Angels Walk highlights employability of persons with autism

MANILA, Philippines -  Matt Somera has proven that autism is not a hindrance to living an ordinary life and becoming a productive member of society.

He works as a stock attendant in a branch of SM’s SaveMore grocery store and does not see his condition as an impediment to his work.

“I am happy to be productive and be helpful to my colleagues at work,” he told The STAR in an interview.

He said he deposited his first paycheck in his bank account and is happy to help meet his family’s needs.

Somera is one of the many success stories of persons with autism (PWAs) highlighted in the 17th annual Angels Walk, held at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City yesterday, which kicked off the National Autism Awareness Week.

Other PWAs with similar stories were Yanna Aragon, a variable resource administrator at IBM Philippines, and Mike Almendrala, an administrative assistant at the Philippine Information Agency.

Mona Veluz, national president of Autism Society Philippines (ASP), said Somera, Aragon and Almendrala are just three of the 200 PWAs who were able to land regular jobs in various companies over the past year.

This, she stressed, is proof that PWAs are slowly becoming productive members of society. 

“Now we are seeing more companies accepting diversity. There had been a spike for the past year because previously there were only handful but now we have more than 200 people with autism gainfully employed in various companies,” she said.

Veluz also stressed that the employment of the PWAs was because they were eligible for the job, not their employers’s charity.

“Now it’s not anymore charity why they are hiring people with autism but it’s because of their unique sets of skills like those that are in SM SaveMore. Our boys are valued because they have excellent spatial skills. They have a good sense of order so that is useful in managing stocks,” she pointed out.

Engineer Bien Mateo, project manager of SM Cares’ Program for People with Disabilities (PWDs), said SM will expand its employment program to more malls in the coming months. 

“We will expand and we will hire more people with autism in the coming months in more malls and even outside Metro Manila not only to set an example to other companies but in recognition of the strengths of PWAs in the workplace, which can become any company’s competitive advantage,” Mateo revealed.

The annual celebration for autism awareness has continued to expand its reach as thousands joined the Angel Walk yesterday.

The ASP remains chair of Autism Network in the Association of South East Asian Nations until next year. 

Veluz said that through the joint efforts in the ASEAN network, they are able to reach more people with autism and bring their causes towards a more integrated approach. 

The Angels Walk was held in partnership with SM Cares, the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Supermalls since 2009.