A year before this special school was conceived, there was a growing number of exceptional children within the areas of Paranaque, Las Pinas, and Muntinlupa in need of a program to develop their potentials and address their needs. Nida Socorro Landingin- Gusto, a registered nurse & graduate of M.Ed. Special Education from the University of the Philippines, was then providing tutorial services at
their homes to give intervention to those children who were out-of-school or to supplement the program of those enrolled in a regular class. After much prayer, the Lord gave directions and even its name. Vic Landingin, her brother, to finance the initial operations of the school. Development Center for Children, Inc., in 1987, was eventually established to give these children a structured learning environment. It’s the first special school in the area. It was also recognized by Dept. of Education in 1994. stands for Happy Organized Person through Education…Happy for positive self-image inspite of limitations; Organized pertains to a sense of direction or order reflecting functional use of intellect; Person, the child with special needs; Education, the mode of intervention. regards these children as unique persons who, despite their limitations can become productive members of the society. It primarily seeks to help them achieve their maximum potential through early diagnosis, development and implementation of intervention programs, parent/family and caregiver education, and integration in their family, community, including the regular school. All programs, (which are individualized, holistic, eclectic and collaborative in nature) are geared towards developing the child's full potentials so that he may be a functional member of the society. It also aims to help the family cope and effectively handle their child. It has also a professional working relationship with the developmental pediatricians, neurologists, education specialist, psychologists and others involved with the child..