Siena College of Taytay (SCT) in Rizal is taking steps to create a more inclusive learning environment for all students, particularly learners with disabilities, through a disability sensitivity workshop for its teachers and support personnel.

As a partner in the PLDT Group’s education initiatives, SCT hosted the training organized by PLDT and Smart in collaboration with ATRIEV (Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration, and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired).

SCT president Sr. Rosalea Busilac, O.P. emphasized the importance of inclusivity in the school’s agenda, noting that the training helps teachers deepen their understanding of learners with disabilities. The session also gave the college an opportunity to identify ways to improve its facilities and better accommodate students with disabilities.

The workshop forms part of PLDT and Smart’s broader efforts to expand access to education for underrepresented communities through the #KonektedforInclusion program.

“We believe that no learner should be left behind,” said Stephanie V. Orlino, AVP and Head of Stakeholder Engagement at PLDT and Smart. She explained that the program provides capacity building and digital skills training designed to help persons with disabilities and other underserved sectors access inclusive education and sustainable livelihood opportunities.

Facilitators from ATRIEV, who are persons with disabilities themselves, led discussions on different types of disabilities, appropriate support and reasonable accommodations in the classroom. The workshop also tackled unconscious bias, misconceptions, and language that may unintentionally discriminate against persons with disabilities.

Teachers and school personnel participated in role-playing activities designed to help them better understand the experiences and challenges faced by people with disabilities.

For Ann Dolores of the Service Education Department, the session highlighted the importance of meeting learners halfway. Rather than expecting students with disabilities to adjust to existing systems, she said educators must also learn to adapt and provide the support their students need.

Meanwhile, Marilu L. Sablayan of the Registrar’s Office said the workshop helped her better understand how to communicate and interact with neurodivergent learners, including how to respond when they experience stress.

The training also encouraged SCT personnel to rethink their teaching approaches. 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, said the experiences shared by persons with disabilities helped educators recognize what is possible and consider ways to make their curriculum more inclusive.

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

The disability sensitivity workshop under the PLDT Group’s #KonektedforInclusion program contributes to efforts supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities.