Just like everyone else, people with disabilities also live a normal life, they travel, watch movies, shop and mingle with the community with their friends and families. SM Malls provide service that welcomes people with disabilities and offer better service to everyone.
Recently, SM City Olongapo conducted a seminar on How to Handle Customers with Hearing Impairment, Visual Impairment and Customer with Autism. These were discussed by Veronica M. Galicia, SPED Coordinator- Old Cabalan Integrated School; Minerva D. Vergara, SPED Coordinator- Old Cabalan Integrated School and Millette B. Sarmiento, SPED Coordinator- Gordon Heights I Elementary SPED Center respectively. Among the employees who joined the seminar were the Affiliates, Agencies and Security personnel.
The PWD-friendly effort of SM has leave a good impression to the customers. “We really appreciate the efforts of SM for understanding the plight of PWDs and also for providing facilities like PWD ramps, toilet with handlebars, counters which are accessible to wheelchairs, the elevator with braille dots, the exclusive comfort rooms for PWDs and the friendly attitude of the frontliners, the cashiers, the guards, and the service crew, “ said Minerva Vergara, SPED coordinator of Old Cabalan Integrated School.
SM Supermalls established the SM Committee on Disability Affairs under SM Cares that led to partnerships with disabled groups and more focus on the needs of the disabled. Through this effort, SM malls have become PWD friendly and they can now enjoy malling with friends and family.