QUESTION: “I’m planning to take up SPED when I get to college. Where could I take it, what should be my considerations upon taking it, and how do I prepare for it?

Teacher Genevieve says:

As the awareness, acceptance, and recognition of the contribution of individuals with special needs in our society steadily increases, more of our youth are drawn to pursue the wonderful vocation that is Special Education (SPED).

Unlike in the past, it is now common to see children with special needs in malls, churches, schools, and other public places participating in activities alongside children who are typically-developing. Buildings are equipped with ramps, parking spaces and comfort rooms for the handicapped,
with some establishments having Braille-translated elevator buttons and special lanes for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).

Likewise, they are given a 20 percent discount on transportation, medicine, and other recreational places such as movie houses and restaurants, showing that our society has begun to value them as significant members of society.

Media often features individuals with special needs who serve as an inspiration to the rest of society because of their courage and resilience, as they successfully triumph over the challenges posed by their disability. Celebrations and advocacy programs to promote their plight enjoin the nation in understanding their needs, and giving them importance in spite of their differences.

It is therefore not surprising that many take an interest in exploring the field of SPED.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT SCHOOL

Many colleges and universities now include SPED as one of their offerings. In Miriam College (Q.C.), the graduate program of SPED holds the largest chunk of the graduate school population, prompting the SPED department to offer a major in SPED in the undergraduate level with a double major in Child Development Education.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has a list of Higher Education Institutions and Programs which can be downloaded via http://www.ched.gov.ph/hei_dir/index.html. Students can check out this site to find out which schools offer SPED, and from there, find out which is most accessible, affordable, and most importantly, which offers quality education that would best prepare the student for a career in special education.

BE GUIDED

In an article I wrote on “SpEd as a course and career” for “The Special Learner” dated February 2, 2009 (Manila Bulletin), I posed four important questions to be considered in choosing a school that would provide adequate teacher preparation for SPED:

• Does the school possess integrity?
• Does the school have competent and reputable faculty?
• Does the school have an innovative and responsive curricula?
• Does the school have adequate facilities and linkages with different organizations, both public and private, working with the disabled?

These questions can guide you in making the wisest decision in terms of choosing the best school to prepare you to become a competent SPED teacher equipped with the right attitude, values, knowledge and skill.

However, choosing the right school is just one part of the equation, since succeeding in this field requires preparation as well for a lifelong vocation in addressing the plight of the disabled. You should strive to become not just any SPED teacher, but a COMMITED one – fully understanding your special role as the teacher of a child with special needs.

BECOMING A SPECIAL TEACHER FOR THE SPECIAL LEARNER

SPED is all about respecting individuality, designing instruction to meet the unique needs of the learner with special needs. Whether or not you would find fulfillment in being a SPED teacher depends significantly on how aligned this chosen vocation is to your character, values and personal goals.

Among the many traits that SPED teachers need to have are:

• Exemplary patience
• Positive attitude and optimism
• Determination in the face of adversity
• Resourcefulness
• Tolerance for differences
• Empathy that would show in their passion for teaching children with special needs. Such passion is contagious and tends to draw people to share in their advocacy and appreciation for persons with disabilities.

For a start, you can join different advocacy groups such as the Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines, ADHD Society of the Philippines or Autism Society-Philippines. Joining these organizations can get you acquainted with children with special needs and their families and participate in their projects and activities. This can help you discern whether or not you would really want to be a SPED teacher someday and work with learners with exceptionalities.

Visiting special schools and institutions for the disabled would likewise give you first-hand experience on dealing with persons with disabilities as you picture yourself being a teacher for the special learner.

The most famous special teacher is Helen Keller, a deaf-blind teacher who has learned to embrace teaching with a determination that was able to surpass great limitations and triumphantly overcome
the challenges posed by disability. She said that “the only thing worse than being blind is having sight, but no vision.” Choosing the right school and preparing oneself to become a SPED teacher entails looking at the future with a vision that extends beyond what you want for yourself alone, but seeing the future of children with special needs and how you can become a part of it.

The author is the executive director of ALRES-PHILS. and the chairperson of the SPED Department of Miriam College. A pediatric physiotherapist and special educator, she is currently pursuing her doctorate studies majoring in Special Education at U.P. Diliman. She is a staunch advocate for children with special needs.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask our SPED specialists. Just send your queries to youth@mb.com.ph