BLIND, DEAF IN SPECIAL MOVIE SCREENING AT SM
Some 285 young people with hearing and visual impairments went to Cinema 3 of SM City Olongapo to watch the movie “Life of Pi” by Ang Lee which had been modified with audio description and closed captioning for them to enjoy movie experience like any other movie-going public.
Persons with Disability were treated to a special movie screening on February 25 at SM City Olongapo. Dubbed as the “Special Movie Screening for the Blind and Deaf”, the rare event is spearheaded by SM Cares, a division of SM Foundation, through its Program on Disability Affairs in partnership with SM Cinema, Deaf-Blind Support Philippines, MTRCB and C.A.L.L. (Center for Advocacy, Learning and Livelihood) to bring greater accessibility of movies and visual media to PWD’s in the Philippines.
Veronica Galicia, SPED Coordinator of Old Cabalan Integrated School said she was happy and honored to be part of the activity because it was the first time that persons with visual and hearing impairments and other PWDs were given a chance to enjoy the movies.
“We have to expose our kids to this kind of undertaking for them to explore the things that they can flourish. This event has touched our hearts and we are thankful to the SM group for giving us this chance,” she said.
Other SM malls all over the country also conducted simultaneous screenings for the deaf and blind. SM Lipa featured the movie “Taken 2”, SM Sucat showed “Les Miserables” and SM Manila had the movie “Hugo.”
According to reports, it was only supposed to be just an annual presentation, but it gathered enough support from the partner organization that the SM Malls decided to turn it into a nationwide quarterly screening.
The event was held in partnership with various SPED schools such as Gordon Heights, Pagasa, Olongapo City National High School and Old Cabalan Integrated School and participating PWDs from barangays Pagasa, Barretto, Sta. Rita, New Kalalake, West Tapinac, Old Cabalan and New Banicain.
Exposure to this kind of activity is a breakthrough in enhancing social participation and independence of the persons with visual and hearing impairments and other PWDs.(PR-SMOL)
