Join us & the cast of 'Everything's Gonna Be Okay'!

Don't miss out on this FREE virtual event! 

Attend our FREE Virtual Panel with the Cast of 'Everything's Gonna Be Okay'

Join us on World Autism Acceptance Day next Friday, April 2nd at 5pm EST, streaming on Facebook with the cast of Freeform's "Everything’s Gonna Be Okay.” Josh Thomas, Kayla Cromer, Maeve Press, Adam Faison, and Lillian Carrier will discuss how they celebrate differences for Autism Acceptance Month, and dish on their characters and future episodes. The cast will also offer a sneak peek into Season 2, which will air on Thursday, April 8th. Don't miss out, click to attend below! 

ATTEND FREE EVENT

With your help, we hope to raise $200,000 to provide our community with information, resources, social stories, support and continued advocacy throughout the pandemic. Your support will make all the difference in the lives of so many people in the autism community. 

Don't wait until April, start today! We encourage you to participate in fundraising efforts by setting up your own peer-to-peer fundraiser or Facebook fundraiser for the Autism Society. 

Visit our Website |  Donate 

Our Promise During COVID-19: The Autism Society of America promises to remain committed to improving the lives of all affected by autism across the spectrum and throughout the lifespan, and will focus on providing information, resources, and advocacy efforts to address these urgent needs.  

Our priorities for Advocacy Day 2021

Join us online for Advocacy Day 

for Access & Independence on April 21! 

Advocacy Day is an opportunity for the disability community and our allies in South Carolina to come together, learn from each other, build excitement, and work to advance disability rights in our state. Will you join us online for Advocacy Day this year? 

Register for Advocacy Day to receive updates via email and the link to join the livestream! 

Register for Advocacy Day!

Here's what we'll be focusing on at Advocacy Day this year: 

Community Based Services 

Individuals with disabilities have been among the most significantly impacted by COVID-19, with over 1 in 3 COVID-related deaths in South Carolina coming from patients in institutions or their caregivers. To prevent further loss, South Carolina must work toward prioritizing community-based services over institutionalization. 

In South Carolina, nursing homes and other long-term care facilities have become dangerous hotspots for COVID-19 outbreaks. Over 1 in 3 COVID-related deaths in South Carolina are patients in institutions or their caregivers. 

• Unlocking the Barrier: South Carolina needs to allocate and increase funding for home and community based services (HCBS), such as Money Follows the Person, so that more individuals with disabilities can transition out of congregate settings and into the community successfully, with necessary support. 

All states are mandated to create an Olmstead Plan which would establish how the state is going to provide services to individuals with disabilities living in the community, in accordance with the The U.S. Supreme Court Olmstead Decision of 1999. 21 years later, South Carolina still has not developed an Olmstead Plan, and now 40% of COVID-related deaths come from patients and caregivers in long-term facilities. 

• Unlocking the Barrier: South Carolina must create an Olmstead Plan which would detail how the state will provide services to individuals with disabilities living in the community as the preferred option, as in accordance with the law. 

Employment 

Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit South Carolina in March 2020, people with disabilities have become 40% more likely to face unemployment than their non-disabled peers. While we rebuild our post-COVID economy and workforce, we MUST intentionally include people with disabilities in this process. 

The State of South Carolina is missing a vital opportunity to become a model employer for people with and without disabilities. Job loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic is more likely for people with disabilities than the general population. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1 in 5 workers with disabilities were laid off since March, compared to 1 in 7 of the general population. 

• Unlocking the Barrier: Efforts such as Employment First are significantly needed to develop strong public policy at the state level, to systematically address the barriers that are preventing South Carolinians from being employed, and to provide incentive for businesses to maintain an inclusive workforce. 

Over 1,200 South Carolinians with disabilities are limited to “work activity centers” or sheltered workshop settings, where less than 5% transition into community-based employment and they may make less than one dollar per hour. 

• Unlocking the Barrier: Subminimum wage should be phased out and transition into supports for competitive, community-based employment. 

Transportation 

Transportation is the key to independence and community participation. People with disabilities are twice as likely to have inadequate transportation, making it difficult to take advantage of economic and recreational opportunities available to the community. 

Many environmental barriers, like crumbling sidewalks, missing curb cuts, shelter areas, and hard to read signs may deny access to multi-modal transportation. 

• Unlocking the Barrier: Investments in infrastructure must embrace Complete Street standards that meet the needs of pedestrians and riders of public transit. 

There are 27 Public Transit Authorities across South Carolina, but efforts to inform the community about their services are often lacking and inconsistent. 

• Unlocking the Barrier: South Carolina needs new resources to fund local outreach campaigns for all Public Transit Authorities. 

With routes and services changing due to the pandemic and natural disasters, it is more important than ever that this information is communicated online in a clear and accessible format. Currently, people with disabilities in South Carolina are struggling to find and understand the latest information about public transportation. 

• Unlocking the Barrier: All public transit authorities in South Carolina need to implement online accessibility practices so that their communications are accessible and understandable. PTAs should utilize available trainings if unsure how to make online content accessible. 

Additional Information on Public Transit Authorities Across SC: https://www.scdot.org/travel/travel-transitproviders.aspx 

ADA Coordinators 

All SC state agencies with 50 or more employees must have Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) coordinators to enforce the ADA and ensure that people with disabilities can access services equally. Without these ADA coordinators, accessibility slips through the cracks and people with disabilities are unable to participate equally in society. 

The majority of state agencies in South Carolina do not have ADA Coordinators, as is required by law. The short list of agencies that do have ADA coordinators can be found on the SC SILC website – only 8 total. 

• Unlocking the Barrier: When the SC General Assembly is conducting oversight of state agencies, this must include oversight of the agency’s ADA procedures and processes.  

Even when agencies do have ADA coordinators, these coordinators are often not trained or knowledgeable on accessibility on the American with Disabilities Act. Coordinators must be properly trained and qualified in order to effectively advocate for the disability community. 

• Unlocking the Barrier: The General Assembly needs to hold agencies accountable for having ADA coordinators who are qualified. 

Register for Advocacy Day!

FCC Releases Report and Order for Emergency Broadband Benefit Program

 This message is from AccessInfo

On February 26, 2021, the FCC released a Report and Order that established the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, a $3.2 billion federal initiative to help lower the cost of high-speed internet for eligible households during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.  The program will provide two benefits:  a discount of up to $50 per month toward broadband services for eligible households (and up to $75 per month for households on Tribal lands), and a one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet purchased through a participating provider if the household contributes $10-$50 toward the purchase price.  The FCC expects that purchased devices will “be accessible to and usable by people with disabilities.”  The FCC expects that the program will be open to eligible households by the end of April.

Links to the Fact Sheet

• URL: https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-emergency-broadband-benefit-program-fact-sheet
• Word: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-370355A1.docx 
• PDF: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-370355A1.pdf 
• Text: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-370355A1.txt 

Links to the Report and Order:

• URL: https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-adopts-report-and-order-emergency-broadband-benefit-program-0
• Word: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-21-29A1.docx 
• PDF: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-21-29A1.pdf 
• Text: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-21-29A1.txt

For general information on the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, visit: https://www.fcc.gov/emergency-broadband-benefit-program.  For further information, please contact Eric Wu, Attorney Advisor, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau at (202) 418-1543 or by email at Eric.Wu@fcc.gov.  Individuals who use videophones and are fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) may call the FCC’s ASL Consumer Support Line at (844) 432-2275 (videophone).

Calling all parents of children with disabilities

We need your input! 

Take this brief survey to help us understand the challenges and opportunities you face to help inform our new project. 

Here’s the link:

 

Take the Survey!

Visit our Updated Website!

 Our Updated Website has Launched! 

https://www.familyconnectionsc.org/

We are happy to announce our updated website 

has launched with a fresh look and a visitor-friendly layout! 

Visit today to find information and tools 

on these topics and more! 

Calendar 

News and Updates

Our Work

Families

Healthcare

Education

Training

Resources

Volunteer Opportunities

Order Materials

COVID-19 Resources 

Questions or Feedback? 

We'd love to hear from you:

 info@familyconnectionsc.org 

Vaccine Updates

Make A Referral

Donate

Family Connection of South Carolina

1800 Saint Julian Place, Suite 104

Columbia, South Carolina 29204

1-800-578-8750 

Para Espanol 1-888-808-7462

 info@familyconnectionsc.org 

Support Your Young Adult in Employment!

 

Are you a parent or caregiver of a 

young adult with a disability? 

Then you know that you have an important role in supporting their transition to adulthood. Join us for this free, 3-part webinar series to help raise you and your family's expectations for your young adult's future in employment. A real job in the community is possible for your loved one. This webinar series will empower you and your family with information on how to support that goal. 

We will be offering live webinars from 6:30-7:45 PM on April 14, 21, and 28. We will also be airing the recording the day after. 

Check out the topics below and register for any and all that interest you! 

Defining a Good Life: Work is Possible  
April 14, 2021 6:30 - 7:45PM

 
Exploring Career Options: Where Do They Want to Work?  
April 21, 2021 6:30 - 7:45PM

  
Preparing to Work: Building Skills and Matching to Job Tasks  
April 28, 2021 6:30 - 7:45PM 

Register for all webinars here! 

Questions? 

Please email us at hiremesc@able-sc.org 

Learn to advocate for your health!

• Do you want to learn how to discuss your disability with doctors and nurses? 
• Do you want to learn how to speak up for yourself in a doctor's appointment or hospital visit? 
• Or are you wanting to learn ways to stay healthy and well during the pandemic? 

Take our Health Advocacy Consumer Classes! 

We will teach you about: 

• healthy eating 
• stress management 
• how to communicate with healthcare providers

You must attend all three sessions. These will be held April 6, 13, and 20, from 10:30 AM to 12 PM online. Once you register, you will receive an email with information on how to join the online classes. 

Sign up for the classes!

Able South Carolina

720 Gracern Road Suite 106

Columbia, South Carolina 29210

803.779.5121 | advocacy@able-sc.org 

How can we improve our volunteer programs?

We need your input!! 💬 

We want to improve our volunteer programs here at Able SC. 

Will you take a moment and let us know what areas we should focus on, 

and what motivates you to volunteer?

Take the Survey

Able South Carolina

720 Gracern Road Suite 106

Columbia, South Carolina 29210

803.779.5121 | advocacy@able-sc.org 

2021 AAIDD Virtual Meeting: Registration is Now Open!

Addressing Workforce Challenges: 

Promising Trends in Policy, Practice, and Research

AAIDD’s 145th Annual Meeting, Addressing Workforce Challenges: Promising Trends in Policy, Practice, and Research, June 21-24, 2021 is really the “must attend” meeting of the year! 

Join us for our first fully virtual conference. Enjoy informative and inspiring plenary sessions, cutting edge concurrent sessions, posters addressing emerging issues, and in-depth pre-conference meetings on a number of important topics, all from the comfort of your home or office.

Register Here! 

Register now and receive links to the conference platform closer to the conference dates.

Individuals who register by May 10, 2021 will receive a complimentary door drop package of materials to the address provided upon registration. 

Plenary Sessions

The three plenary sessions at this year’s conference feature speakers who will provide their unique perspectives on challenges in the workforce.

The Future of the Workforce in the Academic, Health Care, and Community Support Sectors and Sectors that Predominantly Employ People with IDD 

Tuesday, June 21

• Amy Hewitt, PhD, FAAIDD, Director, Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota (Moderator)
• Terri Givens, PhD, CEO & Founder, Brighter Ed
• Meg O’Connell, CEO & Founder, Global Disability Inclusion
• Barbara Merrill, CEO, American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR)
• Hayden O. Kepley, PhD, Deputy Director, National Center for Health Workforce Analysis (NCHWA), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

The Future of Work: Economic and Demographic Trends in the US Workforce 

Wednesday, June 22

• Taryn Williams, MEd, Managing Director, Poverty to Prosperity Program, American Progress

Presidential Address: Addressing Workforce Challenges: Promising Trends in Policy, Practice, and Research

Wednesday, June 22

• Elisa Velardo, MMHS, FAAID, Director, Connecticut Department of Developmental Services

A Note About Payment:

In addition to online payment via credit card, we also accept check payment for registration. Please note, due to delayed USPS delivery times nationwide, we encourage you to mail your check as early as possible. We will unfortunately be unable to credit registrations for checks received after June 18th. If you need an invoice, please contact lthorn@aaidd.org.

Need help to pay for groceries, PPE or other necessary items?

 

For more information contact: 

Angela Rodriguez (803) 252-2198 

angela@scspinalcord.org

Free Webinar: Assistive Technology Assessment Guide Online Training

Assistive Technology Assessment Guide 

(ATAG)

Online Training

Date: March 18, 2021 

Time: 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. ET

Cost: Free

Presenter: Ted Klopp, Westminster Technologies, Inc.

REGISTER NOW!  

You must register to receive the Zoom webinar link.

The Assistive Technology Assessment Guide will teach you and your staff topics such as terminology and the concepts to work through the AT Cycle. Lessons include videos, fillable handouts, case studies, reflection questions, and quizzes. A certificate of completion is provided when all tasks have been accomplished.

Learn on your own in with a small group of co-workers at your own pace. When you have completed the training, you receive six months of coaching from a RESNA certified ATP to help implement your new skills as you begin to conduct assessments.

Techie Tuesday is Back!

TECHIE TUESDAY

Next Tuesday, March 16th, 2021

Join SC Assistive Technology Program staff for a free, informative demonstration of the assistive technology you are most interested in.

To sign up for a time for your personal, 1:1 demonstration for March 16th, contact Carol Page at carol.page@uscmed.sc.edu or 803-935-5301. 

Check out our free archived trainings and upcoming trainings here:

https://scatp.med.sc.edu/services/at-trainings/

Survey ends Monday, March 15!

Survey Ends March 15!

Click here to take our survey!

Just a reminder, we are surveying parents of children receiving special education services or accommodations under a 504 plan. The survey will close on March 15th.

If you are a professional, please share this survey with the families you serve.

The survey results will be used to develop products and programs to better help families and their children. We will also use this information in our efforts to inform the SC Department of Education about students needs. This survey is confidential and no identifying information will be shared. 

As a thank you for taking the time to complete the survey, participants will have  a chance to receive one of three $100 gift cards to Amazon. Just be sure to fill out your contact information on the last page!

Take Our Survey!

Family Connection of SC

1804 St. Julian Place Suite 104

Columbia, South Carolina 29204

803-252-0914

info@familyconnectionsc.org

Covid Vaccine - Great News!

Thanks to your advocacy efforts and our partners advocacy efforts, SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) revised the vaccine distribution phases.  Individuals with brain injury and individuals with other types of disabilities will be able to get vaccinated sooner as part of Phase 1B.  Individuals in Phase 1B will be able to make appointments on Monday, March 8, 2021 to get the vaccine. If you have a brain injury, you qualify in the other severe High-Risk Disability Category. (See below in red)

Phase 1b includes:

• Anyone aged 55 and up 
• People with increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease 
• People aged 16-54 with one or more of the following high-risk medical conditions: 

Cancer (current, not a history of cancer), chronic kidney disease (any stage), chronic lung disease, diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2), Down syndrome, heart disease (congestive heart disease, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, pulmonary hypertension), HIV/AIDS, solid organ transplant, obesity (BMI >30), pregnancy, sickle cell disease. 

• People who have a developmental or other severe high-risk disability that makes developing severe life-threatening illness or death from COVID-19 infection more likely 
• Frontline workers with increased occupational risk; frontline workers with increased occupational risk are people who: 

Must be in-person at their place of work, and 

Perform a job that puts them at increased risk of exposure due to their frequent, close (less than6 feet) and ongoing (more than 15 minutes) contact with others in the work environment 

Examples of frontline workers include but are not limited to school staff and daycare workers, manufacturing workers, grocery store workers, law enforcement officers, etc. 

• Individuals at increased risk in settings where people are living and working in close contact 

Residents and workers in group home settings for the mentally or physically disabled or those with behavioral or substance abuse conditions 

Workers and residents in homeless shelters 

Workers and residents in community training homes 

State and local correctional facility staff with direct inmate contact 

Correctional and immigration detention facility inmates 

Migrant farmworkers living in shared housing or reliant on shared transportation 

• All workers in healthcare and community health settings who have routine, direct patient contact and were not vaccinated in Phase 1a 

Until enough of us get vaccinated, we must all continue to:

• Wear masks, 
• Stay six feet away from others, 
• Get tested and stay home when you’re sick, and 
• Avoid crowds. 

Click here for vaccine locator information from SC DHEC.

Learn how to advocate! - Free Online Consumer Training

What do you need to be more independent 

in reaching your goals and being part of the community? 

Do you know how to practice self-advocacy, or speaking up for yourself? 

This FREE training will teach you how! 

Join us online on Monday, March 15, 2021, from 3-4 PM to learn: 

• communication styles, 
• making decisions, 
• creating your advocacy message, 
• and conflict resolution! 

Register here!

Registration will close on Sunday, March 14.

We will email you the Zoom link and materials 

on the morning of March 15. 

For questions, contact Dori at dtempio@able-sc.org. 

720 Gracern Road Suite 106 | Columbia, South Carolina 29210

803.779.5121 | advocacy@able-sc.org 

About setting high expectations for youth with disabilities..

 “Being branded low [functioning] sets you up for low educational expectations, low societal expectations and gatekeeping from the get go, it sets you up for lifelong failure. No one willingly labels themselves as low, it is others doing so.” 

This insightful and important quote comes from none other than our Empowering a Future keynote speaker, Hari Srinivasan. 

Who is Hari? 

Hari Srinivasan is a minimally-speaking autistic at UC Berkeley majoring in psychology and minoring in Disability Studies. At Berkeley, he is lead instructor for a semester-long class on autism, is the first nonspeaking president of the student org, Spectrum at Cal, writes for the Daily Californian and is an RA at the university Psychology Labs as well as the UC Berkeley Disability Lab. Hari hopes to go onto grad school and pursue research that relates to the autism and disability space. He also enjoys music, watching pro sports in addition to learning tennis. He loves creative writing with some of his poems and other work winning awards including a National Award at Carnegie Hall. Hari is passionate about disability advocacy and is a board member of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) and on the advisory board of ASA. Hari was featured on President Obama’s Instagram campaign on the 30th anniversary of ADA. 

Read Hari's latest article

Register NOW 

for Empowering a Future 2021! 

Registration closes at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, March 8. 

720 Gracern Road Suite 106 | Columbia, South Carolina 29210

803.779.5121 | advocacy@able-sc.org 

Brain Injury Awareness Month

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month!  

The "More Than My Brain" Injury campaign was designed by our National Organization, Brain Injury Association of America(BIAA).  This is a survivor-focused campaign that aims to de-stigmatize the injury, highlight the diversity of the brain injury community, and empower those who have survived.  The campaign was designed by support group leaders, advocates, and people living with brain injury.  It allows survivors to tell their own stories.  It also draws attention to the different causes of brain injury that many do not understand: concussion, stroke, overdose, and abuse. 

Governor Henry McMaster has proclaimed March as Brain Injury Awareness month in SC.  See the proclamation here.  Below is a list of many activities you can participate in this month.  Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for our special social media messages.  Please share!

Weekly Drawing for Prizes on Facebook During March! How to participate:

1. Print the "More Than My Brain Injury" Sign from BIASC website here.
2. Write on the sign what makes YOU more than your brain injury, for example mother, teacher, student, brother, painter, etc.
3. Snap a picture of you holding up the sign and post it on your FB page & tag Brain Injury Association of SC.
4. Each Friday afternoon in March, we will collect the names of the participants for the week and draw a winner at random.
5. We'll tag on our FB page and let you know that you won!

"More Than My Brain Injury" T-shirts will be for sale soon! Check our website for more information!  biaofsc.com

BIASC Brain Injury Awareness Month Fundraiser!  Please support BIASC by purchasing items from Boon Supply online. BIASC receives 40% of your puchase. Check out the items here.

Finally, share your story with BIASC, 

by sending an email to joyce.davis@biaofsc.com.

GOOD NEWS: COVID Vaccinations opening up for people with disabilities!

BREAKING NEWS: 

Your advocacy WORKED! Your voices were heard!

Starting Monday, March 8, COVID vaccinations in South Carolina will open up to phase 1b, which includes:

• People aged 16-64 with one or more of the following high-risk medical conditions: Cancer (current, not a history of cancer), chronic kidney disease (any stage), chronic lung disease, diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2), Down syndrome, heart disease (congestive heart disease, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, pulmonary hypertension), HIV/AIDS, solid organ transplant, obesity (BMI >30), pregnancy, sickle cell disease.
• People who have a developmental or other severe high-risk disability that makes developing severe life-threatening illness or death from COVID-19 infection more likely
• Anyone aged 55 and up
• Frontline workers with increased occupational risk, and;
• Individuals at increased risk in settings where people are living and working in close contact

More information is available on the SC DHEC website. 

If you fall into category Phase 1A or 1B, you can use this map to locate vaccination sites and register for yours. If you have difficulty navigating this website, please call Able SC at 803-779-5121 and we can assist you in scheduling a vaccine appointment.

A special thank you is in order for Gov. Henry McMaster, Dr. Linda Bell, and Dr. Jane Kelly of SC DHEC for listening to the voices of people with disabilities in South Carolina and moving them to a higher priority.

And to everyone who advocated for the health and safety of disabled people in South Carolina: THANK YOU! Your voice made a real impact and changed the course of South Carolina's vaccination efforts. We are so proud of this community.

Other COVID-19 services we offer:

• Help in advocating for yourself and your rights
• Assistance understanding the virus, safety tips, and finding COVID-19 testing sites
• Peer support every Tuesday and Thursday at 1 PM online!
• Guidance on transitioning out of an institution (like a nursing home, hospital, or care facility) into community-based living
• Advocacy to prevent at-risk individuals from being instituionalized
• Connecting individuals with all available resources through Information & Referral.

COVID-19 Information

 

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 - Higher Ed, Adults & General

Teaching Others About Accessibility from AEM Café (Interactive)

March 4, 2021 at 1pm Pacific, 4pm Eastern

CSUN Exhibit Hall It's virtual!. No idea what it will be like....

March 9-16th

What Exactly Are Accessibility Overlays? Do They Work? From Great Lakes ADA

March 18, 2021 at 11am Pacific, 2pm Eastern

Accessibility, assistive technologies and lived experiences from an HE environment from CALL Scotland

March 24,  2021 at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern (30 min.)

Review of the Revised 508 Standards (Part II): Requirements for Hardware and Software from the US Access Board

March 30, 2021 at 10am Pacific, 1pm Eastern

Caring is Sharing: Creating More Accessible Social Media from ATC3 Center

March 31, 2021 at 11:30am Pacific, 2:30pm Eastern

AT Webinars - K-12 and AAC

'Keep Talking' book AAC game resources from CALL Scotland

March 3, 2021 at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern (30 min.)

Let’s Explore Reading Resources for All Students from SETC

March 3, 2021 at 3:30pm Pacific, 12:30pm Eastern

AAC Talk: Using AAC with Social Media Tools to Enhance Communication from SETC

March 4, 2021 at 3:30pm Pacific, 12:30pm Eastern

DIY AT for the New Normal from AbleNet

March 10, 2021 at 1pm Pacific, 4pm Eastern

iPad Accessibility Features from SETC

March 8, 2021 at 3:30pm Pacific, 12:30pm Eastern

Tools to Support Writers with Significant Disabilities from SETC

March 9, 2021 at 3:30pm Pacific, 12:30pm Eastern

AT Chatter: AT and Environmental Control from SETC

March 10, 2021 at 3:30pm Pacific, 12:30pm Eastern

CLFA AT & AAC Chatter: Writing Supports from SETC

March 16, 2021 at 12pm Pacific, 9am Eastern

How to best use Microsoft Teams for pupils with literacy difficulties from CALL Scotland

March 17, 2021 at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern (30 min.)

Taking the Myths out of AAC Evaluations and Treatment from AbleNet

March 18, 2021 | 3:00 PM CST | 60 minutes

Features in Accessibility: Book Creator from AIM

March 23, 2021 at 11am Pacific, 2pm Eastern

Archived

Putting the 'AT' in mATh: Making Math More Accessible with AT from VCU

COVID-19: Apps for Promoting Independence and Safety from Tools for Life

Tablets for seniors: Keep in touch with loved ones during Covid-19 from AbilityNet

Helping Students Struggling with Executive Function Build Organization Skills for Transition from SCATP 

Free 2021 Virtual Assistive Technology Expo Tomorrow!

2021 Virtual Assistive Technology Expo 

Date: March 2, 2021

Time: 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Target Audience: 

People with disabilities, their families, seniors, 

educators, veterans, and healthcare professionals.

Cost: Free!

Register Now!

You must register to receive a Zoom confirmation email

The first 10 registrants today receive a free t-shirt!

Prizes: 

Two $50 gift cards will be given away at the end of each session. 

You must be logged into the session to win!

Accessibility: 

Closed captioning and ASL sign language will be provided. 

Contact Janet Lambert at 803-935-5263, 

janet.lambert@uscmed.sc.edu with questions or accessibility needs.

Session Schedule 

8:30 a.m. 

KeyNote Speaker: Don Johnston, M.S.

Mr. Johnston is the CEO and Founder of Don Johnston Incorporated. For forty years, Don has committed himself to developing Human Learning Tools and Curriculum for classrooms to serve the widest range of student learning needs.

9:00 a.m.

Essential AT for Individuals with Significant Disabilities

Speaker: Cindy Richardson, AbleNet, Inc.

Participants will learn about low-to-high tech communication devices, computer and iPad access, various switches and environmental control devices. 

9:30 a.m.

ADA Ramps and Other Common Accessibility Equipment

Speakers: Allen Cates and Sherri Hutto, AmRamp of the Carolinas

Participants will learn about the different types of ramps that meet ADA requirements as well as other accessibility equipment for use inside the home. 

10:00 a.m.

Beneath the Surface of Readtopia

Speaker: Candy Cooper, Don Johnston Inc. 

Participants will learn about the Readtopia reading curriculum and how it brings experiential learning into the classroom, so students with complex needs can bridge the gap between learning through reading and learning through experiencing. 

10:30 a.m.

Meet the EyeOn 

Speaker: Wayne Jones, Eye Tech Digital Systems 

Participants will be introduced to EyeTech’s new eye gaze speech-generating device called the EyeOn. The EyeOn is an all-in-one tablet with eye-tracking technology designed to support non-verbal individuals with conditions such as Autism, Cerebral Palsy and ALS. 

11:00 a.m.

Portable Reading Devices Provide Independence and Confidence

Speaker: Frank Beard, Quintex Low Vision 

Participants will see a demonstration of OrCam’s two portable devices which instantly read text from any printed or digital surface. They can also recognize faces, products, and money.  No internet needed. 

11:30 a.m.

Practical UDL and Personalized Instruction Tools for ALL Students

Speaker: Tim Jones, TextHelp

Participants will see demonstrations of Read&Write for Google Chrome, EquatIO, and WriQ. We will explore text-to-speech, word prediction, dictation, text and picture dictionaries, annotations and more that can help ALL students and especially those who struggle with reading and writing.  

Noon 

Lunch Break

12:30 p.m.

Door Prize Give Away from the SC DD Council and SCATP

1:00 p.m.

The Benefits of Power 

Speakers:  Brandon Wall and Megan Fitzpatrick, CAP, CEAC, Numotion 

Participants will see a demonstration of power functions on wheelchairs and the benefits associated with the functions. Functions we will explore include tilt, recline, elevating legs, seat lift, and more. 

1:30 p.m.

AAC Options! How do I choose the right high-tech device for my client? 

Speaker: Wyatt Franken, Talk to Me Technologies

Participants will see a demonstration of the software and hardware features of the exclusive communication device families: Wego and Zuvo!   

2:00 p.m.

Learn How to Borrow Manual and Power Wheelchairs from SCATP 

Speakers: Archie McPherson, National Seating and Mobility and Tammy Wallace, SC Assistive Technology Program

Participants will learn how to borrow manual and power wheelchairs for people living with paralysis from the SC Assistive Technology Program. This loan program will fill the gap for people until they receive their own custom wheelchair. Participants will see a demonstration of power functions on wheelchairs that benefit individuals with paralysis. The SC Assistive Technology Program received a Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation Grant for 2021. National Seating and Mobility is partnering with SCATP to implement the project. 

2:30 p.m. 

All about Video Magnifiers

Speaker:  Jeff Bachand, Eschenbach Optik of America, Inc. 

Participants will see a demonstration of an array of hand-held video products and portable desktop magnifiers and explore the features and benefits of the different magnifiers. 

3:00 p.m.

Obi Robot 

Speaker: Heather Rehs, DesinCorp.

An opportunity to see and hear how Obi can benefit individuals with varying diagnoses and possible funding sources.

3:30 p.m.

SC Assistive Technology Program 101 

Speaker: Carol Page 

Participants will learn about the programs and services provided by the SC Assistive Technology Program. You will learn about equipment demonstrations, equipment loans, the reuse service, the equipment exchange program, and the Mobility Independence Project. You will also be able to ask any questions about the programs and services.