Olongapo City—In the Philippines, at least one in every 800 Filipino babies has Down Syndrome. And while Down Syndrome is relatively common, many Filipinos are still unaware that a person with Down Syndrome can still lead normal lives.
Recognizing this gap, the Junior Chamber International-Olongapo recently held its “LEAP for Down” advocacy event.
Project LEAP stands for Livelihood, Engagement and Awareness for PWDs.
The event was attended by more than 400 participants from various backgrounds, including families with children with Down Syndrome, special education teachers, university students, SK Federation councils, volunteers, and businessmen.
Most needs of a person with Down Syndrome are the same for a typical person. However, for the previous years, DSAPI reports have shown that there are some special needs to be addressed as children with Down Syndrome have developmental delays in speech, physical ability and motor skills, as well as increased risk of some health problems,” said Elmer Lapena of Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines.
“This is an eye-opener especially for those parents who are not aware of the opportunities available for their children with Down Syndrome. Some of them have felt discouraged along the way and there is really a need for a good support system. We are happy that JCI has served as the bridge for these families to come together, and learn how to create better future with their children,” said Paolo Realista, Project LEAP head.
In Olongapo City, there are a total of 92 registered persons with Down Syndrome.
There are 5 special education centers in the city, but there are no existing support groups or PWD organizations specific for Down Syndrome.
