Stories From The Field
Emilio Marte
Emilio
Marte was 6 years old when he joined International Child Care's
Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) program. Since he suffered
from both hearing impairment and behavioral problems, initially
it was very difficult for the CBR worker to make any progress with
Emilio. He would not cooperate with the CBR worker and as a result,
Emilio's father, Pedro, would threaten to spank him with a belt.
The negative reinforcement made the situation even worse.
Delfina Polanco, the ICC Program Supervisor in Emilio's barrio(neighborhood),
recognized what was going on and met with Pedro. She explained to
him that Emilio did not like working with the CBR worker because
he now associated her with being punished. Delfina proceeded to
educate Emilio's father on several more productive behavior management
techniques. After some consideration, Pedro decided to try the Point
Accumulation System. In addition, Delfina also assigned a new CBR
worker to the Marte home to dispel any negative association.
Fortunately, the combination of positive behavior modification
and a different CBR worker produced excellent results. Emilio's
behavior radically improved and Pedro learned that he could accomplish
much more by rewarding and complementing his son instead of punishing
him.
In addition to behavioral modification techniques, the CBR worker,
using the Portage Method, helped Emilio in the areas of language,
cognition and motor development. Exercises included word repetition,
learning to write, categorizing objects into groups and painting.
Prior to graduating from the program at age 9, Emilio's CBR worker
also arranged for him to undergo an audiometric test, receive special
earphones at a low cost, and helped him register for a school for
deaf mute children.
Today, thanks to ICC's Community Rehabilitation Program, and support
from his father, Emilio has become a sociable young boy who is hardworking
and organized.
