SM Cares Joins ASP in Raising Autism Awareness in Bacolod
The Autism Society Philippines (ASP) and SM Cares joined forces to bring an autism sensitivity training to over a hundred of SM City Bacolod’s employees, tenants, security personnel and housekeeping teams. As mall frontliners, the learning sessions on caring for customers with different needs are part of the continuous efforts of SM Supermalls to promote social inclusion and maintaining safe environments in all its spaces nationwide.
This weekend’s training centered on persons on with autism spectrum disorder, timely to mark Autism Acceptance Month. No less than the Chair Emeritus of ASP, Dang Uy-Koe, crafted and facilitated the training at SM City Bacolod. Koe stressed the importance of increasing understanding, breaking down stigmas regarding autism and setting a good example to peers when it comes to acceptance and inclusion.
Together with ASP’s vice president Maria Joyla Ofrecia, participants were guided into truly understanding and accommodating individuals with ASD. The participants were also able to practice their inclusivity-readiness as they assessed real-life situations they may encounter in their respective stores and assigned areas in the mall.
Koe, a dedicated community leader for disability inclusion in the Philippines, has been awarded and recognized from various organizations, amongst them the prestigious inaugural ASEAN Prize at the 33rd ASEAN Summit. The award was presented by the ASEAN panel led by Singapore prime minister Lee Hsien Loong. As the first ASEAN regional advocate in South East Asia, Koe’s efforts are widely felt through her works with the ASP, as chairperson of the ASEAN Autism Network, and other national and international advocacy platforms.
For 35 years, the Autism Society Philippines itself has grown to become one of the most visible and vibrant disability organizations in the Philippines. Its annual Angels Walk for Autism brings together the biggest gathering of ASD families, professionals, and allies in the public and private sectors, with other ASP chapters organizing simultaneous advocacy events nationwide. This April 2024, Angels Walk registered an astounding 24,000 participants with the main site at SM MOA Arena.
With the SM Bacolod sensitivity training for 2024, Koe and Ofrecia’s preparation of the mall frontliners aligns with SM’s commitment of a safe and enjoyable environment for all its mallgoers. At the end of their training, each participant pledged to activity promote an Autism-OK Philippines.
SM Cares, the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Supermalls, is at the forefront of sustainability and community support efforts for a wide range of initiatives. Advocacies of SM Cares include programs on persons with disabilities, environment, women and breastfeeding mothers, senior citizens, and children and youth. Through its malls network and employee-volunteers, SM Cares engages and partners with advocates, communities and private and public organizations to magnify the impact of these advocacies. These initiatives support the 17 United Nations Sustainability Goals. With its 85 malls across the country, all SM Cares programs serve as a catalyst for positive change for the communities served.