SM workers told: Protect, respect PWDs

ANGELES CITY-- An official from the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) has urged employees of SM City Clark to protect and respect persons with disabilities (PWDs) or persons with special needs.

Carmen Zubiaga, executive director of the NCDA, issued the statement before hundreds of SM employees during a recent seminar.

Zubiaga, a person on wheelchair, said that it is important for the mall employees to have knowledge on how to handle properly persons with physical and mental disabilities.

Zubiaga, together with Pacifico Tee, public relations officer of the Autism Society of the Philippines, oriented security guards and tenants about the services they could extend to persons with disabilities (PWDs).

Zubiaga, a person on a wheelchair, discussed how barriers in malls and other establishments can be eliminated to give PWDs better shopping experiences.

She stressed the need to install assistive devices and equipment like ramps and elevators so persons on wheelchairs could easily go from one floor to another.

Zubiaga said it is about time that people should learn about the rights of PWDs which should not become objects of charity.

"Baguhin na natin ang ating pananaw sa mga PWDs. Dati, we see them as object of charity. Hindi na 'yon ang kailangan. Ang kailangan programa kung paano sila maging bahagi ng society," Zubiaga said.

Tee discussed the symptoms of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

According to Tee, some of the symptoms include short attention span, talkativeness and lack of focus, tirelessness, and others.

"If you notice these behaviors on a child, please be patient with them," Tee said.

Mark Herrera, SM City Clark assistant mall manager thanked Zubiaga and Tee for imparting knowledge on the proper handling of persons with special needs.

He also asked employees to apply what they have learned in the seminar.