Prior to getting acquainted with BrightMinds, I had no idea that speech therapy existed. I was…read moreunder the impression that speech impediments were just something you lived with. Yes, I know I'm ignorant. One of the companies that endeavor to change this way of thinking is BrightMinds located in The Fort. Their aim is to help out those in need of speech and occupational therapy, with children in particular. This includes those who have or had cleft lips, stutterers, special needs, and even kids who for some reason refuse to talk. It really is admirable to see them help out and give their all in order for the patients to improve their difficulty in speech and their quality of life in general. Aside from the therapy, BrightMinds also offers other classes to hone and develop kids' skills like art courses. For the adults, they have French language classes ranging from basic, intermediate, and advanced.

Brightminds Speech and Occupational Therapy Center is the best therapy center I have ever…read moreencountered.It made my son a big difference in his development as a child.

As a special education practitioner, I've had the good fortune of experiencing what it's like…read moreworking under ChildFind Learning and Play Center. Children with special needs and their families go through a lot, and it's good that centers like this exist to back them up. PROS: ChildFind Learning and Play Center is headed by Dr. Edilberto Dizon, one of the leading experts in special education in the country; They offer a variety of services, from assessments and diagnosis, early intervention, therapy, tutorial services, shadow teaching, to behavior coaching and beyond; The staff are quite pleasant and eager to help. They are very capable in answering all your questions about providing services to people with special needs. CONS: The center's space itself is pretty cramped. It's roughly the same size as two studio condo units put together. Good thing that most of their services are done outside of the headquarters. TL;DR: Having a family member with special needs may sound difficult, but having ChildFind aid you in taking the first steps in understanding and dealing with it makes it easier.

How would you act around a person who's chronically ill? How about a classroom full of students…read morewith chronic conditions? During a period of observations and field work at Silahis ng Kalusugan (School for the Chronically Ill) located inside the Philippine General Hospital Pediatrics Ward, I've learned a handful about dealing with kids who may or may not have time remaining for them in this world. PROS: The idea itself of a school providing education for kids who may not even have the strength to leave their beds is impressive. Does the curriculum, instruction, and content differ from regular schools? Not really, but they apply alternative education mostly because absences are frequent, and the linear and single grade system that work for regular schools don't apply. They take a modular approach where once they finish particular content ("modules"), they move on to the next level. They don't group classes by age level, but by how far he or she is on the module; These kids are a noisy, lively, rowdy bunch and you can't help but be infected by their enthusiasm. While some of these children aren't with us anymore, some are applying for college already. Happy tears. CONS: The state of the school is reflective of PGH and other state hospitals - in dire need of renovations, additional space, and facilities. You just have to hand it to the parents, faculty, administrators, and students for their dedication to getting good education. TL;DR: Silahis ng Kalusugan is this place full of happy children that I had the good fortune of visiting and getting to know. It's a good place to visit or even frequent as a volunteer. PRO TIP: Interested in volunteering but you're worried that you can't teach? These kids love PARTIES! Throw a Jollibee/Mcdo party and the teachers will be glad to help with suggestions of fun and safe games they could play (Pinoy Henyo is always a hit), and make sure you prep in advance for possible allergies or exam schedules.

Kudos to PGH and all the people behind the continues success of Silahis ng Kalusugan School for the…read moreChronically Ill! May God bless you and the children!

UP Integrated School is the lab school of the College of Education, and where most students…read morepractice their internship. Admission is pretty stringent here. They only admit 100 kindergarten students on which 60% are children of UP faculty/staff, and they have to go through an entrance examination and interview. Plus, graduating high school here is not an assurance that they'd get in UP as college students. PROS: No tuition fees plus quality education. Need I say more?; They have some of the best elementary school teachers I've seen and known. A number of my professors even worked in UPIS while taking their masters and PHD's. They're my inspiration in improving my craft as a teacher for young children; If you're a faculty of UPIS, you don't have to pay for your post-grad education in UP. Free tuition, aw yeah!; The kids may be a bit rowdy at times, but they're so adorable! And smart, too. CONS: Class sizes are too big for my liking; It would be awesome if UPIS would integrate special needs children in their classroom. The future is in inclusivity and they should be leading the way; It's not completely free as you have to pay for their modules. TL;DR: UPIS K-2 has quality and affordable education that a lot of people may want to consider for their children.

A school for solely children with behavioral problems is pretty much a disaster in the making. By…read moreprinciple, I don't like kids with emotional and behavioral disabilities (EBD) clumped up in the same classroom. Rather, I'd prefer that they be part of an inclusive set-up, where a child with EBD will be placed in a classroom of regular kids. So when we went to Silahis ng Katarungan (SiKat) and heard that they offer inclusive set-ups for children with EBD and those at-risk, we had high hopes of seeing inclusivity properly implemented in the classroom setting. PROS: Well, SiKat tries at the very least. There's visual and study aids around, and even a TV. Not all public schools have that luxury. CONS: Where to begin? I'm not going to mention the facilities anymore because it's pretty much a given in public schools. No, actually, in any public institutions, when you pass by a restroom, it smells of urine; There is at least 45 kids in this class when we were there, and not everyone was present then. AND THEY EVEN MERGE CLASSES, like whut? If you're dealing with children with EBD, small class sizes are a must because they need close supervision and intimate interactions; This is not an inclusive school! EBD and at-risk kids should be dispersed in different classes, where they're 5-10% of the classroom population. Not the majority. But they gathered all these children in a single classroom where one kid would throw a tantrum and everyone will follow suit. Even the regular kids. TL;DR: Silahis ng Katarungan has all the disadvantages stacked against it and it could pay disastrously for the children unless DepEd and this school's Special Ed program step up and fix their system.