One of the big issues when it comes to Special Education in Cebu City is how a large chunk of the overall population of children with special needs in the city remains undiagnosed, if not misdiagnosed. As a result, they are not given the necessary intervention and are made to succumb to the idea of living as helpless as they think they are meant to be.
Compared to a couple of years ago, the general population today is becoming a little more aware about the plight of children with special needs. However, not everyone is actively participating in the attempt to make things better for these children. Sometimes, even those who have a special child within their own homes fail to do what they are supposed to do for their own family member with special needs.
Everyone is responsible for the plight of a special child whether the said child is a family member, a neighbor, a classmate or a simple acquaintance. The largest amount of responsibility, however, lies on the parents of these special ones. After all, no one can ever provide for them than their own parents who brought them into this world. Every individual who desires to be a parent should know this. Hence, I think a basic education program about children with special needs should be incorporated in one of the requirements for a marriage license or something like that.
Since such is not available at the present time, here is a good alternative. The following is the list of local SPED schools and centers randomly located across the Queen City of the South.
1. Bulacao Community School
Bulacao, Pardo
2. Catholic Mission for the Deaf
5 Emerald St., St. Michael Village,
Banilad, Cebu City 6000
Tel. No. 231-2601
3. Cebu Braille Center, Inc.
Cebu Normal University, Osmeña Blvd., Cebu City 6000
Telephone & Fax: 272-0198/253-4634
4. Cebu Quota Club
347 C. Padilla St., Cebu City 6000
Telefax: 253-1034/340-2313
5 Cebu Sikatuna Lions SPED Center
Labangon Elementary School, Labangon, Cebu City 6000
Telephone & Fax: 272-2888
6. Cebu State College of Science and Technology (CSCST)
MJ Cuenco Ave., Cebu City 6000
Telephone & Fax: 416-6747/416-6570/416-6760
7. Consolacion SPED Center
Consolacion Central School, Consolacion, Cebu
Telephone & Fax: 344-1508/423-9358
8. Department of Education, Culture & Sports (DECS)
Sudlon, Lahug, Cebu City
Telephone & Fax: 254-7065
9. First High School for the Hearing-Impaired
Macopa St., Basak, Cebu City 6000
Telephone & Fax: 232-2599/412-2484/261-8181
10. Handicapped’s Anchor is Christ, Inc. (HACI)
61 Carlock St., Cebu City 6000
Tel. Nos. 261-1967/422-9318
Telefax: 253-5737/422-9319
11. Mandaue SPED Center
Mandaue Elementary School, Mandaue City
Telephone & Fax: 345-3970 telefax: 346-6837
12. Norfil Foundation
Sangi, Lapulapu City
Telephone & Fax: 340-1169/340-9342
13. San Nicolas Elementary School SPED Center
Carlock St., Cebu City 6000
Telephone & Fax: 255-4158/418-5070
14. St. Martin de Porres School
722 Tres de Abril St., Labangon, Cebu City 6000
Telephone & Fax: 254-0231/261-2954
15. STAGES Center, Inc.
190-D, F. Ramos St., Cebu City
Telephone & Fax: 254-0722/416-0843/345-8849
16. Sunshine Center for Special Children
Providence St., Peace Valley, Capitol Hills, Cebu City 6000
Telephone & Fax: 253-6331/273-2289
17. Tabunok SPED Center
Tabunok Elementary School, Tabunok, Talisay, Cebu
Telephone & Fax: 273-0997/272-4159
18. USC-SPED Teacher Training Program
Graduate Education Dept., P. del Rosario St., Cebu City
Telephone & Fax: 253-100 local 195/254-8990
19. Zapatera SPED Center
Zapatera Elementary School
Sikatuna St., Cebu City 6000
Telephone & Fax: 231-4794
