Building Bridges:
Constructing
and Navigating
Transition
Services for Youth with Disabilities
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South Carolina’s 6th Annual
Interagency
Transition Conference
November 19-21, 2019
Downtown Greenville, SC
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 GENERAL SESSIONS
Eric Rowles
of Leading to Change
Youth from
Charleston’s Leadership Academy
State
Transition Leadership Updates
Sessions will include information and resources for
improving practices and programs that support youth
with a variety of transition service needs. Sessions meeting
the information needs of teachers and practitioners helping
students work toward the SC High School Credential will also be
highlighted.
A wide range of topics will be covered including:
career
preparation
community-based
employment experiences
school
based enterprises
self-determination
student
leadership
parent
engagement
drop-out
prevention strategies
Project
Search!
Download Flyer
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The
SC Office of Special Education Services is pleased to announce
the newly state adopted South Carolina High School Credential
Essentials of Technology Course as well as Cross-Walking
Guidance that will assist IEP teams and public school personnel
in the decision-making process necessary when a high school
student, who has an IEP, is transitioning from one course of
study to another or from out of state and that transition
involves the credential course of study. Click on the links to
learn more.
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We know there is
a lot of great High School Credential work going on in South
Carolina! Please share it with your colleagues across the
state! Click below to send your shining
stories to: transition@uscmed.sc.edu
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Assistive
Technology (AT) is anything that improves or increases functional
capabilities. It can be a device or software that makes the
workplace accessible or the job easier to do.
Who uses AT at work? We all do! Using a computer rather than
paper and pen, walking on a ramp into a building, or completing
an organized list of tasks are all ways we use AT. For many
employees, it makes our job easier; for employees with
disabilities, it makes the job possible.
Some employees with disabilities need more than what is usually
found at the work site. This is not a problem, as there are lots
of solutions available to make buildings and offices more
accessible.
Buildings can be more accessible by adding ramps, automatic
doors, and additional lighting. Bathrooms can be more accessible
by widening doors using swing-away hinges and adding grab bars
and raised toilet seats.
To help an employee with organization, it’s best to start with
the technology the employee already has. Most phones come with
reminder, calendar, and note apps. These are incredibly useful
tools to make sure tasks are completed before they are due, work
days are started on time, and task details are not forgotten.
Additional tools are available such as pens that record audio and
apps that can provide audio and photos of individual steps in a
task.
Reading can be facilitated by software and apps that read text
out loud. Apps are available that take a picture of text and read
it so the employee can listen. Writing can be accomplished
efficiently with pen grips, speech-recognition software and more.
Speech recognition is built into all Macs and PCs.
Employees who are blind can use devices, apps and screen-readers
that read text out loud. For employees with low vision, there are
many devices like CCTVs, handheld video magnifiers, low tech
magnifiers, and even devices that can be worn or attached to
glasses.
Communicating by phone can be a challenge for employees with
hearing loss. Amplified phones are available for people who need
amplification for phone conversations. Phone Relay apps are
available for tablets.
For employees with difficulty communicating verbally, there are a
wide variety of voice output communication devices to choose
from, including communication apps for phones and tablets. These
devices can be accessed using eye gaze, touch screen, or switch.
Computer use is possible for some employees by typing with an
adapted keyboard or using an adapted mouse. Adapted keyboards
come in many shapes and sizes and some do not even have keys.
Adapted mice can be configured to be used by just about any part
of the body, even the eyes!
For assistance finding what works best for any employee, contact
the SC Assistive Technology Program at 803-935-5263 or carol.page@uscmed.sc.edu
Demonstrations are provided for free in our Resource Center
located in Columbia. We offer free loans of equipment for two to
four weeks so employee and employer know it’s a good fit.
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Disability
Mentoring Day (DMD) is an annual event coordinated by The
American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) to
promote career development for students and job-seekers with
disabilities through hands-on career exploration and ongoing mentoring
relationships.
Each year, local VR offices host a DMD event during the month of
October. These activities provide pre-employment transition
services through job exploration, self-advocacy, workplace
readiness, and work-based learning opportunities.
Be sure to check with your local VR Counselor to find out what
exciting things will be happening for students this year and how
you can participate. You can also find more information on
the VR events page, as they are added, by visiting https://scvrd.net/events/
To learn more about AAPD or DMD on the national level, visit
their website at
https://www.aapd.com/disability-mentoring-day/
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