Unmute: Hearing the Voice of Change

By Cindy Limalima, SSHJM volunteer

In our society, people with selective mutism are like actors in silent films. In their world of silence, understanding their intentions can sometimes pose a challenge, influencing how we perceive and engage with them. However, the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary's Special Education Learning Center became a channel for people to hear the voices of those who cannot speak.

The story of Garry Hermoso, a 29-year-old from Cebu City, who lives with selective mutism, intellectual disability, and low-profile autism, highlights the SSHJM SpEd Learning Center's capacity to empower individuals in need.

Garry is the fourth child of Ruben and Minda Hermoso's five children, who all earned a college degree. So, he was also eager to achieve what his siblings had. 

He first pursued his studies in the Special Education Learning Center at Zapatera Elementary School. However, his progress there was challenged as the school’s transition programme requires an age limit of 25, which hindered him to continue his studies there. His teachers reported this concern to his father. That was when the Hermoso family decided to transfer him to a different SpEd Learning Center.

The Hermoso family came across the SSHJM SpEd Learning Center and decided to enroll Garry there. During the interview, his father was in awe by what he heard, and believed it was nothing short of a miracle. For the first time, his son spoke. He heard Garry emphasise his dream to study and one day have his picture hung beside the graduation pictures of his siblings on their wall. After the interview, his father revealed to Sister Marissa, the interviewer, that his son never once spoke for the entirety of his schooling at Zapatera SpEd Learning Center, where his former teachers longed to hear his voice. 

During Garry's stay at the SSHJM SpEd Learning Center, he showed constant progress in acquiring new skills. At first, he would minimally speak and participate in class. Then, as time went by, he became more participative and sociable through the psychosocial intervention, behavioural modification, and management provided by the teachers and caregivers. 

Later, he became one of the pioneering students sent for an internship programme with a salary at the Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu Hotel. He was one of the food and beverage banquet staff in the hotel. In the report of the USJ-R psychology intern who monitored him during his first two weeks, his improvement manifested through his increased confidence and rapport with his co-workers.

Garry has just recently graduated, but his feat did not stop there! He is currently taking another path to improve his skills through TESDA's NC II assessment. Aside from this, he is also strengthening his socialisation skills by participating in his family's events. For instance, he serenaded the people at his sister's wedding with his surprise song number, which entertained the guests!

This is just one of the many stories of the students at SSHJM SpEd Learning Center thriving in their newfound home. In this inclusive learning center, everyone is valued. Each student is taught to embrace and celebrate their uniqueness. This institution's students are not only confident but they are also equipped with life skills. It is because they are taught to be capable of providing for themselves and aiding other people.

Individuals like Garry are now free from the box of limitations through these programmes. The SSHJM SpEd Learning Center breaks the screen that blocks the opportunities for people with special needs and disabilities. Garry's life is no longer a mere silent film; he is now seen and heard, ready to change his world!