Short link: https://wp.me/paaccn-V2D
COTABATO CITY — Education does not discriminate, everyone is accepted in schools, including whose who have any form of disability. Education is universal, inclusive, that is.
Like Mari and Arian, two young learners who remind us that disability is simply part of human diversity, and that every child has the right to learn, participate, and thrive.
Mari, a young girl with a cleft palate and a speaking difficulty, brings confidence and curiosity into the classroom. She engages actively, builds friendships easily, and contributes her ideas with enthusiasm. Her presence enriches the learning environment for everyone around her.
Arian, who is deaf and communicates non-verbally, is thoughtful, attentive, and deeply engaged. She never misses a class and connects strongly with stories and visuals, especially the Isla Maganda videos that spark her imagination. Her quiet determination shows how children flourish when learning spaces respect diverse communication styles.
For Teacher Sahara, supporting learners with disabilities is not about managing a burden; it is about fulfilling every child’s right to inclusive, quality education. She intentionally designs lessons, routines, and classroom interactions that recognize each child’s strengths and remove participation barriers.
“Every child should feel that they belong,” she says. “I make sure the whole class understands that we all learn differently, and that everyone is included.”
Persons with disability honored
Inclusive teaching and learning materials such as the Isla Maganda animated videos, audio episodes, and workbooks effectively support Mari, Arian, and their classmates by providing developmentally appropriate resources for early grade learners. These story-based materials help them connect with lesson concepts and encourage classroom discussions.
This is the heart of what we mark on the 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬: not charity or sympathy, but the affirmation that inclusion is a right, and a responsibility. It reminds us that inclusive education comes to life through educators, classmates, and communities who commit to creating spaces where every learner is welcomed and valued.
Mari’s confidence, Arian’s resolve, and Teacher Sahara’s commitment show that when classrooms embrace diversity, they become places where every child can learn, participate, and realize their full potential.
The Bangsamoro region, established in 2018 by the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) to implement the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), is made up of the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, and Tawi-Tawi, the cities of Cotabato, Lamitan, and Marawi, as well as the Special Geographic Area’s (SGA) 63 barangays or villages — now eight new municipalities — that voted “Yes” in a plebiscite in February 2019 to be under the BARMM jurisdiction.
According to the Philippine Atlas BARMM has 4,404,288 people. It has 116 municipalities: Basilan, 11 municipalities; Lanao del Sur, 39; undivided Maguindanao, 36; Sulu, 19; and Tawi-Tawi, 11. Its component cities are Cotabato (the regional center and capital) in Maguindanao; Lamitan in Basilan; and Marawi in Lanao del Sur. (✓)