Children With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in the Philippines: Challenges and Interventions

Dear Editor,

I read with interest the recent article published in this journal concerning the social inequality being experienced by Filipino children with special needs, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors highlighted the essential contribution of the Tinatanggi project for Filipino children with special needs, which includes the promotion of social inclusion and provision of innovative and sustainable approaches in improving their quality of life. ¹ It is indeed commendable to learn how community support transformed this particular population’s lives and served as a “beacon of hope” for them and their respective families and caretakers. With this, I aim to elaborate more on the plight of Filipino children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) and enumerate some initiatives by private organizations to address the challenges encountered by the affected children.

Intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) are disorders that negatively affect the person’s physical, intellectual, and emotional development. Many of these conditions affect multiple body parts or systems. Before a child turns 18, intellectual disability can be manifested, especially in terms of intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior. ² Intellectual functioning, also known as intelligence, refers to general mental capacity, such as learning, reasoning, problem solving, and so on. Adaptive behavior, on the other hand, is the collection of conceptual, social, and practical skills that are learned and performed by people in their everyday lives. ³ Examples of IDDs include autism, behavior disorders, brain injury, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, intellectual disability, and spina bifida. Children and young people with developmental disabilities are a large and growing population. In 2019, there were approximately 317 million children and adolescents with health conditions that contribute to developmental disabilities globally. ⁴ In the Philippines, there were over 1.4 million persons with disabilities, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), and this figure is projected to rise over the next several years.

One of the challenges for children with IDDs is the issue of social inclusion and the lack of understanding and acceptance from society. Some people have negative attitudes, stereotypes, and misconceptions that often lead to discrimination and exclusion, making it difficult for these individuals to access education, employment, healthcare, and other essential services. ⁵ This unfortunate situation worsened during the pandemic because of the lockdowns. With a sudden lifestyle change, disrupted routines, and no outlet and therapy, the child’s behavior became so aggressive they always ended up getting hurt and exhibiting behavioral problems. Those neurodiverse children who usually have sensory issues and have food fixations stopped eating for weeks since stores were closed. The lockdown has forced parents to think of creative ways to address the special needs of their children. ⁶

Like Tinatanggi, the government and private sectors must work together to establish more programs for the well-being of these children. Non-profit organizations like Special Olympics Pilipinas which has been providing sports programs that can develop the children’s physical and social skills, boost their self-confidence, and showcase their abilities; Autism Society Philippines which is another organization that provides support, education, and advocacy for individuals with autism and their families and also provides training and employment opportunities for individuals with autism ⁴ ; and CARD, Phils.-Pafi, a non-stock, non-profit education institution which uses the F.I.T. Approach model (Functional, Integrated, Team Approach). This model integrates the “Wheel of Life,” epitomizing CARD’s vision of providing quality education. It will give way to developing the potential of the individuals in the following aspects of their lives: family, physical, social, recreation, education, work, and psycho-spiritual. ⁷ These sample programs address the social inclusion challenges faced by children through building up their confidence and enhancing their social interaction skills through conversations, plays, and other actions that involve behavioral manifestations.

For the government’s effort, on March 11, 2022, the RA 11650 was approved and signed into law. This law requires all public schools nationwide to identify learners with special needs and provide these learners with free basic and quality education. It also mandates that all cities and municipalities have at least 1 Inclusive Learning Resource Center (ILRC), a physical or virtual center providing teaching and learning support through appropriate, accessible, and gender-sensitive materials. ⁸ However, according to the 2022 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in the Philippines by the United States Department of State, the law was not effectively enforced and that many barriers remain, including architectural barriers that made attendance difficult for persons with disabilities. Stakeholders and advocates have also lamented the non-issuance of the law’s Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) after more than a year since it was passed. ⁹ This law seems great but is difficult to fully implement because of the massive problem in the country’s educational system. With this, the government must double its initiative to implement it so that it can result to a more significant effect. There should be a strict monitoring of the people involved in its implementation, such as budget allocation for the various teaching-learning resources and training of educators. Benchmarking with neighboring countries also helps apply new trends in handling these children appropriately. The adaptation of best practices, especially with the use of advanced technology and facilities in learning, can be applied for the benefit of children.

To conclude, as we discover more effective ways to address the issue, we must never forget that every child deserves equal treatment in society, regardless of their condition. All forms of discrimination must be stopped in order for the children with IDDs live life to the fullest.