NEURODIVERSITY
To think of those outside the box
February 28, 2023 | 3:30 PM PHT
Gregorio Del Pilar
February 28, 2023 | 3:30 PM PHT
Gregorio Del Pilar
In a world where great minds think alike, there are those who think differently---and they are, most often: neglected, misdiagnosed and mistreated. This is the reality of the Philippine education system. Those who conform to the society’s standard belong in the box; while those who struggle, remain far away from the country’s margin of opportunities.
Unlike students who score significantly higher in written assessments, 'special' students go through a constant pain of feeling inadequate or ‘not putting in more effort.’ When in truth, the odds are greater than them. In fact, they ARE the odds.
These so-called ‘special’ people include those who belong in the autism spectrum.
For a shining city like Binan, Laguna, there are currently no programs for this category of society; despite its numerous scholarships.
Common as they are, its sad to think that even the law neglects them.
Republic Act 7277 or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons in the Philippines does not even specifically include autism or neurodivergence in the list of disabilities. As such, programs specifically keyed for neurodivergence are far and few in between.