SM Supermalls-atriev partnership to give PWDS a brighter future

As part of its continuing advocacy as a PWD-friendly mall in the country, SM Supermalls through its SM Cares Program on Disability Affairs partnered with Adaptive Technology for the Rehabilitation of the Visually-Impaired (ATRIEV) to conduct on-ground activities to give visually-impaired persons a brighter future by providing training programs and job opportunities for them with the use of computers. The ATRIEV event titled “ATRIEV I CARE” includes technology demonstrations, photo exhibits and a mini-concert that will feature ATRIEV’s home grown talents. It was held in SM Manila on June 23, then SM Center Valenzuela on Aug. 25 and 26, SM City Taytay on Sept. 15 to 17, SM City Fairview on Oct. 19.

Through this ATRIEV partnership, SM Supermalls have once again transformed its business environment into a community of opportunities open to PWDs in order for them to be independent and free, to showcase their abilities above their disabilities and to experience an environment that will give them entrepreneurial and employment opportunities. SM also educates tenants and staff to break away the physical and mental barriers that disable customers with special needs and enable them and their families to have a friendlier and more enjoyable shopping experience.

ATRIEV is a non-profit organization that trains the visually-impaired how to use computers. To date ATRIEV has produced medical transcriptionists, telesales agents, web content writers, recruitment personnel and even a search engine optimization (SEO) manager from the visually- impaired community through its various programs and activities.

The SM Cares Program on Disability Affairs help customers with special needs to make their shopping experience easier, friendlier and more enjoyable at all SM Supermalls. It is advocating a change in attitude of the community towards PWDs. SM believes that the greatest barrier for PWDs is the lack of understanding about their special needs. This is where the SM Program on Disability Affairs comes in. It educates tenants and staff to break away the physical and mental barriers that disable customers with special needs and enable them and their families to have a friendlier and more enjoyable shopping experience. Through this, SM Supermalls have earned the distinction of being the most PWD friendly mall in the country.