‘Condition of US-born kids with disabilities at risk’

Jobless nonresident workers who have children with disabilities are seeking the help of both the local and federal governments to allow them to stay, or at the very least, extend their time in the CNMI-for the sake of their children.

Jane Curioso, a mother to a 12-year-old child with autism, is worried that her child’s condition may worsen or may be put at risk if services for her child’s special needs is stopped.

Curioso, who has been in the CNMI for the past 18 years, lost her job last January and her efforts to find a new one have so far failed

Under the newly released workers regulation issued by the Department of Homeland Security, nonresident workers who are unemployed could face deportation.

Curioso is also the president of the Parents of Children with Disabilities Coalition on Saipan and said that her concern is shared by the 63-member group.

She said members represent 67 children with disabilities-ranging in age from 2 to 14 years olds-enrolled at federally funded special education programs of the Public School System.

Curioso said more than half of the coalition’s members are unemployed while the rest are expecting non-renewal of their employment contracts.

“We’re fearing for the well-being of our U.S. citizen children who happen to have special needs. Once I bring my child home [to the Philippines], I know I cannot afford to provide all the special services he needs.and I don’t want to sacrifice the well-being of my kid. I hope they will help us stay here because they need our guidance and care,” said Curioso.

She added that currently her child is regularly receiving free speech therapy, occupational therapy, and hydro therapy from PSS.

Maria Violeta Gaudiano, a mother of a 7-year-old child diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and hearing impairment and mental delay, said yesterday that she’s concerned about the future of her only child.

Because of her child’s condition and being a single parent, Gaudiano has failed to land a job since 1986. She said she will not leave her child alone on the island, but expressed deep concern on the special needs of her child.

“I know I don’t have capability to provide all my child’s special needs.but I will not leave my child alone here,” she said, adding that PSS and Medicaid is providing free therapy and consultation with specialists for her child’s conditions.

Nida Espectacion, a mother of a 12-year-old child with ADHD, also expressed the same concern. She lost her job in April this year and has been in the CNMI for 15 years.

Yesterday, she pleaded to local and federal governments to extend help to nonresident parents of affected children.

For Tess Pascual, she has one wish for her only child-that she continues to receive services for her condition. The 7-year-old was detected with ADHD and seizure disorder.

Pascual has been in the CNMI for 17 years and has four U.S. citizen children, one of whom is a child with special needs. She lost her job in 2008 and was not lucky enough to find another one.

Curioso believes that a greater number of schoolchildren enrolled in special education programs may be affected once DHS decides to deport unemployed nonresident workers.

She said she wrote to Delegate Gregorio Kilili Sablan two months ago but has yet to get a response. Sablan’s office, when asked yesterday, has also yet to issue a response to the Saipan Tribune.

According to Suzanne Lizama, PSS special education director, the system has no concrete record of who among its enrollees have nonresident parents as the program does not ask for one.

She pointed out that the situation of the parents’ group is beyond the PSS special education control. PSS’ special education program has over 900 enrollees this school year.