๐โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐, ๐กโ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ค๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ง๐๐.ย
In celebration of the International Day of Sign Language, SM Cares of the SM Group, continues its mission to provide inclusive spaces as a mall for all through its yearly sensitivity training for its frontline employees. The training equips them with skills to better serve customers with different needs or persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Engr. Bien Mateo, Senior Vice President for Mall Operations and Program Director of SM Cares Disability Affairs noted the companyโs dedication to creating positive impacts within its communities.
โGenuine inclusion starts with us,โ he said. โOne of the integral steps in line with this effort is by conducting sensitivity training for our employees.โ
๐จ ๐ท๐พ๐ซ-๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
Apart from SM Supermallsโ facilities, the shopping malls of SM Prime Holdings, Inc. promotes inclusive spaces through features such as ramps, handlebars in comfort rooms, and Braille-labeled elevator buttons. The efforts to promote inclusivity within the malls also rely on equipping its workers with the knowledge and best practices for assisting PWDs.
Jay Jess Aquino, a security personnel in SM Mall of Asia for 15 years shared how helpful the annual sensitivity training is on learning how to respectfully assist customers who have different needs.
With daily interactions from different PWD communities, he shared how a simple act of acknowledging guests on the autism spectrum or persons with Down syndrome every time they playfully salute them goes a long way.
โPagpasok po nila sa mall, sumalaudo po sila sa amin mga guards, he said. โNatutuwa rin po kami kasi kahit sa simpleng pag-acknowledge po namin, eh napapangiti na po namin sila.โ
(They salute us guards as they enter the mall. We are also pleased because even with our simple acknowledgment, we can already make them smile.)
As SM frontliners, they must be quick to recognize guests with mobility issues to provide alternative solutions such as wheelchairs and even drive them via golf karts when available. The mallโs administration office is also open to serve as a safe and quiet space for guests who may be sensitive to several sensory inputs.
His colleague and fellow security staff Rebecca Flores in Mall of Asia expressed how the sensitivity training has made her more confident to assist patrons with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) over her nine-year experience in SM.
She emphasized the importance of maintaining open communication and building rapport with customers on the spectrum before they enter. This approach helps dismiss any notion that security guards are intimidating.
โ๐๐๐. ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐๐-โ๐ (๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ โ๐/โ๐๐๐๐) ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐,โ ๐๐ ๐น๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐. โ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐. ๐ต๐ข๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ก ๐ ๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐. ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐โ๐๐ก ๐๐๐ค๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐, ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐๐ก ๐ ๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐. ๐พ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐.โ
(We see to it that we give them a lively greeting as they enter the mall because they remember you. Even in the unfortunate event of being lost in the mall, they wonโt hesitate to approach you to find their way since they will recall the friendly face who said hi to them.)
Ms. Flores even recalled to her initial experience when a child on the autism spectrum playfully kicked her. She remembered how shocked she was during the exchange. And although the childโs parent immediately explained the situation, Ms. Flores recalled in jest how the child tried to get her again on the way out.
โ๐ท๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก. ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐,โ she said.
(I didnโt get mad. Iโm thankful because the training imparted learnings on this.)
SM Cares, the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Supermalls and a division of SM Foundation, Inc. ensures a barrier-free and disability-inclusive environment for PWDs in all of its malls nationwide.
