Community and Outreach Program

Campus Life

By Wesleyan University-Philippines Staff • Last update 2010-06-01

SUPPORT FOR THE
HANDICAPPED
AND THEIR
REHABILITATION THROUGH
EDUCATION

SHARE is a special program of Wesleyan University-Philippines. It caters to the need for education of the handicapped children and youth, and is the first and the only program of its kind in Central Luzon Region.

SHARE was started on April 18, 1983 with the completion of initial training for teachers, and related auxiliary/support staff in preparation for the establishment of a formal instruction program for the hearing-impaired children. Initial training involved basic sign language, with the following trainees: three (3) special teachers, two (2) social workers, two (2) nurses and one (1) agency head and a practicing student teacher. Mr. Rafaelito Abat, a member of the Board of Directors of the Philippine Association of the Deaf (PAD), Inc., facilitated the training with instructional manuals, books, and curriculum topics for the sign language courses. A curriculum was later developed and accredited by PAD, Inc., a special school for hearing-impaired in Makati.

SHARE was initiated by former University President Dr. Gloria D. Lacson in 1980. It was envisioned as part of the mission of the university: its love and concern for the less fortunate Filipino children. It started as a short term course offered under the Communications and Study Centre during the school year 1984-1985.

There were five (5) deaf and mute children with ages ranging from 5 to 22 who first attended the Basic Sign Language taught with integrated elementary lessons. Mrs. Mildred T. Ancheta was the first special education teacher. After a year, the core contents of the special education curriculum were fully accredited by PAD, Inc., and Department of Education, Culture, and Sports (DECS) under the PRODED Program in 1985.

It used to operate under the Wesleyan Community Outreach Program (WESCOP) but it is now a special program of Wesleyan University-Philippines.

In 1990, six (6) SHARE children graduated from elementary and have pursued their HS education at WU-P. Four (4) of them continued their college education in D.E.A.F. (Deaf Evangelistic Alliance Foundation, Inc.) in Paowin, Cavinti, Laguna. One of them is at present a faculty member of the SHARE Program in the person of Miss Fretzie P. Abes. Another new graduate was also hired this school year and she is Miss Jaycel I. Dizon, also an alumnae of WU-P. SHARE program serves as the training ground for the practicing teachers from D.E.A.F. school.

Most of the graduates for the past few years are pursuing their College education. Some of them are enrolled in Miriam College in Quezon City, College of Saint Benilde (Dela Salle Univ.) in Taft Avenue, Manila and most of them are in D.E.A.F. Laguna.

In its existence, the program has established an extension class in Talavera, Nueva Ecija in cooperation with former Mayor Manolito V. Fausto. He put up a building besides the municipal hall for the hearing-impaired of Talavera. There were eight (8) who attended the extension classes every Saturday for two years. The Talavera Central School absorbed the pupils in their campus the following year.

In 1996, a special sign language class was handled by Mrs. Lily L. Abiog and Miss Trinidad V. Ladores in Carranglan, Nueva Ecija in cooperation with the Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Cesar Vergara. This lasted for a week, wherein prospective volunteers and pupils for their special education class attended said training.

On May 2009, the SHARE classrooms were renovated through the help of concerned alumni and friends from the United States under the leadership of Mrs. Ellen P. Serrano and Mrs. Pura Gabriel- Dumandan, President, Cabanatuan City Association.

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