Designing a regular school is one thing, but designing an educational facility for persons with autism must be a notch higher than the norm. The place must not only be safe and sturdy, it needs to be bright and cheerful, uncluttered and inviting. Because the students are mostly children, their well-being must be a top concern and safety features must be in place, but unobtrusive. At the same time, the surroundings must encourage them to stay long enough and to want to return regularly. The rooms must be comfortable, with areas that can be both quiet and private for individual work and open for occasions of social interaction.
One such place was recently inaugurated on a busy street in Barrio Capitolyo, Pasig City. Although the school has been operating in the area for years, it now boasts an impressive five-story building designed by architect Ramon Gonzales. From the modest lobby to the modern training facilities and pleasant stimulation rooms, the structure presents a refined but welcoming environment for learning and communicating.
The Shine Special Education Center was founded on March 11, 1998, as an intervention center for persons with autism and communication-handicapped individuals. It operates all year round, providing educational services to persons of any age diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD), such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Asperger’sSyndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS). In addition, the center also assists persons with communication handicaps, language and speech disorders, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and other developmental delays.
The people behind this important endeavor are co-founders Maria Rosario (Bunny) Gonzales Joaquin and Suzette Sumaria Sales. They lead a dedicated team of teachers and therapists armed with bachelor’s and master’s degrees and pursuing doctoral degrees in Psychology, Education, Special Education, PhysicalTherapy, Occupational Therapy, and/or Speech Therapy, as well as international continuing education units in Treatment and Education of Autistic and other Related Communication Handicapped Children, Applied Behavior Analysis, Oral Placement Therapy, and Picture Exchange Communication System Training.
From their webpage, we learn that this awesome group of professionals upholds that every child deserves the right to lead a productive life, one that will allow him/her to be integrated in regular schools, socially mainstreamed in different settings, empowered to carry on in work environments, and able to participate in the community at large. They believe that individuals with special needs have to receive the earliest possible intervention by therapeutically addressing their behavioral—and skills—deficits in order to work toward his/her holistic development and eventually improve his/her performance.
To this end, they use different ways of helping the child learn and achieve independence, communication, social and leisure skills. The classrooms are not so large as to be intimidating and also because a teacher only handles very small groups of children at a time. More often than not, the learning experience is one on one, so that rooms must have several interesting corners for simultaneous private work. The play rooms are bright and done in happy but calming colors. The center also simulates attractive living quarters which are used for living skills training. Allowing students to learn and experience operating household tools and appliances, caring for their surroundings, and even getting around in the kitchen is important and basic to raising one’s independence and self-esteem.
As a testament to the success of the staff’s dedication, the center has been able to place 75 percent of its children into regular preschools. Usually, their students are people often avoided by those who do not understand them; they are often discriminated against in public areas. But in Shine, the teaching staff is totally dedicated to accepting, understanding and empowering them to join the mainstream society. Despite the huge challenge, the staff recognizes the value of its task and is often rewarded by the way the students turn out—happier, independent and productive co-members of the community. To these tireless mentors go our sincere thanks and congratulations. You have truly created a place to shine!
