Skip to main content

SM execs meet U.S. State Official to discuss PWD rights advocacy

By
In a short visit to the Philippines this week, U.S. Special Advisor on Disability Rights Judith Heumann met with executives of SM Supermalls to discuss the company’s programs on the social inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PWD). SM, through its corporate social responsibility arm SM Cares, has been strongly promoting a barrier-free and disability-inclusive environment for everybody for many years now.


Vice President for Operations and Program Director for SM Cares Committee on Disability Affairs Bien Mateo presented to Special Advisor Heumann some of SM Cares’ initiatives like the Angels Walk for Autism, the Happy Walk for Down Syndrome, the special screening of movies for the deaf and the blind, earthquake preparedness conference for PWDS, and the special voters’ registration for PWDs and senior citizens. He also showcased the PWD assistance training that they require to all of their front liners.

SA Heumann expressed appreciation for all the projects presented, most especially for the satellite voters’ registration being held at SM malls nationwide. According to her, making the registration more accessible to PWDs foster a more inclusive election process.

SA Heumann notes, “In many countries, I have noticed that while facilities are improving, inaccessibility is growing as well. I am very happy to learn about this unique model that SM is implementing where the principles of PWD inclusion are integrated with work. I really want to commend SM for the great job they are doing here and for being a leader in PWD advocacies.

During SA Heumann’s visit, SM Cares also arranged a roundtable discussion with the different PWD rights groups including former Isabela Governor Grace Padaca, Philippine Institute for the Deaf Principal Maricris Ibayan, UP SPED Area Cluster Coordinator Prof. Myra Trinidad-Tantengco, DLSU-CSB School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies Prof. Maria Veronica Templo-Perez, Autism Society of the Philippines President Mona Magno-Veluz, Philippine National School for the Blind Dr. Rosalie Condes, Metropolitan Museum of Manila representative Johan Araro, St. Joseph’s College SPED consultant Dr. Elvira Rocal, Philippine Foundation for the Rehabilitation of the Differently-abled President Noli Agcaoili, United Architects of the Philippines Ar. Jaime Silva, Tahanang Walang Hagdan Chief Operating Officer  Joy Cevallos-Garcia, and Paralympian Weightlifter Adeline Dumapong. The roundtable session provided an avenue for the advocates to discuss their concerns and challenges with the Special Advisor.

SM Supermalls President Annie Garcia shares, “We are dedicated to helping people as much as they expect us and as much as how we think we can do. Our more than 10 years of partnership with these advocacy groups is a testament to that. From all fronts, you can trust that SM will continue to promote awareness, acceptance, and commitment to upholding PWD rights.”

For more than a decade now, SM has been living up to its commitment of being “a mall where no one gets left behind.” This recent engagement with the U.S. State Government’s Special Advisor on Disability Rights further affirms SM’s position as the most PWD-friendly mall in the country.

To know more about SM Cares and its program on Disability Affairs, you may visit www.smcares.com.ph orwww.facebook.com/OfficialSMCares.

Labels

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

SM Home Fair at SMX June 28-30, 2019

By
SM Home, which has become the go-to home store for consumers and designers/architects alike, will be holding its biggest home fair yet from June 28 to 30 at the SMX Convention Center Manila at the Mall of Asia Complex.  
Post a Comment
Read more

Vista Cinemas opens first and only MX4D Motion EFX Theater in the country at Evia Lifestyle Center

By
Mall-goers of the Metro South can now experience the best cinema experience available in the world. After the successful opening of its first movie theaters in Taguig, Vista Cinemas has opened to the public its second location at Evia Lifestyle Center in Vista City, Daang Hari. The four new movie theaters equipped with unique top-of-the-linefeatures are now ready to to redefine the movie-watching experience in the Southern Metro. Three of the four newly opened cinemas are fitted with the latest and the best in audio technology--Dolby Atmos -- which allows movie-goers to feel like they're part of every scene. Sound produced by the Atmos System is projected from every direction in the cinema and moves with the action on-screen – creating a one-of-a-kind movie experience.
Post a Comment
Read more

Seamlessly Flip to Work or Play with the Newest ASUS VivoBook Flip Laptops

By
This upgraded, incredibly versatile, 2-in-1 device presents an abundance of modes that make the VivoBook Flip the perfect laptop for any and all occasions Nowadays, living in such a dynamic and fast-paced environment can make multitasking as daunting like never before. Needless to say, whether you are on the move from one engagement to the next, or rushing a presentation for your boss, or rather just simply capping the hectic day off by binge-watching your favorite show, one cannot deny the need for a powerful device that not only keeps up with your lifestyle, but can also be easily flexible to whatever your daily demands may be. And as if right on cue, ASUS Philippines marks the end for all such concerns and worries by introducing yet another computing innovation that will ultimately make multitasking become a whole lot easier – via its newest line-up of the lightest and strongest VivoBook Flip laptops yet. Coming in two much-awaited models, the TP301 and TP200, the latest ...
Post a Comment
Read more