Raising a child with special needs will not just give you a heart ache, but also headaches and empty pockets and that is the REALITY.
Elaisha has two kinds of therapies that she needs for her improvement, Speech and Occupational therapy. She is also enrolled in a Special School wherein she attends her therapies. By doing this, I was able to lessen our expenses when it comes to fares.
Speech Therapy cost 350php per session, same as the Occupational Therapy. She attends twice OT in a week and twice ST in a week. Our Development Pediatrician check up cost 3,500php per session and I am glad that our appointment became once a year from the schedule of every six month, while Elaisha’s SpED Tuition fee in full without any discount is 100,000php (yes that is how expensive sending kids to a good Special Education School) We were just so blessed that Elaisha was granted with sponsorship it was for selected and qualified students only.Â
Breakdown:
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 I think, one of the good thing that I got in accepting Elaisha’s condition few months after it really sinked in to me, is I was able to get all the help and assistance that we need in order for us to fund Elaisha’s interventions. It was 2016, if remember it correctly, was my very first time to heard about the Medical Assistance offered by the Office of the Congressman here in Makati from a mommy friend, wherein they offer financial assistance to People with Disabilities who needs Medical Maintenence, undergo dialysis, and later on they include even Occupational and Speech therapy.
As a mom, this news is such a great relief. The financial assistance that they give depends on the need of the patient based on the requirements that will be submitted, but not greater than 5,000php. Filing of Medical Assistance is once a year, this is to give chance to other patients that need assistance too.
Being one of the beneficiary of the DSWD Medical Assistance from the Makati City Government is such a great help and benefit for me to lessen the expenses of Elaisha’s intervention. (Choosy pa ba ko?! Hindi ko mapupulot ang 5,000 sa kalsada)
1. Voters Certification – you can get this in the old school at the back of the City Hall. Tip: I went there at around 2pm and I was able to get my certification after 10 minutes.
2. Medical Certificate/ Clinical Abstract – updated Medical Certificate is needed and be sure that the spelling of the names of the claimant is correct and the license number of the doctor is visible.
3. Therapy Quotations – this can be get to the center where patient undergo therapy. It should be updated also. For this documents will be expired after 3 months.
4. PWD ID
5. Yellow Card ID
6. Any Government ID
7. PSA Birth Certificate – from the city hall
8. List of doctor’s prescribed medicines and its receipts (Reseta ng gamot at mga resibo) – this applies to people who has maintance or undergo dialysis.
*Prepare 3 copies of each requirement and submit it to the Office Congressman Luis Campos located near Guadalupe Nuevo Church.
*They will conduct a background check about the information that you gave them and will advise you to get Certificate of Indigency from your barangay prior the date of claiming in Pitogo, Makati Barangay Hall.
1. Incomplete requirements – bring 2 copies of all the documents that you submitted including the Certificate of Indigency
2. When getting the Certificate of Indigency from your barangay verify it first before leaving, your name and the name of the patient should be listed in the certificate with correct spelling and all the barangay signatories needed should have sign.
Reminder:
Claiming DSWD Medical Assistance takes a lot of patience too, this is because many of us need help too. I was there are around 10am and was able to get the assistance at around 1pm. So if you are planning to file you should be equip with water and biscuits and if its possible, do not bring your kid with you.
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 I don’t know if all cities have this kind of help. I am glad that I am living in a city that tries to reach out to the people in need. But I do hope other cities also have an office for them to ask a little help regardless of what amount, because this kind of assistance will really go a long way.
