In an effort to provide more opportunities and empower persons with disabilities, the Department of Science and Technology-National Capit...
The partnership provides opportunities for students to earn income through handloom weaving. In early May, DOST-NCR brought to St. Francis School-VSA Arts of the Philippines, Inc. (SFS-VSAP) the PTRI-developed portable therapeutic handlooms designed to provide a weaving technology for those with special needs.
“Our differently abled children and fellowmen are capable of producing outputs that can be beneficial to our country’s economic development. With adequate technology, training, and opportunities, we can further empower them so they can do bigger things,” said DOST-NCR’s Regional Director Jose B. Patalinjug III.
He added that seeing the students weaving and using the portable handlooms firsthand further affirmed his conviction that children who have special needs are capable of thriving.
“These children are truly inspiring. We from the DOST-NCR want to assure SFS-VSAP and other similar institutions that we will continue to provide assistance to capacitate more Filipinos with special needs. In fact, we are looking at the provision of additional technology needed by SFS-VSAP to assist more children and adults who are differently abled,” Patalinjug said.
The partnership was borne out of the DOST-NCR funded project titled Improving the Capacity and Productivity of Urban Weaving of St. Francis School-VSA Arts of the Philippines, Inc. thru the Fabrication of PTRI Developed Portable Therapeutic Handlooms. Under the said project, DOST-NCR will provide 10 units of the PTRI developed therapeutic handlooms to SFS-VSAP and provide trainings on the features, operations, and maintenance of the technology.
The therapeutic handlooms were specifically designed to engage differently abled persons in handloom weaving as a therapeutic rehabilitation for their physical, mental, social, and vocational ability. What makes the handlooms special is that these are strategically designed for the use of paraplegic persons or those with total non-coordination of their lower extremities.
It features a hand held lever which eliminates the use of treadle in interchanging heddles to lock wefts. The therapeutic handlooms also promote easy weaving comprehension as it only needs eye-hand coordination for its users. The project’s beneficiary, SFS-VSAP, was identified through in consultation with the National Council on Disability Affairs to strengthen the artistic potentials and enhance the skills of Filipino children and adults with special needs. SFS-VSAP aims to empower differently abled persons by giving them learning opportunities, trainings, and jobs through skills acquisition. Included in the programs they offer are weaving trainings and tutorials for differently abled students so they can unleash their creativity and self expression.
Prior to the DOST-NCR support, SFS-VSAP only had four handlooms which were imported from Japan and Thailand and were interchangeably used by 20 student-weavers during their classes. The school currently has 47 students and among these are those with Down syndrome, global development delay, autism, and hearing impairment. According to Rebecca Santos, VSA Executive Director, the imported handlooms are very expensive and costs roughly P60,000 each. Hence, it is not easy for them to buy additional pieces that can assist more students.
“If you look closely at our students, you can see how skilled and determined they are, especially in weaving. We are indeed very thankful to the assistance given by DOST-NCR as we can now support more students with special needs through the additional handlooms,” Santos said.
She added that they are also looking forward to showcase the products made by the students at DOST’s upcoming National Science and Technology Week exhibit in July. (Edgilyn R. Alcasid-DOST)
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