Elaine Eclavea, Guam CEDDERS Initiative Area Coordinator, and June De Leon, Guam CEDDERS Associate Director, worked with the core team, trained principals and helped the office of the Special Education Program to comply with the Federal’s regulations and requirements.
“Annually, we receive federal grants for the Special Education programs,” said Helen Sengebau, Coordinator for Special Education Program, Ministry of Education. “De Leon and Eclavea helped us train teachers and assist parents on how to take care of their children. They also helped us do the reports that we’re submitting to Washington DC.”
Sengebau said they have to abide by the federal regulations and requirements on how they should expend the grant money. “And we all have to follow some local rules ,” said Sengebau. She added that working with De Leon and Eclavea helped them find the balance.
“We’ve known each other for a long time,” shared Sengebau.“De Leon and Eclavea already know the families and the children. They know how to merge the federal regulations into the local setting. It’s very good.”
The Special Education Program of the MOE provides services to special children and youth ages three to 21 years old. The services are for free. The program has more than 50 staff, and half of them are teachers who work with different private schools.
Palau has approximately 170 cases of children with special needs. “It fluctuates all the time depending on the situation,” shared Sengebau. “Sometimes family moves, but our programs are ongoing.” She added that they can get in two students tomorrow, or by next week maybe some of the families are going away.
The Special Education Program is open for everyone. “We offer our services not only for Palauans, but for everyone who needs us,” said Sengebau.
//
