BY KEISHA PEARL E. LABRADA / DSSC INTERN
AN ADVOCACY group lobbied for more government support for parents of children with special needs considering the high cost of therapy and assessment involved in raising them.
During the Kapihan sa PIA on July 26, Febe Lybai A. Matthews, Parents Mobilization Act Group (PMAG) president, shared the struggles and hardships parents experience in tending to their special children’s needs.
“Our struggle is the developmental assessment, which is very expensive,” Matthews, said.
According to Matthews, the rate to diagnose a child by a developmental doctor can reach up to P5,000 and private centers charge P800-P1,000 per hour for therapy sessions.
She also emphasized the need to diagnose the child since they can’t go to school without it.
Although there are free assessments at the Southern Philippines Medical Center, she said the parent might wait for five years before being assessed.
“I’m begging the government. Please, dagdagan naman ang ating mga therapist na mura ang singil,” Matthews said.
“I hope pakinggan naman, kahit subsidy lang naman ang maibigay. Kahit kalahati lang ang maibigay ng government, happy na po kami nyan.” she added.
Matthews added that children with special needs enjoy a 20% discount on medicines when they present their IDs or booklets. However, the group said it’s not enough to cover the expenses, especially for poor families.
In line with the upcoming Kadayawan Festival, the PMAG organized a painting workshop for 84 kids with special needs last July 18 at San Pedro Square.
