As the school year comes to an end, so does the second cycle of the SLU- Sunflower Pedagogical Development Center’s (PDC) Parenting Pathway. The parenting workshop held on 24 May 2025 marked the program’s 6th event in the AY 2024-2025.
PDC brought together parents, teachers, caregivers, social workers, and nurses who are involved in advocating for children with special needs to participate in this community building program.
The event titled “When Others Lack Understanding, Be Your Child’s Advocate” highlighted some of the challenges parents and caregivers of children with special needs face, including discrimination and social isolation. The guest speaker of this event was Dr. Sally (Bing) Maximo, who shared her knowledge, advice, and practical tools from her 20+ years of experience in the mental health and education professions.
Dr. Maximo is a psychology professor at SLU in both undergraduate and graduate courses, she also works as a registered psychotherapist at multiple mental health centers around Benguet, and she is in the process of acquiring her Chaplaincy training. With the facilitation led by Dr. Maximo, participants of the parenting pathway were able to share personal stories, learn from each other’s experiences, and build relationships among empathetic peers, empowering each other to be thoughtful and dedicated advocates for their children.
The Parenting Pathway project has underscored the need for parents of children with special needs to be seen and heard in the community. It takes a village to raise a child, and a child with different learning needs is no different. PDC is proud to be supporting these families and professionals in their journey to offering children with special needs a happy, balanced and fulfilling life. Such programs are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and 17 (Partnership for the Goals). (Article by Ms. Lauren Weber, Peace Corps Volunteer | Photos by SLU PDC)
