Successful Inaugural IDPP Residency Period Comes to a Close

The Institute on Disability and Public Policy (IDPP)'s first residency period welcoming the incoming student cohort who will earn a Master's of International Affairs in Comparative and International Disability Policy (CIDP) at American University's School of International Service (AU SIS) ended on a high note last Friday, July 29. "This has been a fantastic two weeks," stated Ambassador Luis Gallegos, Chairman of the Global UN Partnership for Inclusive Information and Communication Technologies; Chairman of the Global Universal Design Commission; former Ambassador of Ecuador to the United States; and an IDPP adjunct faculty member at AU SIS' International Communication Program, who will teach a fall CIDP course on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. "I have very much enjoyed learning from and with you during this residency period, and I look forward to our journey together," the Ambassador told CIDP students during his closing ceremony address.

The two-week event culminated in policy exercise group presentations by students, who were assigned a case study in the ASEAN region on the second day of the residency and worked over the following two weeks to create policy recommendations. Faculty, IDPP staff, and partner institutions in the room during the presentations were thoroughly impressed by the quality of analytical, methodical, and evaluative work conducted by CIDP students. The residency period has equipped and prepared CIDP students for the world's first virtual Master's program on disability studies and public policy that will begin as the fall semester starts August 29.

The IDPP is grateful for the invaluable contributions of its university and outreach partner institutions, Advisory Board members, faculty and other experts, and the in-person and virtual participation of numerous individuals throughout the residency period who helped make the residency an informative, productive, and enjoyable celebratory event.

Centennial Message of Three Lasallian Brothers

Hello! I am Maria Elena Lozada, your host and proud of being a a Lasallian. Countdown to 100 years on June 16, 2011, we had a grand celebration in all 17-campus De La Salle Philippines Simultaneously. Deaf faculty, staff, alumni and students gathered together to celebrate as Lasallian brothers and sisters.

Wow. That is great! But why do we celebrate? Let me introduce a brief history to you all that we celebrate 100 years of Lasallian Presence in the Philippines. The first Archbishop of Manila, Jeremiah James Harty, alumnus of La Salle School in the US, arrived in Manila on January 1904 during a time where strong anti-friar sentiments, mainly due to the aftermath of the Philippine Revolution, were causing the established Catholic institutions to lose ground their secular counterparts. However, he maintained a passionate belief in Christian education. It was his ardent desire to establish a school that would provide young boys with a solid Catholic Education and at the same time teaches them the English Language. He wanted La Salle Brothers to be in the Philippines to teach Christian education. But his request was rejected at first due to lack of funds; however he would continue to appeal to Pope Pius X for the establishment of additional Catholic schools in the country. After seven (7) years of struggling, the nine Brothers of the Christian Schools from both Old World and New World eventually opened the doors of the De La Salle College to 125 boys of various ages in Paco on June 16, 1911

That was in 1911. Today 2011, De La Salle schools now number to 17 and we have 97,743 students all over the Philippines!! 100 years of Lasallian Education and 20 years of those also include Deaf Education!! We have acknowledged that we have received a good education through the Lasallian education. Therefore, we should be grateful for what we are becoming of. And so now we listen to the message of 3 Lasallian Brothers, who are they? A little background. Remember I told you that there are 17 schools today?

Though each is unique and diverse all belong to one family and that is under the De La Salle Philippines (DLSP). DLSP is part of the LasallianEducation Asian Network (LEAD) and globally DLSP is part 0 the De La Salle International.

The three Lasallian Brothers of the Christian schools would share their thoughts on our centenary. The first is Br. Alvaro Rodriguez Echeverria FSC, Superior General of De La Salle International. The second is Br. Edmundo Fernandez FSC, Brother Visitor Lasallian East Asia District (LEAD). The last is Br. Ricky Laguda FSC, Sector Leader/ President of De La Salle Philippines (DLSP).

We have Filipino Sign Language interpreter ready because you all are part of Lasallian community so you all should know and understand. Happy Viewing!

Students campaign for deaf access legislation

Efforts to pass at least two proposed laws seeking better access for the deaf received a boost from students of a Manila-based college, who gathered more than 17,000 signatures for the cause.

Students of the De La Salle College of St. Benilde (DLS-CSB) said their community added 17,245 signatures for House Bills 4121 and 4631 as of June 29.

“(The) number does not yet reflect signatures gathered online. We have yet to ask (the Philippine Deaf Resource Center) for the total national signatures gathered," said an entry on the school's Deaf-E-News blog site.

However, the 17,245 signatures is still a small fraction of the 300,000 signatures the community needs to lobby lawmakers into passing the two bills.

Now pending at the House of Representatives are HB 4121, which allows a sign language interpretation on TV via an inset on the screen; and HB 4631, which allows sign language interpreters in courts.

Still, the DLS-CSB noted the 17,245 signatures were gathered in less than three weeks’ time.

Congress is to resume session on July 25.

“The goal was to be able to contribute to the needed 300,000 signatures to lobby the House bills supportive of Deaf access," the DLS-CSB said.

It also noted the PDRC extended the gathering of signatures to July 30. “We can go for 100,000 signatures to contribute!" it said.

The DLS-CSB said that those who wish to contribute can go to the DLS-CSB campus along Taft Avenue in Manila, or email: deaf.partnerships@benilde.edu.ph. — TJD, GMA News