Lesson 3

SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IN THE PHILIPPINES

I. Learning Outcomes:
In this lesson, you should be able to:
1. describe the different special education programs and services offered by the Philippine public
and private schools and cite examples;
2. value the ideals of inclusive education;
3. develop a plan on special education program in one’s locality.

II. Pre-Assessment:
Instruction: Without browsing the internet, answer the following questions briefly and concisely.
1. Way back in your elementary years, what special education program did you observe in
your school? Discuss briefly.

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2. Education for All is one of the programs adopted by the Philippine education system. By
just looking at its name, how will this program promote inclusive education?

III. Lesson Map

 Inclusive Special or Self-contained
Special Education Center
Education Classes

Special Education Programs

Integration and Special Day and

Mainstreaming Residential Schools

Inclusive education is concretized through special education programs. Special Education

Center, Special or Self-contained Classes, Integration and Mainstreaming, and Special Day
and Residential Schools are the various types of SpEd Programs.

IV. Core Content:

ENGAGE: VIEWING THE BIG PICTURE OF INCLUSIVE EDUCATION
Activity 1: Illustration Analysis
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Instruction: EDUCATION
Study INbelow
the illustration THE and
PHILIPPINES
answer the given question
2

1. With this illustration, what do you think is the main object of inclusive education?

2. What do you think are the roles of teachers and administrators and the support services in the
education of children with special needs?
 EXPLORE: LOOKING AT THE RANGE
Activity 2: Content Exploration
Instruction: Study the continuum below and consider exploring the contents in this section.

Special Day and

Special Education Integration and Special or Self- Residential
Center Mainstreaming contained Classes Schools

What can you observe with the continuum shown above? In this section, you will learn the various programs
and services of special education which serve as the concretization of its vision, mission, goals, and
objectives.
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I. Special Education Programs and Services
a. Special Education Center – is a service delivery system which operates on the
“school within a school” concept. The SPED Center functions as the base for the
special education programs in a school.
i. Special Education Teacher – acts as a teacher and a tutor managing
various tasks: special or self-contained classes, mainstreaming, tutorial,
mentoring, assessment, parent education, guidance and counseling and
advocacy programs.

The pictures show the examples of special education centers.

b. Special Class and Self – contained Class – a special class is composed of pupils
with the same exceptionality or disability.
 c. Integration and Mainstreaming – these programs have allowed children and
youth with disabilities to study in regular classes and learn side by side with their
peers for the last forty years.
i. Partial Mainstreaming – children who have moderate or severe forms of
disabilities are mainstreamed in regular classes in subjects like Physical
Education, Home Economics, and Music and Arts.
ii. Full Mainstreaming - children with disabilities are enrolled in regular
classes and attend in all the subjects.

The pictures show the examples of mainstreaming.

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d. EDUCATION IN THE
Special Day School PHILIPPINES
– serves one or more types of disabilities. Classes are taught by 4
trained teachers. Other services are delivered by experts.
e. Residential School – provides special education and dormitory services.
i. Silahis Special Education Centers – a group of 15 SpEd Centers in the
Philippines.
 The picture shows the concept of Silahis Special Education Center

II. Inclusive Education

a. Inclusion describes the process by which a school accepts children with special
needs for enrollment in regular classes where they can learn side by side with their
peers.

b. Salient Features of Inclusive Education

i. Inclusion means implementing and maintaining warm and accepting
classroom communities that embrace and respect diversity or differences.
ii. It implements a multilevel, multimodal curriculum.
iii. It prepares regular teachers and special education teachers to teach
interactively.
iv. It provides continuous support for teachers to break down barriers of
professional isolation.

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The pictures show the concepts of inclusive

education

III. Support Services for Children with Special Needs

a. Medical and Clinical Services
i. Clinical Psychology – for psychological testing
ii. Medicine and Dentistry – for regular check-up
iii. Ophthalmology – for the treatment of those with blindness and low vision.
 iv. Otology and Otolaryngology – for the treatment of children with hearing,
speaking and language problems.
v. Neurology and Child Psychiatry – for the treatment of children with mental
retardation, learning disabilities, and emotional-behavioral problems.
vi. Speech Therapy – for children with language and speech problems.
vii. Physical and Occupational Therapy – for children with physical disabilities.

b. Assistive Devices – are specialized instructional and learning materials and

equipment that enable children with special needs to function efficiently

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The pictures show the various medical and clinical services available for children with special needs.
 Hearing Aid Eyeglasses

Braille Books and Devices Wheelchair

The pictures above show the various types of assistive technology

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EXPLAIN: REINFORCING MY CONCEPT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES
Activity No. 3: Enhancement Activity
Instruction: Answer the following questions briefly and concisely.

1. What does inclusive education mean? How does it promote equality and equity in learning?

2. How is the main purpose of special education concretized through:

a. Special Education Center;

b. Special Class and Self – contained Class;

 c. Integration and Mainstreaming;

d. Special Day School;

e. Residential School?

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3. How do support services and assistive devices facilitate inclusion?

V. Topic Summary:
In this module, you have learned that:
 Special Education Programs are operating in the concept of Inclusive Education.
 There are a wide array of special education programs and support services in the Philippines
 Special Education Center, Special or Self-contained Classes, Integration and Mainstreaming,
and Special Day and Residential Schools are the various types of SpEd Programs.
 Inclusion means implementing and maintaining warm and accepting classroom communities
that embrace and respect diversity or differences.
 It implements a multilevel, multimodal curriculum.
 It prepares regular teachers and special education teachers to teach interactively.
 It provides continuous support for teachers to break down barriers of professional isolation.
 Support services can be in the form of medical or clinical services and assistive devices.
 VI. References:
 Farrell, M. Foundations of Special Education: An Introduction. Wiley Blackwell Publication.
2009.
 Inciong, T. Introduction to Special Education. A Textbook for College Students – 1st edition.
Rex Bookstore. 2007.
 Stromstad, M. Developing Inclusive Teacher Education. RoutledgeFalmer-Taylor &Francis
Group. 2003.

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