Under Presidential Proclamation 157, February has been declared as National Intellectual Disability month. This celebration aims at generating awareness in the community about intellectual disability and providing appropriate services to persons with the said disability.
The Differently-Abled Children’s Parents Association (DACPA) and The Great Physician Rehabilitation Foundation, Inc., in partnership with the College of Education of Silliman University, St. Paul University Dumaguete, Negros Oriental State University, and Foundation University, will be holding activities geared towards making the people in the community understand intellectual disability:
Symposium on Making the Rights Real for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities to be held in each of the universities; exhibit on Intellectual Disability on Feb. 20-24 at Robinsons Place Main Atrium; and Buddy Walk 2012 for Intellectual Disability on Feb. 24.
Intellectual disability encompasses various intellectual deficits, including mental retardation, conditions such as specific learning disability, Down Syndrome, and problems acquired later in life through acquired brain injuries or neuro-degenerative diseases like dementia. Intellectual disabilities may appear at any age.
“We are one with GPRehab in making the people aware about intellectual disabilities. We do not want our children to be ridiculed and humiliated because of their disability. Let’s end discrimination and make our society more welcoming to persons with intellectual disabilities,” expressed Romy Katada, DACPA president, and guardian of a child with Down Syndrome.
