Atienza-Special Education
Atienza-Special Education
2. The enclosed policy guidelines shall provide an over-all direction and guidance
in the organization, management, and implementation of appropriate programs,
services, and interventions for learners with disabilities at the different levels of
governance in the Department. Likewise, this policy may serve as guide for the external
stakeholders and partners in addressing the needs of learners with disabilities.
3. Effective School Year 2021-2022, this policy shall be implemented in public and
private elementary and secondary schools. However, private schools may contextualize
the necessar5r provisions depending on their needs and contexts.
4. All DepEd Orders, and other related issuances, provisions, rules and
regulations, which are inconsistent with these guidelines are replaced, repealed, or
amended accordingly.
5. For more information, please contact the office of the Bureau of Learning
Delivery-Student Inclusion Division, 4th Floor Bonifacio Building, Department of
Education Central Office, DepEd Complex, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City through email
at [email protected] or through telephone number (O2) 8631-9993.
6. This Order shall remain in force and in effect until revised, repealed, rescinded,
or amended.
Special education (SPED) in the Philippines began in 1902 when Fred Atkinson, the
General Superintendent of Education, proposed educating children with disabilities.
Here are some key milestones in the history of SPED in the Philippines:
1907: The Insular School for the Deaf and Blind was established in Pasay City,
Metro Manila by American educator Delia Delight Rice.
1926: The Philippine Association for the Deaf was established.
1927: The Welfareville Children's Village was established in Mandaluyong for
people with mental retardation.
1945: The National Orthopedic Hospital School for the Crippled Children and Youth
was established.
1956: The first school for the deaf opened in Samar.
1992: The Magna Carta for Disabled Persons was passed to promote the rights of
people with disabilities.
SPED is a specially designed instruction that focuses on the individual needs of a child
rather than a standard curriculum. The goal of SPED is to integrate learners with special
needs into regular education by helping them develop skills.
The Philippines has 133 SPED Centers throughout the country. The policy of inclusion is
also instituted in all early and basic education schools, both public and private.