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DOROTHY S. TAROL, Ph. D.

Master Teacher II
SPED-Integrated School for Exceptional Children
Brgy. San Agustin, Iloilo City
Field of Specialization: Teaching Children
with Hearing Impairment and Multiple Disabilities
Years in Service: 25

Perhaps there is no greater quality strongly linked to the Filipino BMI addresses the top two learning gaps of persons with hearing
identity than resilience. It is no surprise then that this is the trait impairment: spelling and social engagement. Since language skills
that best characterizes Dr. Dorothy S. Tarol’s story as a teacher and are auditory-based or learned through constant hearing, those
a mother. Having a “principle-based resilience,” says Dr. Tarol, kept with any degree of hearing loss have difficulty in absorbing its
her driven amidst personal ordeals. Most importantly, it pushed dynamics.
her to empower diverse, marginalized communities whose
resilience, like hers, do not easily falter. In a nutshell, the program pairs two students — a quick
learner and another who learns at a slower pace — who study
Dr. Tarol aspires for instruction without barriers. Her solid stance on together through peer counseling. Deviating from a “tutor-tutee”
inclusive education comes from a personal source. Progressively relationship, the term “buddy” is used so as to not discriminate
losing her hearing at 35, Dr. Tarol has shifted her teaching career against their fast-slow difference. Buddies engage with each other
to cater to students with disabilities at the Special Education- through learner-initiated activities such as recreations, bonds and
Integrated School for Exceptional Children (SPED-ISEC) in Iloilo City. conversations supported by flip charts with illustrations and finger
spellings or letters and numbers represented by hand signs.
Dr. Tarol has since devoted her life’s work onto shaping an
environment conducive for learners of all kinds. She is best Dr. Tarol, originally adapting a foreign strategy, also promotes
recognized for writing and implementing in 2011 an action mother tongue-based teaching in BMI.
research entitled “Buddy-Mediated Instruction (BMI): Pivotal
Strategy for Spelling and Social Skills for Students with Hearing BMI became the inspiration for the production of a workbook
Impairment” which aims to develop a student’s basic literacy skills. called “Pinanid nga Hilikuton sa mga Kasampaton sa Hiligaynon”
(Workbook in Hiligaynon for Kindergarten), a mother tongue-
based book which provides exercises in reading, writing, counting,

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