Newsletter
Volume 30 | 2007 | Number 2
Philippines ABA
By Maria Theresa Conjuangao
As we move on and look back at the year that has passed, in hindsight we see what we have accomplished:
The launching of the nationwide multi media campaign of PABA called “Project Embrace.” Television and radio ads were launched to increase public awareness of autism. They awakened the Philippine society’s consciousness to autism and what can be done. This campaign spawned numerous calls to the PABA office and all of them were addressed and referred for proper diagnosis and intervention.
In July 2006, as part of the accreditation of Filipino ABA independent practitioners and schools, an examination was done through the assistance of Joseph E. Morrow, B.A., M.A., Ph.D., president of Applied Behavior Consultants and Ateneo de Manila University Center for Psychological and Educational Assessment (ACCESS). This accreditation’s goal was to uplift and professionalize the practice of ABA in the Philippines. We have now 15 accredited ABA practitioners coming from four accredited centers. These members are entitled to discounts on seminars and workshops sponsored by PABA and included in the organization’s mailing list.
In August 2006, Joseph E. Morrow, B.A., M.A., Ph.D., president of Applied Behavior Consultants, a private intervention services firm and Applied Behavior Consultants School for Children with Autism in Sacramento, California, U.S.A, did individual as well as site inspection for centers/schools applying for accreditation. He also conducted a seminar entitled Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and the Behavioral Treatment of Autism and including a talk on Verbal Behavior -- A Behavioral Approach to Language which was attended by parents, teachers, ABA practitioners, and other allied medical professionals.
In October 2006, PABA sponsored a fund raising activity through a stage play Alladin Jr. by Repertory Philippines. The night was a sell out; our ticket holders came out of the theatre entertained and happy that they were able to support the cause of the association.
In December, we ended the year 2006 with a seminar by Marlou de Vera, a parent and program director for a mainstreaming program in Veritas Academy in North Carolina, educating children with high functioning autism or Asperger Syndrome from kindergarten to high school, entitled A Vision for the Future. This seminar helped parents and professionals look into how to prepare young adults with disabilities for future adulthood and identifying those essential elements that will facilitate successful transition to prepare children for adult roles.
With 2007 already underway, the newly elected officers led by its president, Ms. Marisa Cojuangco have much work ahead. A lot is in store for our members and the Philippine society as a whole. First is the multimedia advertisement to come out this summer entitled “Sandbox” to further create awareness on autism and PABA nationwide. Also July of this year, PABA will open for practitioners/schools/centers who would like to be accredited. Out of town lectures are currently being scheduled and more activities are being lined up as the year progresses.
Year 2006 was a good year, but there are still a lot to accomplish for this year 2007. But with God’s grace, the organization with its members and officers working together will accomplish our goals and plans for the year and years to come.