SM shares to the world its continuing effort to fight for persons with disabilities.

Just recently, the 4th Conference of State Parties to the Convention of the Rights of persons with Disabilities was held in New York City. the 2-day conference aimed to discuss the international situation of persons with disabilities and how different countries are handling them.

SM Prime Holdings, represented by SM Supermalls president, Ms. Annie S. Garcia, had the distinguished honor of being the only private organization and the only Asian company to be invited to speak and share the SM program at the said conference. SM was invited due to its continuing efforts to improve the lives of PWDs through their highly successful SM Cares PWD program.

Ms. Garcia presented to an international audience, featuring members of distinguished international organizations like the United Nations Children's Fund(UNICEF),the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP),the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific(UNESCAP), and the World Health Organization(WHO).Ms. Garcia spoke about how SM's efforts to address the PWD situation have made a positive impact in the lives of not only PWDs, but also in the communities it serves. She also shared how the SM Cares PWD program came about and how SM plans to continue it for many years to come.
 

During the initial stages of the SM Cares PWD program, a four-point agenda was put together to serve as a guide for the new project.
1.INVOLVING OUR PEOPLE
SM created a committee that would handle disability affairs across all SM malls throughout the Philippines involving various employees and third parties, tasked to lead the way in SM's goal of making their malls a barrier-free zone.

2.DESIGNING AND PLANNING
SM encouraged their employees to actively participate in the design and planning.

3.TRAINING OUR PEOPLE
SM regularly trains employees and tenants to ingrain the value of maintaining a non-handicapping environment for PWDs. There are also quarterly accessibility audits to check on the state of the various improvements done for PWDs.

4.INFORMATION DRIVE
SM disseminates information about PWDs through a comprehensive awareness campaign through such methods like keeping the PWDs access free at all times, giving priority to PWDs in elevators, and in making all drinking fountains and dressing rooms PWD-friendly. These have made the information drive successful in spreading the word about SM caring for PWDs.

By promoting a sense of inclusion by breaking barriers, the SM Care PWD program has helped not only in business building, but in nation building as well. The success of this program is not only a victory for SM, but more importantly, a victory for persons with disabilities in the country and in the world.

Mr. Hans T. Sy, SM Prime Holdings President joined the happy walk with Children with Down Syndrome. The commitment of management in promoting accessibility and PWD inclusion in SM Supermalls has elevated its program to be noticed by the international organizations.
 

The Left photo shows thatSM Supermalls President Annie S. Garcia in the United Nations New York Headquarters after the event.The right is the SM Cares program on Disability Affairs were presented in details during the event that caught the attention of many delegates, that a private sector in the Philippines is successfully implementing and campaining for the in rights of PWDs to be integrated in the society.

The Left photo shows that delegates from the Government sector of (country)shown in the photo with Supermalls president Annie S. Garcia. And the right is Annie S. Garcia presenting to the United Nations Council the SM Cares PWD program. Beside her are speakers representing the United States and Canada.

The Left photo shows that representatives from the European Union and the International Labor Organization congratulated Ms.Annie Garcia for a very well presented speech detailing the PWD programs of SM Supermalls in the Phillippines.And the right iEngr. Bien C. Mateo, the Director of SM Program on Disability Affairs joined the delegates of the Philippine Government in signifying its support to campaign for the rights of PWDs, and promote its inclusion in the business environment of SM Supermalls.

The Left photo shows that after the SM Supermalls presentation, the International Organization of Deaf persons approached Ms. Garcia to congratulate and thank her for including the sector of hearing impaired in the programs of SM for PWDs.And the right shows The Philippine delegation headed by Usec. Bala of the DSWD, and head of the Chairperson of National Council on Disability Affairs shared its commitment to support the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability.

SM Supermalls President Annie S. Garcia, and SM Vice President and Program Director on Disability Affairs Engr. Bien Mateo represented SM Supermalls as the only business sector invited to present their PWD programs in the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.