P&A and the South Carolina DisAbility Voting Coalition release a set of three new voting rights videos

These new voting rights videos are from SC Protection and Advocacy and The South Carolina DisAbility Voting Coalition.

Each video addresses a different voting topic to include how to register to vote, the different ways a person with a disability can vote, and accessibility challenges that may exist at polling places.

Registration: https://vimeo.com/158411946/cd39097244

Ways to Vote: https://vimeo.com/158471063/78677a7ddc

Accessibility Issues: https://vimeo.com/158440380/6f470dc4f5

Free Assistive Technology Webinars

This is from the AT Coalition

Free Webinars - Post-Secondary, Adults & General

The Latest and Greatest in AT from Ability Tools
Wednesday, June 1, 2016 at 10am Pacific, 1pm Eastern

Twitter Chat: Social Media and eRecruiting from Peatworks
Thursday, June 2, 2016 at 11am Pacific, 2pm Eastern (30 min.)

Words of wisdom and helpful hints for those who are new to the field, from those who have worked with postsecondary students with disabilities from EASI
Thursday June 9, 2016 at 11am Pacific, 2pm Eastern

E-Learning Accessibility: What Does An Instructor Need to Know? from EASI
Tuesday, June 14, 2016 at 11am Pacific, 2pm Eastern

Social Media & Job Recruiting–Leveling the “Playing Fields” also from Peatworks
June 16, 2016 at 11am Pacific, 2pm Eastern (30 min.)

The challenge of accessible publishing from EASI
Thursday, June 23, 2016 at 11am Pacific, 2pm Eastern

AT for Vision and Hearing from Ability Tools
Thursday, June 23, 2016 at 10am Pacific, 1pm Eastern

Talent Matters: Leveraging Disability-Inclusive Outreach and Recruitment Strategies from EARN
Thursday, June 30, 2016 at 10am Pacific, 1pm Eastern (90 min.)
 

Free Webinars -  K-12 Educators & Parents

Build the Brain When it Counts: Cultivate Cognitive and Executive Function Skills from AbleNet
Thursday, June 7, 2016, 9am Pacific, 12pm Eastern (45 min.)

MindMap Software- Note-taking, Reading, Writing and More from AbiltyTools
Wednesday, June 15, 2016 at 10am Pacific, 1pm Eastern

EdCeptional Kids at EdVenture

EdCeptional Kids at EdVenture

This is from EdVenture Children’s Museum.

Be sure to visit the SC Assistive Technology Program’s exhibit during your Open House visit.

Open Houses

Dates: May 15 and Augusta 28, 2016

Time: 5:00-7:00 PM

Location: EdVenture Children’s Museum, 211 Gervais Street, Columbia, SC 29201

EdVenture will open its doors for extended hours, free of charge to families of children with disabilities. Representatives of organizations who provide services to children with disabilities will be present to answer parents’ questions about available community resources.

Sensory Sundays

Date: Every Sunday

Time: 11:00-12:00 PM

Location: EdVenture Children’s Museum, 211 Gervais Street, Columbia, SC 29201

This is an exclusive time for families with children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and other special needs to visit the museum. This time will allow children to enjoy the museum in a calmer and more comfortable environment without all the extra stimuli. During the hour on Sensory Sundays, there will be a less crowded environment, light and sound reduction, designated quiet rooms, assistive devices and enhanced signage.

More information:

EdVenture.org

803-779-3100

This is from Don Johnston

How to Use Speech Recognition for Writing

Date: 

Friday, May 20, 2016

Time: 

1:00pm - 2:00pm Eastern

Cost: 

Free

Registration

Presenters:

Daniel Cochrane, AT specialist/coordinator for Community Unit School District 200 in Wheaton and Warrenville, IL.

Kelly Key, AT Coordinator, Barrington Community School District 220 in Barrington, IL.

Speech Recognition—it's now accessible in a variety of devices and apps including Co:Writer. But, how do we leverage it with students? In this webinar you'll learn how to consider, try, assess, and implement speech recognition. You'll also learn how to assess effectiveness.

Assistive Technology for People who are Hard of Hearing or Deaf

This week is Deaf Awareness Week.

People with hearing loss often benefit from an assistant listening device. The SC Assistive Technology Program provides one-month loans of assistive listening devices and two-week loans for iPads with apps. For more information go to:http://scatp.med.sc.edu/loan.htm .

Personal Sound Amplification Products

-The user wears headphones or ear buds connected to a small receiver with built-in microphone. The receiver boosts the level of sound in the environment for the listener. There are versions of this that amplify the television

FM Systems

-A frequency modulated (FM) system can be used by an individual or a classroom or other large area. The speaker wears a transmitter with built-in microphone and the user wears a receiver with headphones. The receiver boosts the level of the speaker’s voice for the listener.

Check out these apps for people who are hard-of-hearing or deaf:

Hamilton Mobile Captel

Transcribes telephone calls in real time.

eHear

Uses the device’s microphone and amplifies surrounding sounds.

EarMachine

Uses the device’s microphone and amplifies surrounding sounds.

HearYouNow

Uses the device’s microphone and amplifies surrounding sounds.

Signily

A sign language keyboard.

ASL Translator

Translates sentences up to five words in length into American Sign Language.

Dragon Dictation

Voice recognition software that presents the spoken word as a text or e-mail.

These companies have notably increased their use of closed captioning:

Netflix

ABC

YouTube lets you make your own videos closed captioned.

Need more information about resources for people who are deaf? Contact the SC Commission for the Deaf at:http://www.scadservices.org/ .

Free Daily Living Aids

Free Daily Living Aids

Daily living aids assist in managing our daily functional activities such as dressing, bathing, grooming, and toileting.  The daily living aids listed below are all available for free through our reuse program.  Each item is linked to a website that provides additional details.

If you have questions or want to pick up an item, please contact me, Jacqueline Wynter, at Jacqueline.wynter@uscmed.sc.edu or call 803-935-5273.

Bedpan

Emesis Basin

Wash basin

3-in-1 Commode

Invacare Semi-electric Hospital bed  

Picture from Invacare website.  Assembly required.

Lumex Versa Helper Trapeze

No picture available.  Base not included. 

T.E.K. Quest 2016

T.E.K. Quest 2016

2016 Registration Now Open!

Thursday July 14, 2016

Morning Camp              9:00 A M until 12:30 P M

Afternoon Camp           2:30 P M until 6:00 P M

T.E.K. Quest is a half-day camp designed to expose children and parents to different technologies available to help overcome obstacles faced in everyday life.

- For Children 8 to 12 years old with ANY disability

- Open to anyone in the C S R A in Georgia or South Carolina

- Two camp times to choose from – morning and afternoon

- Learn about technologies that give independence

- Create lasting memories and make new friends

Space is limited, so register today online atwww.tekquest.org (www.blind.tekquest.org is the blind accessible site), by emailing support@tekquest.org, or contact Walton Options for Independent Living for more details on 706-724-6262.

Join us on Thursday July 14, 2016 at the Augusta-Richmond County Public Library, 823 Telfair Street, Augusta, Georgia 30901

T.E.K. Quest is powered by Walton Options for Independent Living. There are two C S R A offices of Walton Options: 948 Walton Way, Augusta, Georgia and 514 West Avenue, North Augusta, South Carolina.

T.E.K. Quest is presented in conjunction with the Augusta-Richmond County Public Library, Georgia Libraries for Accessible Statewide Services (GLASS), Tools for Life, and the South Carolina Assistive Technology Program.

$50 Computers

$50 Computers from Computers for the Blind

Computers for the Blind (CFTB) has received a grant from Delta Gamma Foundation to provide 85 consumers with fully accessible desktop computers & monitors for $50.  Consumers must send award letter showing that they are on SSI, not SSDI to be eligible.  Previous grant recipients are not eligible. 

For $10 a state agency or consumer can also obtain the license key to obtain Talking Typing Teacher (TTT) from MarvelSoft.  Note: $10 offer is only good for license keys to be installed on CFTB computers. PO's accepted for TTT.

Basic training is available for free at Lighthouses for the Blind in Texas and may be available at similar facilities throughout the US if the consumer does not qualify for state funded training. 

For details go to our recent enhancements or contact Computers for the Blind at:

214-340-6328

info@computersfortheblind.net

www.computersfortheblind.net   

Free Webinar

This is from CAST Professional Learning:

UDL in ESSA

Tuesday, May 17 from 1:00 - 2:00 pm EST

Free Webinar

With the new Every Student Succeeds Act, federal K-12 education law now defines and endorses Universal Design for Learning (UDL) as a scientifically-based approach for personalizing learning.  What does ESSA say about UDL? What are the implications for education practitioners and researchers? Join this webinar for a presentation and discussion. 

Presenters:

Lindsay E. Jones, Esq. is the vice president, chief policy & advocacy officer for the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD). She leads a team that designs and implements NCLD’s legislative strategy in Washington, DC, aimed at advancing government policies that support the success of individuals with learning and attention issues in school, at work and in life. She also develops advocacy campaigns and works closely with NCLD’s grassroots network of committed parents. She has worked with the National UDL Task Force, a network of 45+ education and civil-rights organizations, to raise awareness about UDL among policy makers. 

Laura A. Schifter, Ed.D. is a research consultant working with states and advocacy organizations to analyze data on the identification, placement, and performance of students with disabilities. She holds a doctorate from Harvard’s Education Policy, Leadership, and Instructional Practice Program. Schifter previously worked as a senior education and disability advisor for Rep. George Miller (D-CA) on the Committee on Education and the Workforce. She is the co-editor of A Policy Reader in Universal Design for Learning (Harvard Education Press, 2009). 

Midlands Coffee Talk For Caregivers

Midlands Coffee Talk

Thursday, May 5, 9:30 – 11:30 am

Midlands Coffee Talk takes place on the first Thursday of every month at our West Columbia office from 9:30 to 11:30. It's a great way to visit and share resources with other families advocating for individuals with ASD. Children are always welcomed, but childcare is not provided. We hope that you will register so we will know how many to expect, but "drop-ins" are always welcome.  Click here to register now!

Please note that this is a parent and caregiver support format. Businesses, organizations, and providers are welcome to send or drop materials for us to distribute. Thank you for respecting the needs of our families!

Organizational Tools for the School and Home Environment

Organizational Tools for the School and Home Environment

Date: 

May 11, 2016

Time: 

9:30am – 11:30am

Location: 

Poplar Building Conference Room

Midlands Center

8301 Farrow Road 

Columbia, SC  29203

Register for the Organizational Tools workshop

Are your students struggling with organization skills, getting started on homework/projects, keeping up with belongings and their own schedule? This workshop will explore options to address Executive Functioning skills, and will introduce practical concepts, techniques and resources to help your student be successful across environments. Additional resources on how to organize and manage a digital classroom will also be provided.

About the Speaker:

Madalina Tudora is an Assistive Technology Specialist for the SC Department of Education. She supports school districts in building capacity for assistive technology by providing guidance, resources and training for local assistive technology teams in SC. She also conducts workshops for teachers, therapists, administrators, and parents on various assistive technology topics. Her undergraduate degree is in Special Education, and her graduate degree is in Psychology. She is nationally certified as an Assistive Technology Professional through RESNA.

For questions about registration, call Lydia Durham at (803) 935-5263 or 800-915-4522 or e-mail at lydia.durham@uscmed.sc.edu. For questions regarding content, contact Madalina Tudora at mtudora@ed.sc.gov.

EdCeptional Kids Open Houses at EdVenture Museum