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.