfless and serving other people, especially the kids who do not need gifts or money or any other worldly goodies but need my precious time to be with them.
I would like to express my sincerest appreciation to all those people who have thought of tapping DBMC to prepare foods for SDEAS volunteers (I have never thought of that.) Yes, it would be better if we just stay with our kids and eat with them.
Thank you very much for raising this concern, I am still learning and thank you for being my teachers.
Good luck to all of us, It's my first time also..hehehehehe. Promise, i will not be late...fingers crossed! hahahaha
Leo Angelo Cabasag
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Thanks Leo for the explanation and the stories.
I think the concern is not so much "why they don't have food" but more of "how can we better have food while we all serve the children same time". We don't want volunteers to drop on the ground due to dehydration, exhaustion and hunger because there is none available within their reach.
If SDEAS has excess then we can always provide COSCA a budget allotment to make sure there is food available for the children AND the volunteers.
But I think the the group is organizing this early on how to resolve that problem. So individuals are asked to share their P120 to make sure food is available and easily accessible to the SDEAS volunteers while you run off and play with the children.
At the same time, it would be good to bring along your own extra food and water for your need or the need of your SDEAS co-volunteer or if you pass on a fellow volunteer who may need some extra cookies or a gulp of water you can easily reach out to the "extras in the SDEAS bag" and share to the others.
Take care of those bones as you run, walk or catch ball! We don't want SDEAS people to return with fractures or sprains and we spend the rest of the term taking turns pushing wheelchairs, guiding people in crutches (ehem!) or carrying each other!
Take care and update us soon. As always -
Techie
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Even in this volunteering efforts, I strongly feel, SDEAS can function as a team. We can salu (compliment) one another in contributing each others skill. There can be direct volunteers- the ones working with the kids and those indirect- the ones helping out the volunteers do their job extraordinarily well.... such as DBMC, photographers, bantay ng bag etal.
O di ba?
More comments, feel free to comment :)
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