The Center for Possibilities Foundation presents the advocacy film 'Yakap'

When my beloved nephew was still a toddler, I got so used that he’s being gawped at "as if he were a circus freak" and I totally hated it. "Children are one thing, they don't know any better. But these are adults. They look at him and their mouths fall open and they just stare. And I think: didn't anyone ever tell them how rude that is?" Kyle has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) which is considered as a learning disability. "He looks like any other child, but he behaves oddly – for example, he might sit there banging two toys together – and he sometimes makes strange noises." Especially when he was younger, he might have a massive meltdown – at the supermarket checkout, for instance. "I'd feel 300 pairs of eyes on us – all watching us, all judging us for being disruptive and difficult." This is just one of the many things you’d have to deal with and what you are up against when you have a child with special needs: other people tend not to be very kind. Which is particularly awful "because you've already got so much on your plate as it is. The odds seem stacked against you, and if people just gave you a bit of space and support, it would go a long way. But the opposite is more often the case: you're struggling to start with, then people knock you down further. They make assumptions about you, they find you wanting, they treat your child as though he or she is dangerous or badly behaved. It's soul destroying. It's so bad, so hard to deal with, that I have friends with special needs kids who don't even take them out any more." I know my heart for special needs individuals stems from him, seeing how little is expected from him, all while knowing how mighty his potential is. So when I recently got invited to attend the launch of an advocacy film on children with special needs from The Center for Possibilities Foundation inc., spearheaded by its founder, Dolores Cheng, I immediately said yes. 

During the said launch, Dolores Cheng, a single mom recalls why she had formed The Center for Possibilities Foundation (CFP) after coming to terms with the condition of her own son, Andreas, now 22 years old and diagnosed with Global Developmental Delay when he was three years old. "At the time, there were no support groups available, I didn't know where to go, who to see, where to find what I needed to know. I wanted to understand what it meant to raise a child with special needs. So I figured if i formed a group of my own, I would be able to find some people who might be on the same boat and needed some help," shares Cheng. 

Do You Have ADHD?

A generation ago, when one sees a hyperactive child, he was immediately dismissed in vernacular as either malikot, matigas ang ulo, makulit, adelantado, pilyo, if not mahina or worse bobo. Often, a parentsl reprimand was the answer to unbridled energy. Chances are, the child grows up with a wounded sense of self along with overwhelming confusion about why he is the way he is, limiting his chances of a promising future, when he should have been taken to the doctor for a diagnosis or an assessment and prompt treatment. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is considered and recognized as childhood developmental problems characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness. It usually affects males at a higher percentage than females. It is not known that these symptoms continue into adulthood for about 60 percent of children with ADHD. However, few adults who were never diagnosed as children are identified or treated for adult ADHD. 

"Adults with ADHD may have difficulty following directions, remembering information, concentrating, organizing tasks, or completing work within a given time frame. If these difficulties are not managed appropriately, they can cause associated behavioral, emotional, social, vocational, and academic problems." 

Common behavioral problems that are associated and may stem directly from ADHD includes anxiety, chronic boredom, chronic lateness and forgetfulness, depression, difficulty concentrating when reading, difficulty controlling anger, employment problems, impulsiveness, low frustration tolerance, low self-esteem, mood swings, poor organization skills, procrastination, relationship problems, substance abuse or addiction. 

These behaviors may be mild to severe and can vary with the situation or be present all of the time. Some adults with ADHD may be able to concentrate if they are really interested in or excited in what they are doing. Others may have difficulty focusing under any circumstances. Some adults look for stimulation, but others avoid it. In addition, ADHD in adults can be withdrawn, introvert and antisocial, or they can also be the exact opposite--they can be overly social, going from one relationship to the next. 

According to mayoclinic.com, ADHD is not an adult-onset disorder and symptoms begin during childhood. ADHD has a strong genetic component. If a family member has been diagnosed with it, odds are high that one experiencing the symptoms listed suffers from it as well. In the past, the first treatment typically offered to adults with ADHD has been stimulant drugs. Studies show that approximately two thirds of adults with ADHD who are given these medications show significant improvement in ADHD symptoms. 

Adult ADHD can be treated with one or more of the following individual cognitive and behavioral therapy to enhance self-esteem, relaxation training, anger and stress management, life coaching to help set goals and develop strategies for organizing home and work activities, job coaching or mentoring to support better working performance, and improve relationships.

If you think you've got the symptoms, it's alright. You're actually in a pretty good company: Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, Thomas Alva Edison, Winston Churchill, John F. Kennedy, Bill Cosby, Jack Nicholson, Donald Trump, Michael Jordan, Michael Phelps, Tom Cruise, Will Smith, Jamie Oliver and Robin Williams-they all have ADHD. The key for them was to learn to harness all that extra energy into something productive. 

Ocean Heaven: Jet Li, Special Children and Life Lessons

 

The synopsis caught my attention: Ocean Heaven is a family drama which features a father- Sam Wong (played by Jet Li), who is solely taking care of his autistic child- Dafu.

Wong finds out that he has liver cancer and has a few days to live. Not only does Wang have to cope with his own suffering and impending death, he also has to deal with the heartache of leaving Dafu with no immediate family.

This heartwarming film shows the challenges of being a single parent and how parents, even on their last days, would do anything just to ensure the safety and happiness of their children. 

We were surprised to see Jet Li in this movie because this is the first to cast Li in a non-kung-fu film where he won the 2010 Wen Zhang Best Actor Award. The movie was also recognized by the Shanghai Media Awards, CCTV Movie Channel Media Awards 2010 and Golden Goblet Award. In July 2011, Li even named one of his charity projects as Ocean Heaven Project to help children with autism, celebral palsy and other disorders.

Autism is a lifelong disorder. Early intervention, occurring as early as the first two years of life, has been shown to improve language and socialization, but continued intervention and education throughout the course of the individual’s life is beneficial. The film tackles the hurdles a solo parent with an almost grown-up special child had to endure .

The film spells LOVE all throughout the ending. I know most parents would be able to relate to it even those who do not have a special child. Kyle, my adopted nephew (who has ADHD) also enjoyed the movie. It reminds him of his own “stubbornness” and “funny antics”. He even asked if he’s kind of the same with the lead son Dafu. But I told him even if they’re both special children, they have different conditions & needs. He’s way ahead in terms of understanding than autistic children like Dafu. I told him he should be grateful of his own gift, just like Dafu’s natural affinity to water (he’s an excellent swimmer) in the film, Kyle excels in the arts. 

 

Catch this film in videos (if it is available) or research it on the net. It is definitely worth your time. Although you know exactly what will happen towards the ending, tears will fall & laughter will be heard as you watch this film. And this film is dedicated to ordinary parents with extraordinary love for their children.  

Special thanks to Spring Chinese Film  Festival, Ateneo Celadon organization and Shangrila Plaza mall for free film showing such as these.