IRIGA CITY --- The Bicol Development and Learning Center Foundation Inc., the community extension arm of the University of Northeastern Philippines (UNEP) catering to children with learning and physical disabilities, marked its sixth anniversary last month with a simple but meaningful activities.
BDLC, located at Brookside, San Roque, Iriga City, is a non-stock, non-profit rehabilitation center catering to children, adolescents and adults with various types of disabilities such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism, learning difficulties, epilepsy and similar incapacity. The center was established in March 2003 as a community extension service of UNEP.
Its vision is to be a center that will provide holistic life-span programs for children with special needs that will enable them to integrate to the community and society.
The mission of the school for special children are to: address the needs of exceptional children; promote advocacy programs and community awareness to inculcate to the people a sense of responsibilities for exceptional children; and promote awareness that the family is the primary and most vital agent in the rehabilitation of an exceptional child.
Sr. Paula M. Vargas, DC., BDLC's founding chairperson, said that aside from their dedication, it is the guiding hand of the Almighty that allowed the school to reach out to children who are physically challenged and with learning disabilities.
She also lauded UNEP's vital role in opening its gates to handicapped children and adolescents in the province.
Sr. Paula said the aim of BLDC is to equip special children with skills and psychological set up necessary for them to become productive members of the community. "Through our school, we want to give children with disability the right to education and the opportunity to integrate themselves into the mainstream of society."
BDLC's comprehensive program for special children consists of a half-way house program that aims for for independent living for children, adolescents and adults with special needs; community-based rehabilitation; sheltered workshop; therapy (physical, occupational, and hydrotherapy); advocacy; special education and tutorial (one-on-one or group education); and evaluation.
The foundation's top officials are: Atty. Margarita G. Magistrado (president); UNEP vice president for Finance Delicia R. Alfelor-Tibi (honorary member); Dr. Beatriz V. Pablito (program adviser); and Fr. Frank M. Vargas, CM (spiritual adviser).
BLDC, considered as the place where first step to real learning of every special child begins, is another proof of UNEP's strong commitment to excellent quality education and unwavering service to the community.