Monday, October 30, 2006 SM promotes non-handicap environment
SM CITY Baguio recently conducted an orientation and seminar for mall employees and tenant personnel regarding customer service and the promotion of a non-handicap environment for persons with disability (PWD).
The seminar, which was attended by mall administration employees, security guards, janitorial personnel, store managers, tenant supervisors and employees, aimed to further improve SM's customer service, especially to PWDs, mothers and their babies.
SM invited Richard Arceo, head of the Physical Therapy Department, and social workers Nora Jacinto and Manuela Ortiz to discuss the welfare of PWDs, epilepsy and down syndrome.
Not only did the speakers discuss the general information regarding PWDs, they also tackled how to handle their needs.
"Not because they are people with disabilities that they would immediately need your help. Always ask if they need your help before you offer a hand," Arceo advised.
Autism was discussed by Noli Vizcocho, former president of the Autism Society of the Philippines-Baguio Chapter (ASPBC).
Vizcocho relates in his lecture that an incident happened at SM Megamall in 2004 where an adult with autism was not properly handled by the security guards. He said the incident was one of the reasons why SM conducts series of lectures and seminars to further enhance its customer service.
Natividad Relucio-Clavano, the world's foremost breastfeeding advocate, talked about how a mother and her child can benefit from breastfeeding.
Clavano, at the age of 74, is still passionate in her advocacy as she is now a consultant of United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef).
She also commended SM for putting up breastfeeding stations, an area where mothers can properly breastfeed their babies. The first of which is at SM Megamall. SM City Baguio is set to construct one within the year or early next year.
Assistant mall manager Amy Gonzales said "what makes the disabled constrained is not his disability, but rather his environment." She hoped that through the seminar, SM can further promote a non-handicap environment. (Press Release)
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