The University of Santo Tomas forged a multi-HEI partnership with the Thomas More University of Applied Sciences and the Katholieke Universiteit or KU Leuven to conduct a short initiative research project to empower Persons With Disabilities (PWD) in the Philippines through interprofessional telerehabilitation.
Addressing the regional challenges due to the lack of interprofessional telerehabilitation services for adults living in Binangonan, Rizal, this project aims to pave the way for capacity-building opportunities for societal stakeholders that will enable them to support, provide the said services, and take on leadership roles in the community to develop local policies.
On the University’s behalf, the College of Rehabilitation Sciences (CRS) is the key academic unit involved in the project. The College formed the UST-CRS Research Group to lead and conduct disability profiling and seek facilitators and barriers in working telerehabilitation in the said area.
The CRS Research Group is undergoing capacity training, aided by Thomas More University’s research and education expertise on telerehabilitation and KU Leuven’s expertise on digital education and technology through inter-institutional collaboration.
In terms of academics, the said project is expected to produce an evidence-based introduction and design of an effective telerehabilitation program for PWDs, demonstrate interprofessional collaboration in the implementation of telerehabilitation program, and integrate the development of e-learning tools in conducting research related to disability profiling and telerehabilitation in the curricula.
At the societal level, the project will equip and enrich the PWDs’ understanding of telerehabilitation services and access.
The project is expected to be completed on August 31, 2025.
List of involved personnel:
- Chair:
- Asst. Prof. Christian Rey D. Rimando, MSPT, PTRP
- Team members:
- Asst. Prof. Ma. Georgina D. Mojica, MHPEd, CSP-PASP
- Mr. Christopher G. Cruz, MSPT, PTRP
- Ms. Diane Allison I. Lotho, OTRP, CIA
- Ms. Jordan Barbra P. Nava, MSPT, PTRP
- Mr. Raymond Kenneth D. Ramos
The core members of the project team are:
- Promoters:
- Dr. Kirsten Schraeyen
- Assoc Prof. Anne Marie C. Aseron, MSPT, PTRP
- Co-promoters:
- Dr. Dorien Vandenborre
- Asst. Prof. Christian Rey D. Rimando, MSPT, PTRP
- Team members:
- Asst. Prof. Ma. Georgina D. Mojica, MHPEd, CSP-PASP
- Asst. Prof. Judith A. Damian, MS-SLP
Lastly, the steering committee is composed of:
- Chairs:
- Dr. Kirsten Schraeyen
- Assoc Prof. Anne Marie C. Aseron, MSPT, PTRP
- Reporting:
- Dr. Dorien Vandenborre
- Asst. Prof. Christian Rey D. Rimando, MSPT, PTRP
- Members:
- Asst. Prof. Ma. Georgina D. Mojica, MHPEd, CSP-PASP
- Asst. Prof. Judith A. Damian, MS-SLP
- Mr. Christopher G. Cruz, MSPT, PTRP
- Ms. Diane Allison I. Lotho, OTRP, CIA
- Ms. Jordan Barbra P. Nava, MSPT, PTRP
- Mr. Raymond Kenneth D. Ramos
- Mr. Apolonio F. Mendoza (Health Administrator, Binangonan)
- Dr. Angelito U. Dela Cuesta (Municipal Health Officer, Binangonan)
- Ms. Brenda Pineda, LPT, RPm (Disability Affairs Officer, Binangonan)
- Mrs. Ma. Sheen Ymel P. Ceñidoza, PTRP (Head, CBR Binangonan)
- Ms. Heziel Cequeña (CBR Worker)
- Ms. Marlyn Pragacha (CBR Worker)
- Mrs. Maria Consolacion ‘Mariesol’ Velasco (President, PWD Association)
- Asst. Prof. Froilan A. Alipao, MCD (Director, Simbahayan Community Development Office)
- Asst. Prof. Kathlene Anne V. Hernandez, MHPEd (UST-CRS Interprofessional Education and Collaboration Committee)
