Siena College of Taytay Champions Learning for All with PLDT, Smart Disability Sensitivity Training

Siena College of Taytay (SCT) in Rizal province is making the school more inclusive for all students, especially those with disabilities. With SCT being a valued partner in the PLDT Group’s education initiatives, PLDT and Smart, together with ATRIEV (Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration, and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired), hosted a disability sensitivity workshop for its teachers and support personnel.

 

“Inclusivity is part of our agenda,” said Sr. Rosalea Busilac, O.P., president of SCT. “The training is especially helpful for our teachers because it gives them the opportunity to really deepen their understanding of learners with disabilities.” She added that the college also sees the session as an opportunity to identify further improvements to its facilities to better serve students with disabilities.

 

The training is part of a broader push by PLDT and Smart to expand access to education for underrepresented groups.

 

“We believe that no learner should be left behind,” said Stephanie V. Orlino, AVP and Head of Stakeholder Engagement at PLDT and Smart. “Our #KonektedforInclusion program aims to create opportunities for underrepresented sectors of society, such as persons with disabilities, through capacity building and digital skills training. These initiatives empower target beneficiaries to gain access to inclusive quality education or sustainable livelihood.”

 

Facilitators from ATRIEV, who are persons with disabilities themselves, led the discussion on understanding different types of disabilities and the reasonable support or accommodation needed for an inclusive classroom.

 

“The seminar made us realize that we have to be more understanding and considerate of everyone’s situation,” said Ann Dolores, secretary to the College Dean of the Service Education Department. “Instead of expecting students with disabilities to adjust to us, we also need to learn how to adjust and provide the support they need.”

 

The workshop also addressed unconscious bias, misconceptions, and language that can unintentionally discriminate against or offend a person with disability. Teachers took part in role-playing activities to simulate and demonstrate how best to assist persons with disabilities and understand challenges from their perspective.

 

“Walking in their shoes, the workshop taught us how to help students with different disabilities,” said Marilu L. Sablayan, who works at the Registrar’s Office and serves as the president of the Auxiliary Support Personnel Association. “I also learned how to communicate and relate with neurodivergent learners, what to do when they’re under stress.”

 

“Training like this opens our minds to the reality of learners with disabilities,” said Jerome Mauricio of the Office of the Prefect of Student Formation and Activities and a lecturer at the College of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Management. “The experiences shared by people with disabilities show us what is possible and help us rethink how we teach. We are now looking at how we can redesign our curriculum to make our classes more inclusive.”

 

The continued partnership between PLDT, Smart and SCT underscores their shared commitment to advancing inclusive education and expanding opportunities for Filipino learners of all abilities. The school is a longtime member of the Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program (SWEEP), having renewed its participation in the initiative in 2025.

 

The disability sensitivity workshop under the PLDT Group’s #KonektedforInclusion program highlights its commitment to helping the country achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals particularly SDG 4 on Quality Education and SDG 10 on Reduced Inequalities.

From Barriers to Breakthroughs: PLDT, Smart Train Students with Disabilities for Accessible Android Tool

AI is becoming a lifeline for young learners with disabilities, as PLDT and Smart launch a new training program that teaches special needs education (SNED) students to use accessible Android tools for school and daily tasks. The goal is simple: turn the devices they already hold into learning companions they can rely on.

 

The Android Accessibility Training tailored for students with disabilities was developed with ATRIEV (Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration, and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired), a nonprofit organization that provides ICT-based training and services to persons with disabilities, and NORFIL Foundation. The pilot run was held at Padre Gomez Elementary School in Manila, where 19 students took part in the five-day training.

 

“Technology can be a great equalizer,” said Stephanie V. Orlino, AVP and Head of Stakeholder Engagement at PLDT and Smart. “With the help of mobile applications, our SNED teachers can customize their teaching strategies to better address the learning needs of students with disabilities.”

 

Supported by the Department of Education’s Schools Division Office of Manila, the sessions introduced students to interactive reading apps, gamified math tools, and communication features designed for users with sensory or learning disabilities. Teachers said many students responded well to real-time feedback and visual cues built into the apps.

 

“The workshop is aligned with the DepEd’s commitment to strengthening inclusive and quality education for all learners through the implementation and full operation of the existing Inclusive Learning Resource Centers and the establishment of new ILRCs all over the country,” said Amcy M. Esteban, Education Program Supervisor – Kindergarten and Special Education, DepEd Schools Division Office of Manila. “Let us not focus on the disability, but on the ability. With the help of technology, our SNED students can access wider opportunities in the future.”

 

The training was held as part of Manila’s 69th Special Needs Education Week and was led by trainers from ATRIEV, many of whom have disabilities themselves. Their experience, ATRIEV said, helps ensure the tools are introduced in ways that feel intuitive to young learners.

 

“As someone with visual impairment, I am familiar with the challenges experienced by our students with disabilities,” said Nerikka Escario, Master Trainer 2, ATRIEV. “I can walk in their shoes and test how accessible the application is.”

The Android Accessibility Training is part of PLDT and Smart’s IDEATe (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Advocacy through Technology) program that uses technology to equip marginalized individuals with the necessary digital skills so they can access learning and livelihood opportunities. These efforts also underscore the PLDT Group’s commitment to helping the country achieve UNSDG 4 on Quality Education, UNSDG 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth, and UNSDG 10 on Reduced Inequalities.

PLDT, Smart, ATRIEV hold digital training for persons with disabilities in Cebu

PLDT Inc. and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) conducted an eight-day Digital Business Basics Training (DBBT) for persons with disabilities in Mandaue City, Cebu. The training was done in collaboration with non-profit organization ATRIEV, Voice Philippines, and the Mandaue City Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO).

Under their Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Advocacy through Technology (IDEATe) program, PLDT and Smart partnered with ATRIEV, or Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation Integration and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired, to expand the reach of this digital training across the country and upskill more entrepreneurs with disabilities, enabling them to participate in and benefit from the digital economy.

“In a world full of judgment, it may be challenging for persons with disabilities to establish their own businesses, but I salute our DBBT graduates’ willingness to learn and improve their livelihood. Through IDEATe, PLDT and Smart ensure to support persons with disabilities in navigating through the world of business enabled by technology,” said Lailane H. Go, Senior Manager, Regional Customer Development at Smart.

Helen Ortega, a tuberculosis survivor, expressed her gratitude for being part of this initiative. “As someone who is unfamiliar with online selling and digital tools, this training undoubtedly equipped me with skills to improve my small business. This is a great opportunity for us, and I thank ATRIEV and its partners for making this happen,” she said.

A total of 27 participants, who included individuals with physical and psychosocial impairments, learned about various digital tools and applications that they can use in growing their businesses online. Additionally, the training also covered e-commerce platforms, social media marketing, content creation, internet safety, and an introduction to the Maya Business App, helping them fully embrace digitalization in their businesses.

“LGU Mandaue City values the welfare of its people, especially those from vulnerable groups. We thank our partners for helping us reach our goal of capacitating persons with disabilities in our city and helping them become productive individuals,” said Dr. Michael Allan O. Pielago, Mandaue City PDAO Head.

This initiative under PLDT Group’s pioneering inclusion program, IDEATe, aligns with its commitment to helping the country achieve UNSDG No. 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and UNSDG No. 10: Reduced Inequalities by empowering and promoting the social, economic and political inclusion of all, including persons with disabilities. IDEATe was a finalist at the 2024 Global Mobile (GLOMO) Awards, the connectivity industry’s most prestigious accolade, judged by the telco sector’s most prominent experts.

PLDT, Smart Expand Teaching Strategies of Las Piñas SPED Teachers

PLDT and Smart have bolstered the teaching strategies of Special Education (SPED) teachers in Las Piñas City to help them respond and interact more effectively with students who have disabilities.

“PLDT and Smart advocate using technology for good. We believe that digital technology can be a great equalizer. Together with our partners, we support digital inclusion initiatives that aim to open opportunities for those who are in unique circumstances,” said Stephanie Orlino, AVP and Head of Stakeholder Management at PLDT and Smart.

Facilitated by ATRIEV, the prime Information and Communications Technology (ICT) specialist non-profit organization that empowers persons with visual impairment through technology-enabled assistive programs, PLDT and Smart launched the first Disability Sensitivity and Mobile Accessibility Usage Workshop for teachers. Tucked under the Infoteach program, the activity also supports the celebration of the National Teacher’s Month and the World Teachers’ Day.

Working with the DepEd – Division of Las Piñas City, more than 20 SPED teachers from elementary and high schools across the city participated in the training. The first part covered disability sensitivity where participants learned appropriate terms to refer to persons with disability. The interactive course also shared practical tips on assisting students with visual, speech, and mobility impairments.

The afternoon session centered on mobile accessibility with the help of TalkBack, an Android-native screen reader application. The trainers who have visual impairment themselves demonstrated angle gestures and two-part swipes that help persons with disability navigate their devices. Teachers also tried operating the onscreen keyboard to write messages and fill out forms and search boxes.

The Infoteach program underscores PLDT and Smart’s efforts to help the nation meet UN Sustainability Development Goal 10 on reducing inequality by empowering and promoting the social, economic and political inclusion of all, including persons with disabilities. It also helps underscore the PLDT Group's commitment to innovation and digital inclusion, and to assist in the government's key digitalization efforts. The PLDT Group is a founding member of the Digital Infrastructure pillar of the presidential Private Sector Advisory Council or PSAC.

PLDT, Smart, ATRIEV Empower Visually Impaired Persons with Digital Training in Negros Oriental

PLDT Inc. (PLDT) and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), together with non-profit organization ATRIEV, held a ten-day Android accessibility training in Dumaguete City to upskill twenty visually impaired persons from eleven municipalities in Negros Oriental.

This training seeks to help participants navigate their Android devices independently with the help of a TalkBack screen reader.

“We want to share with them the power of technology and how it can make a difference in their daily lives. Through this initiative, we also intend to provide them with the knowledge they need to establish their own businesses,” said Jaelene Cristel Mina, Master Trainer II at ATRIEV.

ATRIEV is a non-profit organization that capacitates visually impaired persons using technology-enabled assistive programs. This digital training was also conducted by visually challenged members of ATRIEV.

Participants, composed of students, working adults, and small-time business owners, were also equipped with the basics on financial management and technology for business. ATRIEV trained them on how to use digital tools and applications that they can maximize for their daily activities and businesses, such as social media, email services, editing apps, and online word processors, among others.

Kris John Santillan, 32, from Valencia City, has been visually impaired since he was in high school. He can only see with his left eye now, and it is likewise foggy. “It's my first time using my device's screen reader feature, and it has been very helpful. This training has given me a lot more confidence, especially in my job search,” he said.

To provide additional livelihood opportunities, PLDT and Smart briefed participants about online payments and how they can start their own e-loading business. They also learned about the different types of phishing and how they can protect themselves from online scammers.

“This experience has given me a deeper appreciation for technology. It dawned on me that technology should be most accessible to those who have unique circumstances, like the visually impaired, because they deserve to experience the best things life has to offer,” said Armel Malijan, head of Consumer Business Fulfilment for PLDT Negros-Siquijor Division.

The success of Dumaguete City's training program relies heavily on the crucial support from the local government unit, private institutions such as PLDT and Smart, and NGOs such as NORFIL Foundation/Liliane Fonds and Voice Philippines. These collaborative efforts are vital in ensuring the program's effectiveness and its ability to positively impact the community.

The initiative forms part of PLDT and Smart’s Infoteach program, which is aligned with the group’s commitment to help the country achieve UNSDG #10 on reducing inequality by empowering and promoting the social, economic and political inclusion of all, including persons with disabilities. It also helps underscore the PLDT Group's commitment to innovation and digital inclusion, and to assist in the government's key digitalization efforts. The PLDT Group is a founding member of the Digital Infrastructure pillar of the presidential Private Sector Advisory Council or PSAC.