The Davao City Special Needs Intervention Center for Children (DCSNICC) on Friday, February 20, celebrated its first anniversary together with clients, parents, center staff, and honored guests.
Center Manager Dr. Melody Pardillo said that in one year, the DCSNICC has extended services to around 1,160 clients across Davao City.
“Importante kaayo ni nga center kay importante man gud kaayo ang early intervention sa atong kabataan kay dako kaayo siya nga factor para sa ilahang improvement and development sa ilahang different skills ang ilang milestone nga dapat masundan (This center is very important because early intervention for our children is truly essential. It plays a big role in their improvement and in the development of their different skills. Their milestones need to be properly monitored and guided so that our children can achieve and keep up with their developmental milestones),” Pardillo said.
The center provides comprehensive developmental pediatric consultations, occupational therapy (OT), Physical therapy (PT), Speech therapy (ST), Audiology services that detect hearing impairment, Special Education, Aqua therapy and playgroup sessions. It also offers support services for parents such as parent training and family counseling.
Pardillo added that they aim to hire more staff for their multidisciplinary team and additional therapists to accommodate more children.
Davao City Councilor Antoinette Principe, in her speech, said that the establishment of the center is hope made concrete as it brings assessment and therapy closer to indigent families who are financially incapable of securing assessment and therapy for their children.
“At the age of 0–7, intervention is everything. Psychological support must be timely. What makes this facility groundbreaking is the comprehensive medical diagnosis,” she said, adding that with capable multi-disciplinary specialists in each areas the facility serves as a one-stop-shop area to cater children’s needs.
She also said that the DCSNICC, as an initiative, showed that inclusivity is not a privilege but a responsibility of the government, telling every parent of a special child that they are seen and supported, that their child matters, and that every child should not be defined by their diagnosis but by their potential.
“This is not the end of our work but the beginning of expanding services, strengthening programs, and ensuring sustainability because inclusion is not a short-term project; it is a long-term commitment to every child—a symbol of unwavering support, honoring hope, growth, discipline, and inclusion for generations to come,” Principe said.
Marc, a resident of Tigatto and one of the parents of a six-year-old availing of special education (SPED) classes, shared that the services offered at DCSNICC are a huge help for his child and their whole family.
“Pasalamat sa kay Mayor Baste, CSWDO, kay dili mi maka-afford og therapy para sa iyaha, kay mahal gyud siya plus pag pangatuna nako 700-800 per theraphy for occupational theraphy unya need siya og 3 hours a day imbes igasto diha gamiton nalang namo ang kwarta sa allowance, pagkaon ug ubang needs sa sanina (Thank you to Mayor Baste and the CSWDO because we really cannot afford therapy for him. It is very expensive. When I computed it, it would cost around 700–800 per occupational therapy session, and he needs three hours a day. Instead of spending the money on that, we would rather use it for allowance, food, clothing, and his other needs),” he said.
He advised parents to be vigilant and observe the developmental growth of their children, citing how even small things can make a difference.
“Akong message lang is be vigilant gyud ta parents observe gyud ta pirmi sa development sa bata kay ang gamayng butang dako kaayog igo sa ilaha, maskin magdula sila sa gawas gunit sila bisan unsa, maka dagan-dagan, especially ang acceptance gyud nato as parents kung naa ta’y mabantayan na speech delays kanang mga symptoms sa autism sa mga butang na need og theraphy dawaton nato open minded gyud dapat ta wala man mawala kung i-intervene nato og sayo (My message is that we need to be vigilant as parents. We should always observe our child’s development because even small things can have a big impact on them. Even when they are playing outside—holding different objects, running around—we need to pay attention. Most especially, we need acceptance as parents. If we notice speech delays or possible symptoms of autism—things that may require therapy—we should accept them and remain open-minded. There is nothing to lose if we intervene early),” he said. CIO
