MANILA, Philippines — Question: My four year-old grandson has Asperger’s Syndrome. He is enrolled now and goes to therapy once a week. I feel he needs a guidance counselor apart from therapy.

But we cannot afford those recommended to us because of high rates. We live in the Cubao area. Can you recoomend anyone or advice me on what to do next? – Gigi A.

Answer: Please ask for a meeting with the administrator of your grandson’s present school and inquire if guidance counseling services are being provided for him before you look for a guidance counselor in another school or agency. Usually the guidance counselor works hand-in-hand with the special education teacher.

Parents/guardians of children with special needs are valued partners in education.

As guardian, you know your grandson best, his strengths, abilities, needs, and challenges. You have a vital role in the education of your child. Your noteworthy participation and ongoing involvement and support will make a positive and significant contribution to your grandsons’ education.

Guidance and counseling is very important for children with special needs to enable them to be productive participants in society.

Through appropriate guidance and counseling, students are helped to understand and accept themselves, and make appropriate plans for developing educationally, vocationally, personally and socially

A comprehensive guidance and counseling program is consists of four components.

1. COUNSELING is when students are guided in developing and managing their individual personal/ social, educational and career goals and plans. It includes referrals, peer helping programs and individual small group, crisis and career counseling.

2. PREVENTION means responding to students who are experiencing immediate ongoing problems, concerns, or crises which interfere with their learning. Primary, secondary, tertiary prevention plans and programs include individual assessments, coordinated student support team activities, student advocacy, and transitional planning are also included in prevention work.

3. DEVELOPMENTAL GUIDANCE EDUCATION focuses on competencies which all students should develop in order to achieve personal success and fulfillment, and to make a contribution to society. Personal/ social and educational development are integrated subject areas such as Social Studies, Christian Living/ GMRC, Values Education, Language Arts, Biology, Home Economics, Independent living, Pre-voc/Vocational Skills, Community Integration, Leisure and Recreation and Life Work Transition.

4. CONSULTATION, PLANNING AND COORDINATION include consultation and collaboration with parents and community agencies and other support services, staff development, research, budgeting, community relations, and program evaluation.

THE COUNSELOR

The function of school counselors with students who have exceptional learning needs may include:

•Working as a team member with other support professionals •Intervening with students with difficult behavior

•Providing guidance, counseling and prevention services, including crisis counseling, group guidance and counseling, family support, and consultation

•Providing specific curriculumrelated programs to strengthen personal and interpersonal skills such as problem-solving, decision-making, understanding feelings and selfacceptance

•Providing referrals for additional specialized support services and mediating and facilitating effective behavior change.

•Providing social skills training individually and in small groups

•Assisting in establishing appropriate individual behavior programs; You may call the offices/agency below and inquire about its guidance and counseling services: Philippine Mental Health Association 18 East Avenue, Quezon City. Tel No. 921-49-58/59; 921-20-93; 924- 92-99. Luzviminda L. Uy , program manager, Clinical and Diagnostic Services

University of Sto. Tomas Guidance and Counseling Department and inquire about its outreach services. Rm 204 Health Services Bldg, UST, Espana, Manila 1015, Phone: 406-1611 loc. 8212, 740-9720, Fax: 781-1873, e-mail: ustguidance@mnl. ust.edu.ph