TAYTAY, Philippines (Aug 2026) – Making classrooms welcoming for every learner requires more than physical accessibility; it takes understanding how to support students with diverse needs every single day. Siena College of Taytay (SCT) in Rizal province is taking active steps toward this goal by teaming up with PLDT, Smart, and ATRIEV to train educators and campus staff on disability sensitivity.
The initiative, held under the #KonektedforInclusion program, equips teachers and support personnel with practical skills to create supportive environments for learners with disabilities.
Learning directly from people with lived experience
The workshop was led by facilitators from ATRIEV (Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration, and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired), who live with disabilities themselves. They guided participants through discussions on understanding different conditions, addressing unconscious bias, and providing reasonable accommodations in the classroom.
Participants took part in role-playing exercises to simulate daily challenges faced by students. The sessions also covered practical communication strategies, including how to interact with neurodivergent learners when they experience stress.
SCT President Sr. Rosalea Busilac, O.P., stated that inclusivity remains a core part of the institution’s agenda. She noted that the training gives teachers an opportunity to deepen their understanding of learners with disabilities while helping the college identify necessary facility upgrades.
Rethinking campus facilities and lesson plans
The effort aligns with broader programs by PLDT and Smart aimed at widening educational access for underrepresented groups. Stephanie V. Orlino, Assistant Vice President and Head of Stakeholder Engagement at PLDT and Smart, explained that the #KonektedforInclusion program focuses on capacity building and digital skills training to help beneficiaries access quality education and sustainable livelihoods.
School staff shared how the training changed their perspective on classroom management. Ann Dolores, secretary to the College Dean of the Service Education Department, mentioned that educators must learn to adjust and provide appropriate support rather than expecting students with disabilities to adapt on their own.
Marilu L. Sablayan, president of the Auxiliary Support Personnel Association, highlighted how the workshop taught practical ways to assist students with different conditions and build better relationships with neurodivergent youth.
Jerome Mauricio, a lecturer and student formation officer, added that hearing direct experiences from people with disabilities is helping the faculty rethink how they teach, inspiring plans to redesign course curricula for better accessibility.
SCT is a long-standing member of the Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program (SWEEP), having renewed its participation in 2025. The collaboration supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG 4 on Quality Education and SDG 10 on Reduced Inequalities.
