Map of Ilocos Norte showing the location of Laoag City (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff reporter
LAOAG CITY—Children’s rights advocates both from the public and private
sectors gathered at the Ilocos Norte Capitol auditorium recently to increase
awareness on the rights of children with disability.
With the help of the Philippine Association of Children with Developmental
Learning Disabilities, Inc. (PACDLD) in partnership with the Department Health
and the Ilocos Norte government, Felicite Jean Gonzales encouraged participants
to continue educating parents on their vital role in promoting the welfare of
children with specials needs.
Over the years, Mr. Gonzales said there had been many laws and resolutions
protecting the rights of children but there is poor implementation.
Having a child with autism, Jean and husband Octavio had been reaching out
to the different provinces nationwide to meet with Day Care teachers and
barangay health workers to share their knowledge on raising a child with
special needs.
The Gonzales couple established PACDLD in 1999, which provides counseling
and livelihood programs for parents of children with autism as well as art
workshops for kids.
he hopes that by raising the awareness level of advocates, this will
transform to a better understanding of children with disabilities.
In Ilocos Norte, there are some parents who are ashamed of their special
children. Hence, there is need to continue increasing the awareness on the
rights of children with special needs.
“Our special children have the same rights as other children. We have to do
something and one way of doing so is to reach out and give support to families
of persons with disability,” said Ms. Gonzales.
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