by Marilyn L Balmeo, LPT, PHD
Through the Saint Louis University – Inclusive Education Resource Center (SLU-IERC), the Baguio Central School Supreme Elementary Learner Government (SELG) and the school’s student leaders invited SLU’s Dr. Marilyn L. Balmeo and Mr. John L. Paredes to train its officers on Blindness Education. The training was held at the Baguio Central School heritage hall on 9 September 2023.
The SELG’s invitation was headed by its advisers Conrado Mapili Jr. and Brenda Lee A. De Guzman, and was under the Division Federation.
Dr. Balmeo handled the Braille Reading and Writing training while Mr. Paredes addressed how to properly assist individuals with visual impairment, the basics of orientation and mobility, and technology for learners with VI.
The theme of the seminar-workshop was “Proper Handling Blind and Visually Impaired Learners through Orientation on Curriculum Plus Skills and Accessible Technology.” With this workshop, the SLU-IERC was able to strengthen its advocacy for Education for the Visually Impaired Students: Instruction, Orientation and Mobility and Numeracy (E-VISION), which was directed to SDGs 4 (Quality Education) and 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
Further, the initial plan for training on educating learners with visual impairment marks the beginning of a new partnership between SLU-IERC and the Division Federation on educational advocacies for the welfare of learners with special educational needs, specifically those with visual impairments.
Aside from the student leaders, teacher coordinators and parent representatives attended the activity.
