Tahanan Walang Hagdanan (TWH), established in 1973, provides rehabilitation and livelihood opportunities for persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Cainta, Rizal. With the support of PACAP, TWH developed a business center to market PWDs' products, enhance their entrepreneurial skills, and address economic needs, although challenges like price competitiveness and lack of working capital persist. The initiative has improved awareness of PWD issues and facilitated community engagement through skills training and product development.

1. “ Business Center for the Products and Services of Persons with Disabilities” Tahanang Walang Hagdanan (TWH)

2. Tahanang Walang Hagdanan, Inc. humble beginnings….. Founded in 1973, TWH was established to be a venue for rehabilitation, training and skills development of persons with disability in preparation for their re-integration in the mainstream of society. The plan was only a rehabilitation and training center but because of difficulty in job placement, TWH started the sheltered workshop to provide livelihood opportunities.

3. TWH is located in Cainta, Rizal

4. Inaugurated on Feb. 21, 1973

5. Metal craft

6. Woodcraft and Sewing

7. Packaging Services (medicine and fishhook)

9. WORKSHOP OPERATIONS MANUFACTURING SERVICES METALCRAFT WOODCRAFT NEEDLECRAFT UNILAB PACKAGING FISH HOOK KILN DRYER RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CALL CENTER

10. TWH partnership with PACAP PACAP’s support had been instrumental in upgrading the capacity and capability of Woodcraft Department in the 80’s. The grant was used for the procurement of machineries and equipment. In 1994, The encoding department was established thru PACAP grant to provide additional employment opportunities to PWDs with computer skills.

11. A Community-Based Rehabilitation Program In 1994, TWH started organizing the PWDs in nearby communities thru the Community Based Rehabilitation Program in partnership with CBMI. To reach out and extend the same services provided in the center.

12. A Business Center TWH has been giving training on skills development and entrepeneurship to PWDs and was able to come up with products that would make a niche in the market. However, its endeavors seem to lack in strength and stability. The difficulty lies on how, when and where to market the products and services.

13. In 2006, TWH joined the World Banks project grant competition and was awarded 1 million for the project “Business Center for Products and Services of PWDs” (PACAP funded project It aims to tap the economic potentials of PWDs, which have been largely constrained by limited exposure The Business Center serves as marketing arm of the products, facilitates access to local and international market, and provides a venue for marketing transactions.

14. OBJECTIVES To increase the income of PWDs by facilitating the marketing of their goods and services To build the entrepreneurial capacity of PWDs in producing their goods and/or rendering services and package them to enhance marketability To expand the support base of PWDs in terms of addressing their economic needs

15. Management The Business Center is under the management of Tahanang Walang Hagdanan, banking on its experience in dealing with various clients, joining biddings organizing trade fairs, bazaars, and the like.

16. We develop the product and the market….. Advertising and promotion of products through brochures, flyers, the internet and other means of communication; Market the products and get work orders through, sales calls and negotiations with private corporations, individual businessman and the International market ; Motivating and coordinating with PWD entrepreneur groups and individuals to bring their products in the business center Technology transfer and seminars on entrepreneurship and tie-up with professionals, govt. agencies, private sector for market and business development programs Product research and development (R&D) to determine market trends, packaging, labeling and product costing Advocacy and lobbying for pwd issues and concerns

17. Project Results Build the entrepreneurial capacity of Persons with Disability It has facilitated the marketing of products and services of Persons with disability It has helped increase the level of awareness on the issues and concerns of Persons with disability. Persons with Disability in the communities were reached out and given the opportunity to join the skills training and capability building seminar organized by the business center.

18. PWDs at work in the community Rattan Weaving and Candle Making

19. Bag making using Water Lily

20. Community Meetings

21. Challenges and Lessons Learned Price competitiveness - most of the products are labor intensive that requires higher labor cost, hence, some processes were modified without sacrificing the quality of the products. Lack of working capital – some members cannot easily replenish their items at the outlet when their products are sold because of lack of revolving capital. The Business center further works on addressing this concern and studying the possibility of adopting Micro Finance as one way to keep them in business and eventually become self sustaining.

22. Finished Products Educational Materials

23. Tetrapak made furnitures

24. Customized mobility aids

25. Dep-Ed School chairs project

26. DepEd Project – Educational Materials

27. Training on Market awareness and Product Costing

28. Exhibits

29. PRODUCTS Educational materials Toys and puzzles Corporate giveaways Home décor from recycled items and native materials Bags Greeting cards Mobility aids School chairs Novelty items Houseware and kiddie furniture

30. from BERNALES HANDICRAFTS in Quezon from DELOS REYES HANDICRAFTS from GINTONG PANGARAP & GREGGY’S CHICHARON from LEO’S NATIVE HANDICRAFTS Pampanga

31. from MAJJICK MARCELO from RODRIGO MABELLA from Group of Women with Disability from TWH ITEMS

32. Marketing Strategies Center’s target customers are government agencies (including LGUs) and private corporations. Linking the Business Center to companies thru its Corporate Social Responsibility PWD’s as Marketing Representatives Network with International PWD organization like Workability International Work harder on the credibility of the pwd business through quality, quantity and timeliness

33. Market Opportunities Corporate Social Responsibility of Companies Participate in regular bidding and constant monitoring of notices through (GPS) Executive Order 417 – Directing the Implementation of Economic Independence program for PWD. Organization and joining bazaars and trade fairs E-malls, Outlets Replicate the project Internationally by networking with pwd groups

34. “ IT IS NOT WHAT A MAN HAS LOST BUT WHAT IS LEFT THAT IS IMPORTANT”