“Education is a fundamental human right. It should therefore be for all.”
This has been the guiding line of James R. Patton, an American professor from the University of Texas at Austin, who will be coming to Dumaguete City to talk about the education of children with disabilities, on June 24-28, 2012.
“We take pride in inviting Dr. Patton to be in Dumaguete City to raise the awareness of the community about inclusive education and how essential it is to achieving Education For All,” shared Analou Suan, GPRehab Executive director.
Patton is currently an independent consultant and adjunct associate professor in Texas. He has taught students with special needs at the elementary, secondary, and postsecondary levels of schooling. His primary areas of professional activity are transition assessment and planning, life skills instruction, adults with learning disabilities, teaching science to students with learning problems, and the accommodation of students with special needs in inclusive settings. He currently serves as a mental retardation forensics specialist in death penalty cases throughout the country.
To achieve the objective of educating the community about accommodating children with disabilities in the Philippine educational settings, GPRehab, in partnership with the American Studies Resource Center of Silliman University, will conduct a forum titled “Educating Children with Disabilities: Sharing of Experiences” on June 26, 2012, 1pm-5pm at ASRC, Silliman University Library. Dr. Patton will talk on “Educating Children with Disabilities: The American Experience,” while the Philippine experience will be tackled by representatives form the Dumaguete City and Negros Oriental Divisions of the Department of Education.
Meanwhile, Rolando Villamero Jr., GPRehab Coordinator of Program of Inclusive Education, will talk on “Educating Children with Disabilities: The Legal Bases.”
The forum will be participated in by the parents of children with disabilities, Persons with Disabilities sector, academic institutions, Department of Social Welfare & Development, Department of Education, Provincial and City Local School Board, and education advocates in Negros Oriental.
Dr. Patton will also be doing TV and radio exposure, courtesy call, and lecture discussion with college students from academic institutions in Dumaguete. (PR)
