Rhav Lomboy, is a handsome young guy who comes across as shy to anyone who meets him for the first time. He loves riding his bike with his friends; and he plays a mean game of bowling. He loves to sing and is passionate about the drums. He even performed with his schoolmates for 25,000 spectators at the MOA Arena in Pasay for a huge advocacy event early this year. He balances his hobbies and vocational training with his duties at Savemore Market Light Residences. Beneath his fun, cool exterior, Rhav lives with a developmental condition called autism.
Autism is a lifelong developmental exceptionality, challenging an individual’s ability to communicate, socialize and adapt to the world around him. It is a spectrum condition, which manifests in different ways in different people. While some will need help with daily living, many persons with autism (PWAs) have abilities and talents—like good memory, extraordinary spatial and organizational skills—that are easily translated to desirable qualities in the workplace.
Over the last year, Rhav joined 11 other PWAs in showing the world that young adults on the spectrum are productive contributors in a workplace, such as a supermarket. This is all thanks to “AutiSM at Work”, a disability workplace inclusion program, inspired by best practices in community-based rehabilitation, championed by SM Markets and the Autism Society Philippines (ASP).
This pioneering partnership was piloted at Savemore Market Light Residences last year, immersing three persons with autism, who were assigned various tasks in the supermarket selling area, such as returning stray items, organizing carts and baskets, as well as assisting customers. Simultaneously, there was an in-store advocacy campaign to help educate customers on how to deal respectfully with their workers with autism. The impact study proved the business, employee culture, and social benefits of the PWA workplace inclusion effort.
“We want to extend it; and we have to challenge ourselves on how can we make the program better. There are other opportunities for PWAs to explore and we are glad that we were able to be the first to open our doors to them,” said Savemore Market president Jojo Tagbo.
As the program celebrated its first year in July, SM Markets expanded the “AutiSM at Work” program to several branches, spanning Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The program has been rolled out in Savemore Market Berkley (Quezon City), Savemore Market M. Place (Quezon City), Savemore Market Mezza Residences (Quezon City), Savemore Market Light Residences (Mandaluyong), Savemore Market Acacia (Taguig), Savemore Market Jaro (Iloilo), Savemore Market Basak (Cebu), Savemore Market Bangkal (Davao), SM Supermarket Aura (Taguig), SM Supermarket Calamba (Laguna), SM Supermarket BF Homes (Paranaque), SM Supermarket Cebu (Cebu), SM Supermarket Seaside (Cebu), SM Supermarket Delgado (Iloilo), SM Supermarket Lanang Premiere (Davao), SM Supermarket Seaside (Davao), and SM Hypermarket Pasig (Pasig). Training partners such as Independent Living and Learning Center (Mandaluyong and Cebu), The Learning Center (Paranaque) and WorkAbilities (Iloilo) provide critical support to employers and workers with autism.
Candidates for the “AutiSM at Work” program undergo interviews and assessments to ensure job-ready skills and behaviors. The UP College of Education administers an occupational aptitude and interest test to properly match the candidates to the job requirements. The ASP also meets with the candidate’s family to ensure the PWAs will receive relevant support towards job success. The shortlist is then endorsed to SM Markets where the candidates go through the standard recruitment and training process.
ASP orients participating SM Markets branches to help them understand autism and appreciate how PWAs can contribute to the workplace. SM Markets works closely with ASP to determine the appropriate tasks to assign PWAs and to make necessary adjustments based on their day-to-day learning and observations.
“AutiSM at Work is a great ‘foot in the door,” said Mona Magno-Veluz, ASP National president. “It really gave these young men the opportunity to show what they can do. PWAs are very diverse and are capable of contributing to the business. SM was able to help us prove it.”