SM San Pablo’s Special Movie Screening for the Blind and Deaf

To provide greater accessibility of movies to PWDs in the San pAblo City, SM Cares relaunched their “Special Movie Screening for the Deaf and Blind” initiative as a way to advocate for the rights and welfare of PWDs. In the Photos are SPED Teachers from Kid’s Cove and St. Benedict with SMPB Mall Manager Ms Eve Verzola

San Pablo City- True to life visual effects, seamless sound transitions, and 3D films that add an illusion of depth have made watching movies more engaging than ever. But these features are not necessarily enjoyed by the entirety of  all the audiences. Persons with disabilities (PWDs), for example cannot readily appreciate these advances.

To provide greater accessibility of movies to PWDs in the Philippines, SM Cares relaunched their “Special Movie Screening for the Deaf and Blind” initiative as a way to advocate for the rights and welfare of PWDs last October and here in SM City San Pablo, the first Screening  was held last November 7^th in SM Cinema 2.

“In SM Cares, [we] promote the inclusion or integration of persons with disabilities in our society, and the best way is to make them feel that they really are welcome in our malls,” said Engr. Bien Mateo, program director of SM Cares Program on Persons with Disabilities.

The movie screening gathered deaf and blind students from Special Education (SPED) schools in San Pablo City namely Kids Cove, St. Benedict and Pag ibig at Pagasa to watch :the Oz the great and Powerful”. The response of the community is overwhelming that we decide to have another screening this coming November 14^th  said Mr. Dan Belen, Assistant Mall Manager of SM San Pablo.

In order to assist the visually impaired, the movie had audio description for the blind, in which a narrator described the development of the story in between screen dialogues. Closed captions were also included so that those with hearing impediments can read the words shown on the screen.The initiative is in partnership with SM Cinema, MTRCB, CALL Foundation, and Deaf Blind Support Philippines (DBSP). The president of DBSP, Edgardo Garcia, said that this partnership with various organizations is vital in making this screening a reality.

The project was first launched in 2014 as a way for SM to promote inclusion rather than segregation, a thrust that the company values. But this year’s relaunch also aims to encourage the local film industry to consider the needs of the deaf and blind when producing movies.