PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications are equipping teachers with artificial intelligence tools to make classrooms more inclusive for students with disabilities.
In partnership with Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration, and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired (ATRIEV), the PLDT Group conducted a training session for special needs education teachers at Rosario Ocampo Elementary School. The program, called “AI in a Box,” aims to give educators practical AI skills to enhance teaching and learning.
“PLDT and Smart believe in the power of technology to expand learning strategies for teachers who handle students with unique needs,” said Stephanie V. Orlino, AVP and head of stakeholder engagement at PLDT and Smart. “The ‘AI in a Box’ program equips teachers with practical AI skills so they can offer a more dynamic learning experience for their students.”
The workshop introduced familiar AI tools like ChatGPT, which can assist with writing, translating, and research tasks. Teachers learned how to create effective prompts to generate accurate responses and produce files in various formats.
Applications such as Photomath, a math-learning app that provides step-by-step solutions to scanned equations, were highlighted as particularly helpful.
“I appreciated learning about Photomath the most,” said Emar Silayan, a Grade 4 SNED teacher. “I have a student with a learning disability who likes math. Using this app, I can guide him through problems and show how to arrive at the correct answers.”
Other tools introduced at the workshop support students with physical, hearing, or speech impairments. “Seeing AI,” for example, describes people, objects, text, and emotions through a smartphone camera. Live Transcribe converts speech to text, and Speech Assistant AAC converts text to speech. Voice-activated smart speakers can also help students interact with their environment.
“I have three students who are hard of hearing,” said Grade 5 SNED teacher Jaina-Jen Perea. “With these tools, we’re able to communicate better and support their needs more effectively. This training strengthens our drive toward a more inclusive school community.”
PLDT and Smart’s partnership with ATRIEV over the past three years has trained and upskilled persons with disabilities, from basic smartphone use to essential skills for employment or entrepreneurship. ATRIEV is a nonprofit that offers ICT-based training and accessibility programs to help persons with disabilities build digital skills and confidence.
Through its IDEATe (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity Advocacy through Technology) program, the PLDT Group aims to support the Philippines’ efforts to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on quality education, decent work, and reduced inequalities.
