HISTORICAL

PERSPECTIVE ON
THE PHILIPPINES
SPECIAL EDUCATION
1902
The interest to educate Filipino children with disabilities was expressed
through Mr. Fred Atkinson, the General Superintendent of Education.

1907
Special Education was formally started in the country.

- Mr. David Barrows worked for the establishment of the Insular

School for the Deaf and Blind in Manila.

- Miss Delight Rice, an American educator, was the first administrator

and teacher of the special school.

1926
The Philippine Association for Deaf (PAD) composed mostly of hearing
impaired members and special education specialists was founded.
1927
The government established the Welfareville Childrens Village, a school for
people with mental retardation in Mandaluyong.

1936
Mrs. Maria Villa Francisco was appointed as the first Filipino principal of the
school for the Deaf and the Blind.

1945
The National Orthopedic Hospital School for the Crippled Children and
Youth is established.

1949
Quezon City Science High School was inaugurated for gifted students.

1950
PAD opened a school for the children with hearing impairment.
1953
The Elshie Gaches Village was established in Alabang to take care of the
abandoned and orphaned children and youth with physical and mental
handicaps.

1954
The first week of August was declared as Sight Saving Week.

1956
Special classes for the deaf in regular class were implemented.

1957
The Bureau of Public Schools of the Department of Education and Culture
created the Special Education Section of the Special Subjects and Service
Education.

1958
The American Foundation for Overseas Blind opened its regional office in
Manila.
1960
Some private college and universities started to offer special education
courses on graduate school curriculum.

1962
The Manila Youth Rehabilitation Center was opened.

1963
With the approval of R.A. No. 3562, the training of DEC teacher scholars
for blind children started at the Philippine Normal University.

1965
Marked the start of training programs for school administrators on the
supervision of special classes held at UP.

1967
The Bureau of Public Schools organized the National Committee on
Special education.
1969
Classes for socially maladjusted children were organized at the manila Youth
Reception Center.

1970
Training of teacher for Children with behaviour problems started at the University
of the Philippines.

1971
DECS issued a memorandum on Duties of the Special Education Teachers for the
blind.

1973
The juvenile and domestic Relations Court of Manila established the Tahanan
Special School for the socially maladjusted children and youth.

1974
The First National Conference in the Rehabilitation of the Disabled was held at
the Social Security Building.
1975
The Division of Manila City Schools implemented the Silahis Concept of Special
Education in public elementary schools.

1977
MEC issued Department Order No. 10 that designated regional and division
supervisors of special education programs

1978
Marked the creation of the National Commission Concerning Disabled Persons
later renamed as the National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons.

1979
The Bureau of Elementary Education Special Education unit conducted a two-year
nationwide survey if unidentified exceptional children who were in school.

1980
The School for the Crippled Children at the Southern Island Hospital in Cebu City
was organized.
1981
The United States Assemble proclaimed the observance of the international year of
the disabled children.

1983
Batas Pambansa enacted the Accessibility Law, an act to enhance the nobility of the
disabled persons by requiring cars, building, institutions, establishments and public
utilities to install facilities and other devices.

1990
The Philippine institute for the Deaf, an oral school for children with hearing
impairment was established.

1991
The First National Congress on Street Children was held at La Salle Greenhills in
San Juan Metro Manila.

1992
The summer training for teacher of the visually impaired started at the Philippine
Normal University.
1993
DECS issued Order No. 14 that directed regional officers to organize the Regional
Special Education Council (RESC).

1995
The summer training for teachers of the hearing impaired was held at PNU.

1996
Third week of January was declared as Autism Consciousness week.

1997
The first wheelaton-a-race for wheelchair users was the main event on the
National Disability prevention and Rehabilitation Week.

1998
DECS order No. 5 Reclassification of Regular tear and principal items to SPED
teacher and special schools principal item.

1999
DECS order no. 33 Implementation of administrative order no. 101 directing the
Department of Public Works and highways, the DECS and the CHED to provide
architectural facilities or structural feature for disabled persons in all state college,
universities and other buildings.