ABLE SC, Newsletter

 

Able SC June 2025 News June has been another busy month for Able SC. We kicked off our summer youth programming with successful Equip Summer Series events in Greenville and Columbia. Youth from the Upstate and the Midlands gathered at unique locations to build community, foster disability pride, and acquire the skills necessary for success as community members. Thank you again to our sponsor, Abacus Planning Group, and funder, the South Carolina Developmental Disabilities Council, for making this free program possible. We also appreciate those of you who have donated or purchased items from our Youth Team's wishlist. Youth left with positive memories, exchanged phone numbers, and excitement to return to future Equip hangouts! Our team is now gearing up for the annual July Youth Leadership Forum, just in time for the 35th Anniversary of the ADA and Disability Pride Month! In addition to reaching youth in impactful ways this summer, our advocacy efforts remain strong as we continue to find more opportunities for our community to speak out about issues that impact us. Recently, we were alerted to an attempt by the federal government to undo decades of progress by weakening requirements for federal agencies to comply with disability rights laws and accessibility standards. You jumped in alongside us, submitted your comments, and contacted your lawmakers! Together, our voice is powerful. Now we wait to see the results of your collective action.  This month also marks important cultural celebrations for members of our LGBTQ+ community and the African American communities. LGBTQ+ Pride Month and Juneteenth are deeply connected to disability community. In this newsletter, we highlight ways our community is connected; however, beyond this information, Able SC continues to advocate for these communities that are part of the disability community. We continue to fight to protect Medicaid, accessibility, Section 504, and more. But we can only do this because of you. Disability affects every race, class, party, and community, with 1 in 3 South Carolinians being disabled. Exclusion of any community isn't neutral; it's a message that "we don't matter." At Able SC, we are not going back. We will always be in this fight, alongside you, to do what's needed to defend our disability community. LGBTQ+ Pride Month: Celebrating disabled leaders and their contributions This Pride Month, we’re celebrating powerful individuals who have advanced both disability rights and LGBTQ+ justice. These advocates have made their mark on history and opened doors for future generations. Carrie Ann Lucas (1971–2019) was a disabled attorney with muscular dystrophy and fierce advocate. She fought for the rights of people disabilities to be parents (including adoptive and fostering) and was openly lesbian. She challenged systemic discrimination in the courts, public spaces, and in health care, and her legal work laid a foundation for others to follow. Raymond Luczak is a Deaf writer, editor, and filmmaker. As an openly gay man he has been a leading voice in bringing visibility to Deaf and disabled LGBTQ+ lives. His creative work explores themes of identity, language, and belonging.

ABilly S. Jones-Hennin (1942–2023) was a pioneering activist who played significant roles in the civil rights, LGBTQ+, and interracial acceptance movements. As a bisexual man, he was instrumental in organizing pride marches and health activism during the US national AIDS crisis of the 1980s and 90s. Later in life, he became an advocate for disability justice, following his own diagnosis with spinal stenosis. Sean Saifa Wall is a Black intersex activist, writer, and speaker who advocates for bodily autonomy and disability rights. As a former director of InterACT (Advocates for Intersex Youth), he’s been a leading voice challenging non-consensual surgeries on intersex children, including his involvement in a lawsuit based in South Carolina over medically unnecessary infant surgeries. These advocates remind us that LGBTQ+ pride and disability justice are deeply connected. This month, we honor their work and continue the fight for a world where everyone can thrive. Juneteenth: Joy in Freedom In addition to LGBTQ+ Pride month, June marks the annual celebration of the Juneteenth holiday. What is Juneteenth? Juneteenth (June 19, 1865) commemorates the delayed freedom of enslaved Black people in Texas, a reminder that justice is often slow and uneven, something the disability community also knows well. How is Juneteenth Connected to Disability, Then and Now? Many formerly enslaved people were left with physical and psychological disabilities, yet received no support or recognition. This reality mirrors the issues Black disabled people face today. Today, Black disabled individuals are impacted by poverty, incarceration (being sent to prison), and lack of quality healthcare, making the fight for equality and justice ongoing, even after emancipation. The disability rights movement owes a great deal to Black activists who have long fought for justice, weaving the legacies of Juneteenth into today’s advocacy. How can we celebrate the Joy in Freedom? This holiday, the words of Keah Brown inspire us, "My Joy Is My Freedom." A brown, Black, and disabled woman describes the revolutionary idea, born from her ancestral past, that hope and joy are a sacred journey. With joy, we celebrate freedom on this Freedom Day. Read more of her essay, originally published in "Disability Visibility," a collection of stories edited by disabled activist Alice Wong. The latest on Medicaid: There's still time to take action! 🛑 Medicaid Is Under Threat — South Carolina Must Speak Out Now You have already done so much to speak up for people with disabilities and our need to live healthy, independent lives. Thank you to the dozens and dozens of individuals who shared your personal stories with us about why Medicaid matters to you and your family. In case you missed it, you can see and read the "I am Medicaid" stories in our Look Book as well as on our Facebook and Instagram pages during the month of May through June 12. You Have the Power to Make a Difference Medicaid is a lifeline for people with disabilities, making it possible to live healthy, independent lives. But federal lawmakers are considering devastating cuts — and South Carolina would be hit especially hard. Our state already covers just 24.6% of Medicaid costs, and over 40,000 people are waiting for disability services. Any cuts would make an already dire situation worse. Despite our efforts, the U.S. House passed a bill with deep Medicaid cuts that could limit access to home services and push people into institutions. But the fight isn’t over—now we focus on the U.S. Senate and our SC Senators, Graham and Scott. We know these issues can feel overwhelming, but remember: we are in charge of our movement. Together, we’re building a better future. 🎯 The message is clear: Senators Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott need to hear from you. Tell them: No more cuts. No more waitlists. No more risking lives. 📢 Take Action Now Use the [?]AAPD’s action hub to contact your lawmakers. Every phone call and message matters. Senators tally the calls and messages they receive, and those tallies influence their decision-making. Harness your power, and be a part of this movement!

Upcoming Events Able SC offers a diverse range of educational events, social gatherings, and more. Be sure to save these dates: NEXT MONTH: July is Disability Pride Month! More to come on planned Able SC events and opportunities Youth Events: Events for Disabled Youth ages 13-28 Equip Hangouts: 1st and 3rd Thursdays 6-7 pm Creative Writing Club: There will be no meeting in June Peer-To-Peer, Coast-to-Coast: Connect with youth, just like you, in Orange County, CA! 1st Saturdays, 2-3 pm Learn Programming with SC-CATER: Get certified in Unity programming, 2nd Saturdays, 10 am-12:30 pm Consumer Events: Events for People with Disabilities Weekly Empower Hour: Thursdays online 1-2 pm, In person once a month, contact info@able-sc.org July: How Can I Advocate? free training online and in person. Follow the link for dates and details. July: Disability Pride Month Save the Dates Disability Pride Night at Segra Park/Columbia Fireflies Minor League Baseball: July 29 at 7:05 pm Join your disability community for a night celebrating pride in your disability community over baseball!

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Able South Carolina 720 Gracern Road Suite 106 | Columbia, South Carolina 29210 803.779.5121 | advocacy@able-sc.org Follow Us Having trouble viewing this email? View it in your web browser