A VISUALLY-IMPAIRED child receives a white cane from Carmen Reyes-Zubiaga, acting executive director of the National Council on Disability Affairs during the 23rd White Cane Safety Day celebration at SM North Edsa Skydome.

SM SUPERMALLS through the SM Cares Program on Disability Affairs recently celebrated the 23rd White Cane Safety Day theme ‘Making the Rights Real Right Now! For Persons with Visual Impairment’ at the Skydome in SM North Edsa. White Cane Safety Day makes the public aware of the white cane as a great symbol of how visually impaired children are enabled to move around freely. This event is in partnership with the Department of Education and Parents Advocate for Visually Impaired Children. It also serves as a vehicle of information on the program being implemented by the government and non-governmental organizations which adhere to the promotion of the welfare and well-being of the visually impaired.

During the event, white canes were given free to visually-impaired children headed by the National Council on Disability Affairs.

The SM Cares Program on Disability Affairs helps customers with special needs to make their shopping experience easier and more enjoyable at all SM Supermalls. SM advocates a kinder and gentler attitude of the community toward PWDs. 

It believes that the greatest barrier for PWDs is the lack of people’s understanding about their special needs. The SM Program on Disability Affairs educates tenants and staff to break away the physical and mental barriers that disable customers with special needs. It is through this advocacy that SM Supermalls have earned the distinction of being the most PWD friendly malls in the country.