A Special Child

I just received an email from one of the pastors I worked with when I was in the Philippines.  Florante is a committed Filipino pastor, working very hard to reach out to the unchurched in his community.

I remember one day when Florante came to me to ask my opinion about his youngest son.  Jasper is an early elementary-aged child who displays some atypical behaviors for a child his age.  My thoughts, and those of one of my American co-workers (who happens to have a degree in Psychology), is that the young boy might by autistic.  I won't go into all of the details, but I felt his actions were similar to several of the students whom I worked with as a special education teacher.  Just this week they had Jasper examined by a professional child development specialist -- as we suspected, the diagnosis is for autism.

This is where I start having a real problem.  I've explained this before, but I will explain this again for those who have just recently started following my blog.  It is very common in the Philippines for teachers who elect certification in special education to be "sucked up" by other English-speaking countries where special education teachers are in shortage: Australia, England, and the US being the largest "suckers".  I can see the appeal for the teachers -- they will surely make more money in these other countries then they could ever expect to earn in the Philippines.  But the downside of this is that there is a substantial shortage of these special teachers throughout the country.  On the island province of Bohol, the number of special education teachers can probably be counted on one hand.

Children of the Sierra Bullones church

I remember as I toured the Icthus Christian Academy how I tried to just introduce myself as a teacher . . . but my "guides" continually emphasized that I was a licensed special education teacher.  At the time I found it peculiar, but now that I understand the situation there, it does make more sense.

So . . . here I am -- a special education teacher who has developed a significant affection for the Filipino people (and specifically for those who live on Bohol), and I can't go there and do anything to help.

Don't misunderstand . . . I am so very grateful to live here in the US and to have a decent job, especially in a time when many can't find any work at all.  But . . . my heart is just breaking for Florante and his wife, as they are faced with trying to raise a child who requires a special "school" . . . something they will never be able to afford.  Between Jasper, the squatter children whom I have worked with in Panaytayon, and the staff and students of Icthus Christian Academy, I am really distressed.  I would go back to the Philippines in a  heartbeat if there was some way to deal with my financial requirements . . . even if only for short periods of time . . . I'm flexible . . . but my job is not.

All I can do is put it in God's hands.