A Wheelchair User's Guide to Dressing Well

April 19, 2022 

FASHION

A Wheelchair User's Guide to Dressing Well

Dressing for chair life doesn’t have to be frustrating. For anyone who owns a mix of adaptive wear, self-modified gear and carefully-selected mainstream garb, there are plenty of ways to build your wardrobe. Here is our guide to skirts, shorts, swimsuits, jeans and formal wear. 

FUN READ

The Wheelchair Users Making Space Flight Accessible

A group of wheelchair users recently found out what it’s like to break free from gravity’s bonds when they embarked on a suborbital flight to research access needs in space flight. Their verdict? It’s every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it to be. Tim Gilmer reports on the ups and downs of learning to float like an astronaut.  

PRO TIPS

My Disability Half-Life

In her latest “Own It” column, Regan Linton celebrates the milestone of living half her life as a wheelchair user. “The purpose of the ritual is not to lament or judge,” she writes. “Rather, to recount the moments of pain, struggle, growth, difficulty, sadness, triumph — all in appreciation of what has been built, here and now.” 

New Mobility is the member publication of the United Spinal Association, whose mission is to improve the quality of life for people with spinal cord injuries and disorders. It's free to join United Spinal, and members may receive New Mobility magazine for free for one year. Join here. 

Announcing Community Leadership Academy Spring 2022!

 

So often, people with disabilities and their family members aren't heard. They aren't regarded as leaders in the community. 

We are here to tell you that you CAN be a leader, and an excellent one at that! Sometimes it's just hard to know where to begin. 

Community Leadership Academy (CLA) is a 6-week course designed to teach individuals with disabilities and family members of people with disabilities how to be leaders in their communities around South Carolina. 

The course is divided into six, 1 ½ hour sessions on Zoom that teach individuals ethics and responsibilities, being an effective leader, supporting your community through leadership, professionalism, communicating your message, disability rights, and how to make community entities accessible to people with disabilities. 

At the end of the course, participants will be matched with leadership areas of interest in their communities! 

Spots are reserved for people with disabilities and family members of people with health conditions. If either of those descriptions apply to you, register today! 

Register Today!

CLA Class Schedule: 

The classes will take place from 6 PM to 7:30 PM on Zoom: 

• May 4, 2022 06:00 PM 
• May 11, 2022 06:00 PM 
• May 18, 2022 06:00 PM 
• May 25, 2022 06:00 PM 
• Jun 1, 2022 06:00 PM 
• Jun 8, 2022 06:00 PM 

If any community organization would like us to present a course for your clients and family members, please reach out to Dori Tempio at 803-779-5121, or email at dtempio@able-sc.org

What Parents Should Know About Autism

 

Apr. 4, 2022

As the prevalence of autism has risen in the past decade, more families are dealing with the disorder. Sara S. Wallace, MD, FAAP, with Lexington Pediatric Practice answers parents' common questions about autism. 

Q. What is autism?

A. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neuro-developmental disorder that affects 1-2% of children. It is characterized by difficulties with social skills and communication, along with restrictive, repetitive patterns of behaviors, interests, and activities.

Q. What are the early warning signs parents may notice?

A. While routine screening for autism typically takes place between 18 months and 24 months of age, some parents may notice signs of autism during the first year of life. Early signs of autism may include:

• Poor eye contact
• Not smiling at others by 6 months of age
• Not babbling or pointing by age 1
• Not responding to sounds or their name
• Not reacting to a parent’s facial expressions
• Not pointing at objects of interest

Other signs may include:

• Restricted food preferences
• Hand flapping
• Making unusual finger movements near their eyes
• Getting upset by everyday noises

Some children may exhibit difficulty with social interactions, such as decreased interested in playing with other children. 

Q. How early can autism be diagnosed?

A. Typically, autism can be reliably diagnosed as early as age 14-16 months. However, the average age at diagnosis is 4 years old.

Click here to read more.

Free Webinar: Top Notetaking Apps and Tools

Top Notetaking Apps and Tools

Target Audience: Assistive Technology Professionals, Occupational Therapists, Educational Staff, individuals with literacy needs and their families. 

Date:  April 28th, 2022

Cost: Free

Time:  10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. 

REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR

Taking notes is an essential part of the learning process, especially in middle and high school and college. This webinar will share the top notetaking apps and tools available that can make notetaking and studying more effective. It is important that the student chooses the best tool to suit his or her specific needs.

Participants will learn:

• About apps and tools available to assist with notetaking and studying
• Which apps and tools work on specific platforms
• The features of the different apps and tools

Speaker: Tammy Wallace is a Program Coordinator at the SC Assistive Technology Program, Center for Disability Resources, USC School of Medicine, University of South Carolina. Tammy has worked with individuals with disabilities for over 20 years and has presented to local, state and national groups on various topics. In her current role she provides trainings and demonstrations to individuals with disabilities, their families, and professionals on various AT devices and software.

Employment Empower Hour tomorrow!

Employment Empower Hour! 

Join Empower Hour with a Special focus on Employment from 1 pm to 2 pm on April 26th, April 28th, May 3rd, and May 5th, provided by funding from the Reeve Foundation. Whether you are already searching out work or haven’t even started yet this will be the group setting for you. In a peer group setting, we will discuss topics such as Job searches, Resumes and cover letters, Interviewing, Employment rights, and Benefits reporting.  

For more Information Contact Dave Wheeler at dwheeler@ablesc.org or simply join us on the dates and times above through the following link:  meet.google.com/ive-hevx-jrj 

View Hire Me SC Website

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U of SC lab detecting autism in infants

by: Maya Lockett

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — The Early Social Development and Interaction Lab at the Institute for Mind and Brain at the University of South Carolina is tracking the development of infants who are at-risk of being diagnosed with autism.

“Children who have siblings with autism or were born premature have a higher risk of being diagnosed with autism,” Dr. Jessica Bradshaw, director of the lab, said.

Click here to read more!

Check this out: "Caring for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities," by Sarah Mahoney, Special to AAMCNews

 

Caring for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Sarah Mahoney, special to AAMCNews

April 19, 2022

As children with autism, Down syndrome, and similar disabilities reach adulthood, they face unique challenges navigating the health care system. Medical schools are just beginning to train physicians in how to treat them.

Rachel Reingold, then a third-year student at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, thought she knew plenty about people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs).

She was already an active volunteer for Einstein’s Buddies program, which allows medical students to help with the treatment of children with IDDs at the Rose F. Kennedy University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities.

But it wasn’t until Reingold attended a monthly meeting of adult self-advocates with IDDs that she realized the unique health care barriers that they experience.

The patients spoke candidly about navigating the health care system. “Their critiques were so specific that we were just blown away,” says Reingold. A woman with cerebral palsy described how muscle spasticity made gynecological exams challenging. A man recalled how his doctor solely addressed his caregiver when collecting a medical history instead of the patient himself.

“We knew right away we needed to find a way to educate medical students on the appropriate clinical care of patients with IDD,” she says.

Reingold and several fellow students met with faculty members about their concerns, and the result was Einstein’s first curriculum on patients with IDDs, launched in 2019 in the school’s Introduction to Clinical Medicine course.

Read More...

This is Our Shot!

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In this month’s newsletter, we sat down with Otis Lee Junior to learn why he decided to get his COVID-19 vaccine and what advice he has to offer members of his community who aren’t sure about getting their shot. 

Otis Lee Junior is a member of the BIPOC community living with a visual disability.  Lee says that he did initially hesitate about getting his COVID-19 vaccine, because he might still get sick either way.  In the end though, he decided to get his shot. 

“I wanted to protect myself and my family,” Lee said. 

He’s never needed to convince anyone to get their vaccine, but he’s passionate about reminding others to wear masks.  He recalls one incident of a coworker not wearing their mask. 

“I told him there were kids in the building,” Lee said.  “And I asked him why he wasn’t wearing his mask.  He went and put one on.” 

If you’re hesitating about whether you should get your COVID-19 shot, consider taking to your doctor or another medical professional you trust. 

Equitable Vaccination Page

*****

South Carolina Vaccine Access Hotline 

Still have questions? 

Contact the Disability Vaccine Access Hotline at (800) 787-6046  

South Carolina Disability Vaccine Access Hotline:  

A hotline staffed by Able South Carolina and Disability Rights South Carolina designed to provide people with disabilities information about many different aspects of the COVID-19 vaccine.  These resources include but are not limited to: 

• Address any concerns you may have about getting the vaccine
• Find a trusted medical provider  
• Assist with vaccine appointment scheduling 
• Navigate transportation to get your vaccine  
• Offer resources and guidance on transportation to and from vaccine  
• Answer some of the most common disability related questions related to the COVID-19 vaccine  
• Provide information about accessible vaccine sites based on crowd sourced data  
• Address other disability-related barriers about the vaccine you may be experiencing      

Disclaimer:  The staff of the Disability Vaccine Access Hotline are not licensed medical providers.  They are unable to offer medical advice about the best vaccine for you or predict how the vaccine may affect you or your family. 

Able South Carolina

803.779.5121 | advocacy@able-sc.org 

 

Easley artist thrives after car crash

 

When a November 30, 2017, car accident resulted in one death and severe injuries for an Easley artist, she found herself focusing on her physical and spiritual recovery. Emily Ruff, 28, was the front seat passenger in a truck wreck five years ago that left her boyfriend, Taylor Evans, deceased. She experienced a broken neck and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The Spartanburg native shared openly she was in the truck when it rolled nine times after clipping the bumper of a tractor-trailer as she and her then-boyfriend drove to Atlanta for a concert.  At the hospital, Ruff learned the extent of her injuries to her neck. However, the artist, gives credit to Dr. Jake Bostrom who was treating her for vision issues after the accident with diagnosing her with the TBI. She said Dr. Bostrom helped identify the injury and recommended she go to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta. “Dr. Bostrom is truly one of the kindest people,” she said. “If it wasn't for him, I'm not sure what would've happened. Nobody can really predict what will happen with healing.”

Ruff, formerly a Clemson student, expressed that her mother – a registered nurse – helped her to get to healthcare professionals with the expertise she needed to heal. Thinking she would never paint again, she moved to Charleston to pursue her art.  She went on to meet her husband, Bobby Ruff.

As the years have progressed, Ruff said she is learning that there are so many people around her that have also experienced brain injuries. “An injury to the brain does not always leave obvious physical damage,” the former beauty queen said, “and that has been one of the hardest parts about dealing with the aftermath of a TBI. People who don’t have experience with TBI are often unsure of how brain injury works, and that it is different for everyone.”

Ruff shared that the Brain Injury Association of SC connected her with other survivors who have “fought through it and who understand.” In 2019, the Christian artist was asked to share her story at a BIASC event. “Because of the BIA of SC and its dedication to brain injury awareness, I was connected to people who are working to heal just as I am. My family and friends now have a better understanding of brain injury and are always eager to learn more. BIASC has proven to me that I’m not alone in this, and sometimes, that is the best thing you can do for someone healing.” 

This painting as well as four other beautiful paintings are available for purchase on Emily's website, http://emilygracepaints.com.  Emily will be donating a portion of her sales to the BIASC!  Thank you for your generosity, Emily!   

Check Out Our Website! 

FREE! Independence: My Choices, My Life Conference

 Independence: My Choices, My Life 

State Conference

May 26, 2022

Registration: 9am - 10am

Breakout Sessions: 10am - 3pm

Cooperative Conference Center 

169 Laurelhurst Avenue

Columbia, SC 29210

Concurrent Breakout Sessions:

Self-Advocacy 

Employment 

Disability Rights

and More!

Click here to Register!

Space is limited

Hosted by IMPACT SC 

Sponsored by the SC Developmental Disabilities Council

SC Department of Disabilities and Special Needs

The Center for Disability Resources 

Note: For the health and safety of our participants, we are taking necessary precautions to protect all attendees. Masks are encouraged and will be available. Hand sanitizer stations will also be available. Space is limited to allow for social distancing.

Employment Benefits Workshop

 

Has someone ever told you that because you have 

a disability and receive benefits, you cannot work?

 

Have you ever been told that if you do work, 

you will automatically lose your benefits? 

These are just two of the many myths (things that are not true) we hear about how employment may affect a person's benefits. We want to set the record straight!   

Register for our free virtual workshop on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, from 1:30-3:30 PM, where you can expect to: 

• Learn the myths about working while receiving SSI/SSDI, 
• Hear all about local organizations' employment supports, and 
• "Meet" benefits counselors who can give you free one-on-one help   

The last day to register is Sunday, April 24. 

Register Here!

*This workshop will be most helpful to people 

who are already receiving SSI/SSDI.*  

Service providers are welcome to attend, but we encourage you to register at least one consumer/client too!

Registering helps us make sure that you get the Zoom link and all the materials you need for the workshop.   

Wednesday: Advocacy Day!

YouTube Channel for Advocacy Day

Follow the link above to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you don't miss the 2022 Advocacy Day! On the day of the event, our Livestream will appear at the top of the channel page! 

Advocacy Day for Access & Independence

April 13, 2022

10 AM - 12 PM

SC Statehouse & LIVESTREAM

This year's event is planned with hybrid options, where you can participate in-person or online. Participate with us at the Statehouse, or anywhere in the world via our livestream online! 

Advocacy Day for Access & Independence is the ONLY event in South Carolina that's breaking down barriers for ALL South Carolinians with disabilities. People with disabilities face unnecessary and discriminatory barriers to employment, transportation, housing, and community access. Advocacy Day for Access and Independence will shine a light on these barriers in hopes of improving the lives of all South Carolinians.

Join us at the event to call on our lawmakers for a #BarrierFreeSC! 

Not only will we be in person at the SC Statehouse, but we will also be streaming the event live for you to watch from anywhere in the world!

Dr. Lamondre Pough of Billion Strong will be acting as our virtual Emcee! Dr. Pough will be on-site, accompanied by our Equip youth mentors, ready to ask some of our speakers questions during the event following their presentation. 

Do you have a question you'd like to ask about Employment, Transportation, Housing, or Community Access for people with disabilities? 

Send it to us in the chat feature of our YouTube Livestream during the event, and your question might be selected (you must be logged in to youtube to use this feature)! 

Register for the event here, to receive the Livestream link:

 https://unlockingbarriers-sc.org/register/ 

Quarterly Hire Me SC Newsletter

Hire Me SC Quarterly Newsletter 

People with disabilities can work, want to work, and should be afforded every opportunity to work. Powered by Able SC and the South Carolina Disability Employment Coalition (SCDEC), a coalition formed to eliminate employment barriers for individuals with disabilities, Hire Me SC is a campaign that promotes a culture of inclusion across the state of South Carolina, one in which employment for every individual, disability or not, is the norm rather than the exception. 

View our website

View our Facebook

WIOA State Plan Title IV 

During our quarterly meeting on March 3, Jacob Chorey, Director of Planning & Program Evaluation with SC Vocational Rehabilitation Department, reviewed the Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act State Plan, Title IV programs. Jacob shared information on primary indicators of performance and strategic planning updates in the modified state plan. In addition, SCVRD will be conducting its next Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment this fall, and Jacob also shared details on a new addendum that will increase data sharing between SCVRD and the Department of Education, with the hope of improving outcomes for students. 

The state workforce development board executive committee met and voted to approve the modified state plan so that it can be submitted to the federal review panel. Each partner agency will now upload their portion of the plan into the federal portal, and then we wait for feedback or questions. You can view a copy of SC's state plan here. 

Check out the PowerPoint Presentation

Legislative Updates

 

Employment First Initiative Act  

This bill, H. 3244, passed both the senate and the house last session. It is currently in conference committee because there was an amendment that was added on the senate floor. The amendment has now been dropped because the House of Representatives did not want it included. Once the committee reconvenes, the bill will go over to the Governor’s office to be signed. We plan to have a signing ceremony and our Coalition partners will be invited as well those who will be members of the Employment First Task Force! 

Subminimum Wage 

This bill, S. 533, is in the Labor, Commerce, and Industry (LCI) Committee, that Representative Sandifer of Oconee County oversees. He was vocal about his opposition to this bill at first. Along with Senator Katrina Shealy, we have been providing additional education and resources to Rep. Sandifer and the House of Representatives. We are confident that we will be able to gain his support for this bill. There will be a committee meeting coming up later in March or April and we will keep the Coalition up to date on its progress. 

Read H. 3244

Read S. 533

Take action to support these bills by reaching out to your legislators using the action alerts below!  

Take Action to support H. 3244!

Take Action to support S. 533! 

SCDEC Workgroup Updates 

It is not too late to join a workgroup! Please read more about our current workgroups below and reach out to the appropriate contact if you are interested or have questions.  

Transition Workgroup: A transition workgroup has been established to address gaps and barriers identified by the group and through daily work as it pertains to youth with disabilities gaining competitive, integrated employment during and after high school that can be addressed with resource creation or advocacy. The group is currently focusing on Career and Technical Education (CTE).  

• Meetings are the 3rd Wednesday of the month, from 2:30-3:30 PM via Google Meet. The next meeting will be Wednesday, April 20th, @ 2:30 PM.   
• For more information, please contact Paige Winget at pwinget@able-sc.org. 

Benefits Workshop Workgroup: The purpose of this workgroup will be to work on outreach for the Disability Benefits & Employment workshops and to review surveys to see if we need to make any changes to the events. 

• Meetings are the 2nd Tuesday of the month, from 1:00-2:00 PM via Zoom. The next meeting will be Tuesday, April 12th, @ 1:00 PM.  
• For more information, please contact Melissa Snyder at msnyder@able-sc.org.   

Employment Myths Factsheet Workgroup: This group is working on a factsheet to dispel commonly held myths about working as a person with a disability. This fact sheet is from the perspective of people with disabilities designed for people with disabilities. Since the factsheet is being developed by people with disabilities, you must identify as a person with a disability to join this workgroup. 

• Meetings are the 4th Thursday of the month, from 2:00-3:00 PM via Google Meet. The next meeting is Thursday, April 28, @ 2:00 PM. 
• For more information, please contact Annie Foster at afoster@able-sc.org. 

Read more about our workgroups!

Free Webinar on Making Sure Communication Apps are a Good Fit

Making Sure Communication Apps are a Good Fit

Target Audience: Speech-Language Pathologists, Assistive Technology Professionals, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, individuals with communication needs and their families. 

Date:  April 14th, 2022

Time:  10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. 

REGISTER  NOW!

Learn to identify the needs of the individual and then match to the features in a communication app. Discover which apps are created with researched-based core vocabulary and grammatical organization of vocabulary to promote language learning. See how literacy skills are built into communication apps. Participants will receive a handout of links to training videos for programming communication apps.

Participants will learn:

• Participants will be able to define Feature Matching
• Participants will be able to List at least two access features in communication apps
• Participants will be able to list two features that promote language development.

Speaker: Carol A. Page, PhD, CCC-SLP, ATP is the Director of the South Carolina Assistive Technology Program (SCATP) at the USC School of Medicine, a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Center for Disability Resources, Department of Pediatrics. Carol received her PhD degree in speech-language pathology from the University of South Carolina, and her assistive technology professional certification from RESNA. Carol provides trainings at a local to international level on assistive technology for persons with disabilities of all ages, their caregivers and professionals who serve them. She is the 2017 recipient of the Norman J. Arnold Alumni Award from the USC School of Public Health and the 2017 Louis M. DiCarlo Award for Outstanding Clinical Achievement from the SC Speech-Language Hearing Association.

RIP Auti Angel, Dancer and Star of Push Girls

April 5, 2022

NEWS

Auti Angel: 1969-2022

Auti Angel, the wheelchair dancer and choreographer best known for her role in the reality television show Push Girls, has died of invasive breast cancer. Through her dance, television appearances and social media posts, Angel helped change how America sees wheelchair users. Click the link for more on Angel’s impact in our community, and be sure to read our 2021 profile of the entertainer. 

PRODUCTS

Redesigned NXT Cushions and Backrests Offer Stability and Adjustability

Motion Composites and Dynamic Healthcare Solutions redesigned its NXT line of cushions and backrests. The cushions are contoured for stability and pelvic positioning and feature a moisture-wicking, anti-microbial cover. The backrests offer a sleek design — available in aluminum or carbon fiber — combined with a high level of adjustability to help you dial in the right fit. 

PEOPLE

King Khazm: Building a Hip-Hop Kingdom

King Khazm, a C7 quad and power wheelchair user, made a name for himself with his highly-detailed graffiti art, talents as an emcee and commitment to hip-hop culture. Ian Ruder delves into Khazm’s fascinating world, which includes tours through Europe, the Middle East and beyond. 

READER INPUT

Tell Us Your Story Ideas

We want to know what you’d like to read about in New Mobility. Please take this three-question survey to let us know what stories you want us to cover, what questions we can answer and anything you’d like to share.  

Click here to read more of this issue of New Mobility!

Accepting donations of used iPads

Donate your old electronics to people in need!

We have been contacted by several individuals in need of iPads and communication devices. If you have a used iPad or communication device, please consider donating it to us to help individuals in our communities.  Donations allow SCATP to provide iPads to individuals who would otherwise be unable to afford them, which in turn helps these individuals to keep their jobs, succeed in school, and improve their overall quality of life. 

If you have questions or want to donate, please email Alli.Upchurch@uscmed.sc.edu , or call 803-935-5273.

April is Autism Acceptance Month!

Autism Acceptance Month kicks off on April 1st and the Autism Society of America is working to #CelebrateDifferences all month to recognize the multitude of experiences within the Autism community. No family or individual’s story is the same as any other, and we believe the world should recognize the infinite ways the Autism community experiences life.

That’s why we are excited to embrace the many varied stories from the Autism community. Join us as we honor the wide range of experiences across the spectrum by taking time to share your stories on social media through the #CelebrateDifferences hashtag.  

In sharing our unique stories, we are able to highlight the need for acceptance, inclusion, and connections that support people with Autism throughout life’s journey. 

Autism diagnoses are growing, both for children and adults. Last December, the CDC updated its findings on the Autism prevalence rate and found that one in 44 children are diagnosed with Autism. Over 7 million people in the United States are on the Autism spectrum. Furthermore, Autism affects people from all racial, ethnic and socio-economic standings. The Autism spectrum itself is wide and varied in terms of developmental and/or intellectual challenges, and the level of support needed to live fully differs per individual. Because of this diversity, Autism isn’t just one thing, it’s many things, with millions of lived experiences.

This April, we’ll be sharing stories, information and resources that can help everyone discover how they can be the connection and make a difference in the lives of individuals with Autism and their loved ones.

Help the Autism Society of America create connections that will make a difference! 

Join the Autism Society during Autism Acceptance Month to #CelebrateDifferences. Together, we can create connections that empower everyone in the Autism community with the resources needed to live fully. 

Get Involved

Visit Website

Contact Line 1 (800) 328-8476

Family Connection News and Updates!

Hopes & Dreams 2022: Our virtual conference is April 6th-7th!

Conference focus: Supporting the Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Health Needs of Our Children, Youth, and Families as a Result of the Pandemic 

Keynote speaker, April 6th: Russell A. Barkley, Ph.D. 

Keynote speakers, April 7th: Suzanne and Zoe Wingard 

We have an exciting virtual conference coming up! It's not too late to register or to become an exhibitor! 

View conference schedule 

Exhibitor Information

Register Now!

*****

Art in the Airport! 

We are delighted to partner for a second year with Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) and their Art in the Airport campaign. 

Multiple pieces of our existing LOOK! photography collection will be on display through July. Thank you, CAE, for allowing travelers to learn more about the children and young adults who make LOOK! so inspiring! 

SAVE THE DATE 

Join us on Saturday, April 23rd at 11:00 a.m at Columbiana Centre! A limited collection from the 2021 LOOK! Exhibit will be on display at the mall starting April 23rd. More details to follow soon! 

Businesses or venues - you can bring one or more of our LOOK! collection to your location. A unique opportunity to support the mission of Family Connection: bring a beautiful piece of photography to your location! This is also an opportunity to promote inclusion, equity, and community. Each 18 x 24" photo is framed and includes a QR code linked to the child's inspiring story. Learn more! 

*****

Capstone Proyecto Neonatal Project Survey   

This project was created by an Occupational Therapy student at the Medical School of South Carolina and explores the resources that currently exist for Spanish-speaking families with newborns and infants that once were or currently are in the NICU.

 

To improve education and services to South Carolina families, they have created a mobile app for parents with children in the NICU and would like to gather parent feedback, experiences, and opinions about what information is most helpful. 

English Survey ♦ Spanish Survey ♦ Provider Survey 

Please respond and share by April 15.

Free Accessible Voting Webinar--Get Ready for the June Primaries!

SC Election Commission Voter Education

Target Audience: All individuals who are of the age to register to vote.

Date: Thursday, April 7th, 2022 

Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM ET

Cost: FREE!

REGISTER NOW!

In 2022 South Carolina citizens will vote for several offices in the June Primaries. John and Hampton will feature the Express Vote and DS-200 System to familiarize participants with the operation and accessibility features for people with disabilities.  

Participants will learn:

• How to use South Carolina’s Paper-Based Voting System including its accessibility features.
• Registration process to vote if the attendee is or will be of the age to vote at the next election. 
• Where to check voter registration, find polling place and a sample ballot on the scVOTES.gov site.

Presenters: John Michael Catalano, South Carolina State Election Commission-Commission Outreach Coordinator and Hampton Miller, Chernoff Newman. 

Inclusive Education, Advocacy Day, and more!

Able SC: Ableism and why #MyDisabledLifeisWorthy 

Ableism does not and will not define us. When national leaders discount our value, when doctors disregard our health, when neighbors dismiss our needs, when strangers disrespect our lives, we will remember #MyDisabledLifeisWorthy. Recently we wrote about how national leaders, doctors, neighbors, and strangers have participated in ableism in recent weeks, and what you can do to show up for people with disabilities. 

#MyDisabledLifeisWorthy 

#Ableism 

Read the Article!

Equip Hangouts   

Our Equip Online Hangouts meet on the first and third Thursdays of every month from 6-7 PM. Equip Leaders and Mentors help empower their peers to take charge of their lives, find their unique voice to self advocate, and engage with their community of peers more fully. 

Upcoming Equip Hangouts: 

• Thursday, April 7, 6-7 PM 
• Thursday, April 21, 6-7 PM 

Hang out with us here!

Advocacy Day 

Save the date for the annual Advocacy Day for Access & Independence on Wednesday, April 13, 2022! Join us at the South Carolina State House!  We will call on the state to Unlock Barriers. We will advocate for disability rights and share our mission for a Barrier Free SC! 

Advocacy Day for Access & Independence is the only event in South Carolina that's breaking down barriers for ALL South Carolinians with disabilities. Since its first gathering in May 2014, support has grown to 30 organizations statewide. The organizations are all unified in an effort to ensure people with disabilities have equal access and opportunity. People with disabilities face unnecessary and discriminatory barriers to transportation, employment, and public access. Advocacy Day for Access and Independence will shine a light on these barriers in hopes of improving the lives of all South Carolinians. 

Register here!

SC Youth Leadership Forum 2022 

Join us at Presbyterian College, July 10-13, 2022 for the best YLF yet! The South Carolina Youth Leadership Forum is a summer experience where you can become a leader for disability rights — all while having fun. Applicants will be selected on a rolling basis. 

Are you eligible to attend? SC YLF applicants must… 

1. Have a disability. 
2. Live in South Carolina. 
3. Fall within the 15-23-year-old age range. (High school juniors, seniors and recent high school graduates accepted.) 
4. Show leadership potential at school or in the community. 

To find out more information about the event or to apply, please visit our website.

 

Learn more and apply here!

Think Inclusive: The Q&As of Inclusive Education 

Kayla Kingston, the Communications Specialist for The Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education (MCIE) explains that inclusive classrooms benefit both students with disabilities and their peers who do not have disabilities. She goes on to answers the questions:  

• What is inclusive education? 
• What are students with disabilities going to get out of it? 
• What about the nondisabled students? 
• How do we know inclusive education works? 
• What if we don’t want to use inclusive education? 
• How do we make inclusive education happen? 

Read the article here!