Hope and Empowerment to Learners with Disabilities Project: A Home-to-School Collaborative Partnership in Helping Children with Special Needs

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

The Special Education Program of Department of Education had provided a holistic approach in catering the needs of learners with various exceptionalities. However, teachers had little knowledge on managing skillfully the mainstream class. Parents were disinterested in the welfare of their children. This is why this Project Hope and Empowerment with Learners with Disabilities (HELD) was introduced and implemented.

METHODS

Descriptive research method was used to describe the survival rates, the coping mechanisms and the helping strategies done by the teachers and parents to support the learners with disabilities in gaining access to education. Purposive sampling was used to select the eight teacher-respondents; 17 learners with disabilities; and seventeen (17) parent-respondents who provided information on handling their children with exceptionalities in Lower Omon Elementary School Ragay District.

RESULTS

Findings revealed that classroom situations were improved with teachers working with pupils with disabilities. Project Hope and Empowerment with Learners with Disabilities (HELD) strengthened teachers, parents and community partnership through collaboration of works. It was also revealed that the support programs were effective. The 3 HELD ways brought out the best in special needs pupils. The HELD Day motivated learners with disabilities to continue coming to school, and the Lower Omon Elementary School Facebook Social Support Group Account encouraged parents to give tips on how to help each other. Furthermore, there was an increase in the survival rate from 29%to 94% (16 out of 17) of learners with special needs.

DISCUSSIONS

Results implied positive impact on the improvement of survival rates of learners with disabilities in school.