The National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) and AMA Educational Systems have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at expanding access to inclusive education, training, and career development opportunities for persons with disabilities (PWDs).
The agreement formalizes cooperation between the two institutions in promoting disability inclusion through education programs, internships, scholarships, and institutional support.
Under the partnership, the NCDA will serve as an industry partner for AMA’s On-the-Job Training and Internship Program by accepting qualified student interns, including learners with disabilities.
The internship program will expose students to disability rights advocacy, policy work, program implementation, administrative operations, and public service, giving them practical experience in inclusive governance.
NCDA Executive Director Glenda Relova said the agreement reflects a commitment to turn inclusion into concrete opportunities for persons with disabilities.
“This is more than a ceremonial signing. It is a commitment to action,” Relova said, stressing that persons with disabilities must be given meaningful access to learning, training, and participation in society.
The agreement also opens possible scholarship pathways for qualified students endorsed through NCDA, subject to AMA’s existing scholarship rules, eligibility requirements, and approval process.
AMA Foundations Inc. head and AMA Education System president Dr. Marie Redina Victoria said educational institutions must help remove barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from fully developing their skills and potential.
“When institutions remove barriers, we create pathways for meaningful opportunities,” Victoria said.
The partnership is anchored on shared principles of transparency, inclusivity, accountability, continuous improvement, and shared responsibility.
Both institutions said the agreement will help support the personal and professional development of students, including persons with disabilities, while advancing broader efforts to promote equal access to education and employment preparation.
The memorandum will remain in effect until April 2031 unless extended, amended, or terminated by mutual agreement.