Strengthening skills and creating bonds in the new norm

THERAPY may be essential for the development of some children with disabilities. It allows them and their families to develop abilities that are important in everyday life. And two of the most important therapies in this regard are speech language therapy and occupational therapy, according to speech language pathologist Ma. Rowena “Weng” Arao-Ynion.

Ynion is program director at Trails Center for Children, Inc., a therapy center specializing in individualized pediatric services, whose mission is “to guide children in discovering their gifts.” She has actively participated in the annual Angels Walk for Autism organized by SM Cares and the Autism Society Philippines (ASP).

Covid-19’s impact on the lives of children with disabilities goes beyond making in-person sessions inaccessible and those who were able to establish a routine prior to the pandemic may have had their daily habits disrupted. This was the case for Maebelline Evangelista and her daughter Erin, who has attention

From left: Ma. Rowena Ynlon, speech language pathologist; the Pedroso family; Karen Ann Navarro, occupational therapist; the Evangelista family.

deficit / hyperactivity disorder and Carmela Pedroso and her son Miguel.

For Evangelista, she encourages Erin to engage in physical activity together with the latter’s younger brother Enrico. For Pedroso, she continues to support Miguel’s hobby in painting, not only to keep him preoccupied with something that he loves, but to help him practice as they prepare for an online painting competition later this year.

Ynion, or “Teacher Weng” as she is fondly called, said that teletherapy is currently the best option because parents can still help their children without exposing them to the virus.

Online therapy sessions have

always been an alternative to inperson sessions, typically availed by those who don’t have easy access to the latter, like those in far-flung areas, according to occupational therapist “Teacher Karen” Navarro, who is also the co-founder of Special Achievers, a non-government organization that helps children with disabilities reach their full potential.

Both Evangelista and Pedroso have been availing of online therapy sessions for their children, and they said that so far, doing so has been producing favorable results.

Navarro noted that prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, online therapy was not as widely accepted. But now,

with physical distancing becoming part of the new normal, authorities have started releasing guidelines for it. One example of such is a set of guidelines by the Philippine Academy of Occupational Therapists, Inc. that was published on March 16.

“We hope that by having continuous discussions about this advocacy, we are able to inspire others to move towards inclusion and innovation for PWDs. We will continue to support families, individuals and organizations whose commitment to PWDs align well with ours,” said Engr. Bien Mateo, SVP Operations and SM Cares director for Program on PWDs.