Employment After Spinal Cord Injury

Employment After Spinal Cord Injury

Overcoming the Barriers to Employment

There are many obstacles wheelchair users encounter in their pursuit of employment or returning to work after spinal cord injury (SCI). Here are a few common barriers to employment and solutions that can help remove them.

Conquering the Job Interview

What if the job interviewer asks you disability-related questions they wouldn’t ask anyone else? These tips from our Pathways to Employment program will help you prepare for the good, bad, and awkward questions at your next job interview.

Dispelling the Myths of Returning to Work after SCI

Discover your pathway to employment and help dispel the myths about returning to work after SCI/D. Watch the video.

Request Assistance Going Back to Work

United Spinal’s Pathways to Employment program is a great starting point, providing access to valuable resources and useful tips and  information to begin your journey. Request employment assistance.



Free Webinars on Assistive Technology

The Accessible Technology Coalition

compiles this listing of free webinars

from around the Web!

 

Follow the ATC Facebook page for late additions.

AT Webinars


Apple’s New Accessibility Features from PACER
Wednesday, October 30th at 11am Pacific, 2pm Eastern


Benefits of Word Prediction for Learners with Literacy Difficulties from Call Scotland Wednesday, October 30th at 6am Pacific, 9am Eastern (30 min.)


Digital Accessibility – The First Steps from Paciello
October 31, 2019 at 9am Pacific, 12pm Eastern


Living on Your Own: Taking Care of Yourself - Technology to Support Health and Wellness from PACER
Wednesday, November 13, 2019 at 12pm Pacific, 3pm Eastern


Skoog, an accessible musical instrument from AT3 Center
Wednesday November 13, 2019 at 12pm Pacific, 3pm Eastern


APH Products: What's Available for Students with Visual Impairments from TSBVI
November 14, 2019 at 1pm Pacific, 4pm Eastern


Tech for Teens Club : Building Websites from PACER
Saturday, November 16, 2019 at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern


Accessibility in the Laboratory from Cornell
Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at 9am Pacific, 12pm Eastern


Selecting an Access Method - switches, keyboard or eye gaze? from CALLScotland
Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019 at 6am Pacific, 9am Eastern (30 min.)


Nous, a wearable eye blink switch from AT3 Center
December 3, 2019 at 12pm Pacific, 3pm Eastern


From SETC = mainly K-12


Intro to TobiiDynavox: Snap + Core First for all access methods
November 5, 2019 at 12pm Pacific, 3pm Eastern


NovaChat vs TouchChat
November 12, 2019 at 12pm Pacific, 3pm Eastern


Advancing AT Processes AT Assessment
November 18, 2019 at 3:30pm Pacific, 6:30pm Eastern
 
Implementation Strategies for Eye gaze Users
November 19, 2019 at 12pm Pacific, 3pm Eastern


Chrome Supports for Reading/Writing/Math
November 20, 2019 at 3:30pm Pacific, 6:30pm Eastern
      
Vision Supports, Strategies and Tech Tools
November 21, 2019 at 11:30pm Pacific, 2:30pm Eastern


My AAC Journey: Switches to Eye Gaze to Infinity!
November 21, 2019 at 3:30pm Pacific, 6:30pm Eastern
      
Switch Access to AAC Apps from SETC
December 2, 2019 at 3:30pm Pacific, 6:30pm Eastern


Archived Webinar


How Getting a Speech Device Changed My Life from ISSAC

Know something about a particular piece of AT?  $$


There's a lot of overly-general information about AT on the web. If you can review a particular operating system, app, software title, or piece of equipment in 600-1400 words, we can pay $50-$100. Contact us for the details.

Register Today for the 2019 Building Bridges Conference!

Building Bridges:
Constructing and Navigating
Transition Services for Youth with Disabilities

Don’t miss your opportunity – register today for the
2019 Building Bridges SC Interagency Transition Conference!
November 20-21, 2019

This is the largest practitioner focused transition conference in South Carolina, and this year we are offering rich content sessions along with time for networking and strategic team planning!

Do you have an interest in building student involvement and leadership in your community? If so, we have the general session for you!

Staff and students from The Charleston Leadership Academy will present a keynote session and share how they are building leadership and self-advocacy skills while promoting student participation in community teaming!

Post-conference, the Transition Alliance of South Carolina is partnering with AccessAbility to support 5 teams interested in replicating the Academy in the coming year.

Don’t miss the opportunity to hear about this great work and connect with staff regarding this programming opportunity!

This year’s conference will be at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in beautiful Downtown Greenville! The room block is filling up fast – so reserve yours today by clicking HERE!

While you are at it, register to attend the conference by clicking HERE!

Thanks to our sponsors for helping us to build this incredible event!

• SC Assistive Technology Program
• SC Office of Special Education Services
• USC Center for Disability Resources
• SC Developmental Disabilities Council
• AccessAbility
• SC Department of Disabilities and Special Needs
• Education Associates
• Attainment Company
• Achieve 3000
• Spider Learning

Have questions?

Don’t hesitate to reach out!

We look forward to seeing you in November!

Download Flyer





Seats Available!

AT for IT:

What Instructional Technology Coaches Need to Know

About Assistive Technology (AT)

Date: October 24, 2019
Time: 9:30 am – 11:30 am
Cost: Free
Location: 8301 Farrow Road, Midlands Center, Poplar Building Conference Room, Columbia, SC 29203 (Directions)
Limit: 20

REGISTER NOW!

There is a lot we should all know about assistive technology: what it is, how it differs from instructional technology, and why, as well as who can benefit from AT implementation in the classroom. Most importantly, what role coaches play in facilitating AT implementation. Tips, best practices, and readily available resources will be shared.

Presenter: Madalina Tudora is a RESNA certified Assistive Technology Professional and experienced educator, currently serving as an Assistive Technology Specialist for the SC Department of Education. She worked and studied in Europe, earning her undergraduate degree in Special Education from the University of Bucharest, Romania, and her graduate degree in Psychology from Titu Maiorescu University, Bucharest.

Seats Available!

All you need to know about

Inclusive Services

&

Talking Book Services

from the South Carolina State Library

Date: October 23, 2019
Time: 9:30 am – 11:30 am
Cost: FREE
Location: 8301 Farrow Road, Poplar Building Conference Room, Columbia, SC 29203 (Directions)

REGISTER NOW!

This training will provide information on how to make traditional library services accessible to all by using the Inclusive and Talking Book Services from the SC State Library.

Participants will learn about inclusive services offered by the State Library and how public libraries are working towards accessibility and how these advances impact the general public.

Presenters

CAROLINE SMITH is the Inclusive Services Consultant at the SC State Library. She provides support and guidance for public libraries to make their services more accessible and inclusive to all.  She focuses on overcoming barriers faced by people with disabilities, Spanish speakers, immigrants, and other populations.  Prior to joining the State Library, she worked for the Charleston County Public Library in a variety of roles including Circulation, Technology Training, Reference and Children’s Services.

KRISTEN WHITE is the Director of Talking Book Services for the SC State Library. She received her B.A. in History with a minor in Speech from Georgia State University and her M.L.I.S. from Valdosta State University.  Having over 25 years of experience in libraries and government, Kristin is a former Library Volunteer Coordinator, City Program Director, and Public Library System Assistant Director.  She also worked in outreach where she was instrumental in facilitating the reconfiguration of the East Central Georgia region of the Georgia Libraries for Accessible Statewide Services (GLASS), and was a member of the inaugural staff of the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African-American Culture and History located in Atlanta, GA.

Free AAC Workshop

AAC & Literacy:

Why it Matters and How to Get Started

Date: November 13, 2019
Time: 9:00 am - 11:45 am, check-in begins at 8:30 am
Location: 2 Medical Park, Columbia, SC 29203, Med Park 2 Building
Conference Room – Lower Level
Cost: Free
0.25 ASHA CEUs

REGISTER NOW

There is increasing evidence and understanding that all students can learn to read and write. Research has proven that communication, language, and literacy skills develop in concert with one another, and that time spent in instruction in any one of these areas build awareness and skill in the other. However, when it comes to individuals who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) it is often thought that they need to develop a certain level of skill in communication with their AAC system before they can benefit from literacy instruction. This workshop will outline why that statement is false, and review steps to getting started in providing literacy instruction for your AAC user.

Learning Objectives:

• Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:
• Describe the literacy and language connection for communication, reading, and writing.
• List two emergent literacy strategies that support individuals who use AAC.
• Describe two accessible writing solutions.

Presenter:

Patrick Brune, M.S., CCC-SLP is a Speech Language Pathologist and has provided assessment, therapy, and consultation services for children and adults with severe speech and language disabilities for over 25 years. He worked as a clinical supervisor for Queens College, in New York, and as a related service provider for the NYC Department of Education. Patrick is a member of the Tobii Dynavox Learning Services team, providing implementation support and workshops.

Questions? Contact:
Courtney Grant 

 courtney.grant@tobiidynavox.com
Call: 803-822-9751 

Participate in our listening session on emergency response!

Advancing independence, integration, and inclusion throughout life

Save the Date!

Join us for an emergency preparedness, response, and recovery listening session.

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) wants to hear and learn from people with disabilities, and their families and caregivers, about their experiences during emergencies or disasters. We want to learn how you plan, respond, and recover from these emergency situations. Your experiences will help us to understand how we can improve our support, training, and technical assistance in times when emergencies and disasters hit.

WHEN:
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

WHERE:
Cooperative Conference Center
169 Laurelhurst Ave, Columbia SC

REMOTE LOCATIONS:

AccessAbility
7944 Dorchester Road, Suite 5
North Charleston, SC

Walton Options for Independent Living:
514 West Avenue
North Augusta, SC

RSVP here
Or

call 803.779.5121.

For more information,

email alston@sidemgroup.com

Click here to download the accessible PDF flyer.

Light refreshments will be provided.

This listening session is in partnership with:

Make an Impact -- Take our Survey!

 

Make an impact by participating in the

Needs Assessment Survey!

 

Want to make a big change?

Come participate in the Needs Assessment Survey hosted by the South Carolina Independent Living Council! We are working to understand and address unnecessary barriers, and we want your input!

The survey is live now until October 21! Please share your thoughts with us by clicking here:

Take the Survey

Items Available!

Large items available for free

through SCATP Reuse!

26 foot aluminum ramp

Acorn Superglide Stair Lift

Bruno Stair Lift

 

For more information,

please contact Alli Upchurch

at (803) 935-5273 or

 alli.upchurch@uscmed.sc.edu.

Free AT and IT workshop

AT for IT:

What Instructional Technology Coaches Need to Know About Assistive Technology (AT)

Date: October 24, 2019
Time: 9:30 am – 11:30 am
Cost: Free
Location: 8301 Farrow Road, Midlands Center, Poplar Building Conference Room, Columbia, SC 29203 (Directions)
Limit: 20

REGISTER NOW

There is a lot we should all know about assistive technology: what it is, how it differs from instructional technology, and why, as well as who can benefit from AT implementation in the classroom. Most importantly, what role coaches play in facilitating AT implementation. Tips, best practices, and readily available resources will be shared.

Presenter: Madalina Tudora is a RESNA certified Assistive Technology Professional and experienced educator, currently serving as an Assistive Technology Specialist for the SC Department of Education. She worked and studied in Europe, earning her undergraduate degree in Special Education from the University of Bucharest, Romania, and her graduate degree in Psychology from Titu Maiorescu University, Bucharest.


Seats Remaining! Trash to AT Treasures Workshop

Trash to AT Treasures

Date: October 22, 2019
Time: 9:00 am – Noon
Cost: $10.00 per person

Mail checks payable to University of South Carolina to:

Assistive Technology Program, USC School of Medicine, Columbia, SC 29208

To pay by credit card, call Brittney Green at 803-935-5239

Location: SC Assistive Technology Program, Midlands Center Poplar Building Conference Room, 8301 Farrow Road, Columbia, SC 29203 (Directions)

REGISTER NOW

Assistive technology can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be! Participants will learn how common items found in the home can be used as assistive technology and how to match assistive technology to specific needs.  The workshop will include a fun make-and-take opportunity for participants to choose from different AT projects to construct and take home all that they create.


Tools for Successful Employment: Free Training!

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month! To celebrate, register for a free training to empower you with the tools you need for successful employment. You can join us online on October 21 or in-person on October 22 to learn about topics including:

• employment skills,
• disability disclosure,
• ADA employment rights,
• and more!

 Register here!

Please make reasonable accommodation requests

a week before the date by calling

Dori at 800-681-6805/TTY: 803-779-0949 or

emailing her at dtempio@able-sc.org

Able South Carolina
720 Gracern Road Suite 106

Columbia, South Carolina 29210
803.779.5121

Disability Photography Grant Available

Getty and Verizon Media Offer New
Disability Photography Grant


By Seth McBride

September 25th, 2019



 

Calling all disabled photographers — if you’re looking for a way to influence how the public sees disability, there may not be a more powerful amplifier for your photography than a new grant opportunity from Getty Images and Verizon Media. The Disability Stories grant will award a total of $40,000 in funding to five winners to create authentic representations of disability.

The grant follows a larger collaboration between Getty, Verizon Media and the National Disability Leadership Alliance, called The Disability Collection, which seeks to change media representations of disability by integrating photos of disabled people in everyday situations into the Getty Images stock photo service. In a recent survey, Getty found that only 2% of stock photos depicted disability. Those that do often conform to harmful stereotypes. “This project is an honest effort to better represent people with disabilities,” says New Mobility editor Ian Ruder, who helped vet images for the first round of The Disability Collection. “Getty is committed to making sure the photos don’t reinforce outdated notions of pity and inspiration. Changing longstanding media practice isn’t an overnight project though.”

Disabled photographers are specifically encouraged to apply for the grant program. In addition to the monetary award, winners will also receive guidance and mentorship from one of Getty’s art directors, promotion through their social media channels and the chance to license their qualifying work on Getty Images at a 100% royalty rate. Winners will be determined by a panel of judges that includes those in the creative industries and disability activists, such as Lawrence Carter Long, the communications director for the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, and Sulaiman Kahn, the founder of ThisAbility UK.

Applications are due by November 1, and winners will be announced on December 3, the United Nations International Day of Persons With Disabilities. For more information on how to apply, click here.



Governor McMaster proclaims October Disability Employment Awareness Month

Governor McMaster Proclaims

October 2019

as Disability Employment Awareness Month!

How will YOU celebrate this month?

The South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster proclaimed that people with disabilities are capable, contributing members of society, worthy of full access and inclusion in South Carolina's workforce. Let's come together to show all of South Carolina that people with disabilities can work and want to work! Share what employment means to you on social media using the hashtag #NDEAM.

Held each October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), aims to educate the public about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities. NDEAM is led by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), but its true spirit lies in the many observances held at the grassroots level across the nation every year. Learn how you can support NDEAM by visiting the ODEP website here.

Staff from the governor's office will be reading the proclamation tomorrow at Hire Me SC's fourth annual Employer Summit. The summit will convene HR directors and employers with experts in disability, diversity and inclusion to talk about hiring and retaining people with disabilities. What better way to kick off Disability Employment Awareness Month?

View the governor's official proclamation here.

Free Webinars on Assistive Technology

The Accessible Technology Coalition

compiles this listing of free webinars

from around the Web!

Follow the ATC Facebook page for late additions.

AT Webinars - General and adult

How to Ensure an Inclusive Workplace: A Conversation with a Digital Accessibility Expert from JAN on Tuesday, October 8th at 11am Pacific, 2pm Eastern


Tips and tools for supporting disabled people in training and work from AbilityNet
October 17th at 5am Pacific, 8am Eastern


Apple’s New Accessibility Features from PACER
Wednesday, October 30th at 11am Pacific, 2pm Eastern


AT Webinars - K-12


Create a Technology Toolbox for Struggling Students with ADHD and LD from ADDitude on Wednesday, October 2nd, at 10am Pacific, 1pm Eastern


TextHelp literacy support software from CallScotland
Wednesday, October 2nd at 6am Pacific, 9am Eastern (30 min.)


Providing a virtual classroom for learners to support Anytime, Anywhere learning
from CallScotland Wednesday, October 9th at 6am Pacific, 9am Eastern


Working with Students Using Switches: Collaboration is Key from AbleNet
Part I: October 9th at 12pm Pacific, 3pm Eastern
Part II: October 16th at 12pm Pacific, 3pm Eastern


How Getting a Speech Device Changed My Life from ISSAC
Wednesday, October 16th at 4pm Pacific,  7pm Eastern


The Benefits of Word Prediction for Learners with Literacy Difficulties
from CallScotland on Wednesday, October 30th at 6am Pacific, 9am Eastern


From SETC at 3:30pm Pacific, 6:30pm Eastern unless earlier, as noted:


October 1        AT Chatter: Literacy and AAC at 11:30am Pacific, 2:30pm Eastern
October 2        Working with Students Using Switches: Collaboration is Key
October 3        AT Tools for Creative Story Telling
October 7        Advancing AT Processes: AT Consideration
October 8        What’s New in Proloquo2go at 12pm Pacific, 3pm Eastern
October 9        What’s New in Digital Math
October 10      Enhancing Shared Reading with Print Referencing
October 14      UDL 102: Tips for Implementation
October 15      AAC Assessment Resources- Online, Apps, Test, and More
October 22      Intro to Unity at 12pm Pacific, 3pm Eastern
October 23      Students Using Switches: New and Emerging Technologies
October 24      Microsoft UDL Tools For Language and Translation Support
October 28      Beyond Switch Training Activities
October 29      Intro to Empower and Look: PRCs latest and greatest!
                        at 12pm Pacific, 3pm Eastern


Archived Webinars from September (that we missed)

• Milo: Transforming Learning for Individuals with Autism (Robots4Autism) from GeorgiaTech
• Augmentative and Alternative Communication in School-Aged Populations from MaineCITE from CallScotland

The Evolution of Wheelchairs

Wheelchairs – The Evolution

By Ziggi Landsman

Many of us can’t help but  think of wheelchairs when spinal cord injury is mentioned. The two are so closely tied that they almost seem like one.

Granted, the relationship between user and wheelchair can be a love hate one. Cheers when the wheelchair is running right and jeers when it bums out.

The wheelchair, in some form or other, goes back a very long way and has obviously changed considerably over time. Years ago, the magic was not in finding the right wheelchair, but in surviving a spinal cord injury at all. Thankfully that scenario has changed over time.

Click here to read more.