ABLE SC, Newsletter

 

August 2025: "Back to school" education for every age and every person Each August marks the start of back-to-school season for children and families, but at Able SC, our focus goes beyond grade-school classrooms. This month, we shared tools, tips, and learning opportunities to support students in achieving success, equip teachers and staff to engage effectively, guide employers in meeting best practices, and empower people with disabilities to strengthen their self-advocacy. For Students with Disabilities Students with disabilities belong. That's why we started the month with a letter to students reminding them that they matter, they belong, and they are not alone, along with a challenge for their teachers, families, and non-disabled student peers. The letter also included a tool that showcases why Equity is about belonging: Equity in schools for students with disabilities. Our youth team also provided back-to-school tips for youth with disabilities, from youth with disabilities. We also announced the launch of the SC Pathways Project (SCPP). The SCPP is a statewide disability-led collaborative, including state agencies, centers for independent living, and partner school districts, addressing the need for better transition resources and programming for students with disabilities. It supports young people with disabilities as they transition from high school to adulthood and secure meaningful employment. For Employers  We continue to build up and prepare for the 10th annual Employer Summit: a one-day conference for business managers, executives, HR professionals, and service providers who are ready to strengthen their workforce and the economy by including people with disabilities. On October 1, we plan to provide quality education to employers and service providers through two tracks tailored to their unique content needs, while bringing both groups together to network in ways that will benefit and promote employment opportunities for people with disabilities. For People with Disabilities We created a plain language guide for the Southeast ADA Center, designed for people with disabilities in different situations. The guide has sample advocacy phrases, scripts, and templates for you to use: Empowerment in Action Advocacy Guide: A Plain Language Guide to Advocacy for People with Disabilities. We also created videos that go with the guide- use these videos to help you better understand how to be a self-advocate: Empowerment in Action Video Playlist Why this work matters Each of these letters and resources can be found on our website at Able-SC.org, along with dozens upon dozens of other resources that continue to be added, which we personally craft to meet our mission: Equip people with disabilities with tools to foster pride and to direct their own lives; Educate the community to challenge stereotypes and eliminate barriers; and Advocate for access, equity, and inclusion at the individual, local, state, and national level.  As a disability-led organization, we embody our purpose every day, seeking transformational changes in systems, communities, and individuals. Even though we have a personal drive to ensure that we advance equity for people with disabilities and our inclusion in all spaces, this work does not come free. Right now, our mission and purpose are under threat, from the growing threats against disability rights, to the threat of federal budget cuts- the only way we can continue to meet our mission is with your support.

We Are All Able SC is our response – a bold call to defend and advance the movement we’ve built with you. This is about showing South Carolina and the nation that we are here, we are united, we are powerful, and we will not stop. For more than 30 years, Able SC has championed acceptance, independence, and pride for the disability community by equipping disabled individuals with skills to live independently, educating others, and advocating for our rights. We believe that disability rights are human rights. We are determined to live out our mission. More on this campaign coming soon- can't wait to support us? Visit able-sc.org/donate today.

Upcoming Events Able SC offers a diverse range of educational events, social gatherings, and more. Be sure to save these dates: 10th Annual Employer Summit: October 1 in Greenville, SC Event open to employers and service providers seeking to expand their workforce: www.hiremesc.org/employer-summit Registration open - space limited; sponsorship opportunities open until 9/1 Youth Events: Events for Disabled Youth ages 13-28 NEW: Game Night at Firefly Toys and Games: 9/2 @ 6 pm Equip Hangouts: 1st and 3rd Thursdays 6-7 pm Discord Creative Writing Club: Last Thursday of each month 6 pm 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 NEW: Accessible Frisbee Golf: 9/27 @ 1 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 September: Adjusting and Adapting to a Disability- free training online and in person. Follow the link for dates and details. Disability Employment Benefits Workshop: 9/27, Details coming soon Save the Date: Fundable 2025, November 7 Don't miss our annual awards gala and fundraiser, Friday, November 7, at Central Energy in Columbia, SC. 2025 Theme: Charting the Waters Tickets coming soon- interested in sponsoring? Contact David Laird- dlaird@able-sc.org

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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

SCATP, Webinar

 Join us for a webinar tomorrow: VoiceOver Gestures Made Easy!

Date: Thursday August 27, 2025 

Time: 10:00 AM

Cost: Free 

Register Today!

Target Audience: Individuals with low vision or blindness, their family members and professionals who serve people with low vision and blindness. 

Description:  Learn the foundational gestures for using Apple’s VoiceOver screen reader in this webinar. Designed for beginners, this session will guide participants through essential gestures, such as navigating, selecting, and activating items on iOS devices. Whether you are new to VoiceOver or want to strengthen your skills, this interactive training will provide the confidence to explore your device independently. 

Speaker: Tyler Trichilo, TVI, COMS Tyler has been a Certified Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI) for six years and serving his second year as an Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS). He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Special Education from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania and a Master's Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of Pittsburgh. Tyler is a full-time service provider for school-age children and adults with vision loss in Myrtle Beach and surrounding areas. In his free time, Tyler enjoys surfing, practicing jiu-jitsu, and playing the guitar.

Rachell Johnson, MCD., CCC-SLP, ATP

Program Manager

SC Assistive Technology Program

Center for Disability Resources

8301 Farrow Road

Columbia, SC 29203

rachell.johnson@uscmed.sc.edu

https://sc.edu/medicine/scatp

Phone: 803-935-5301 | Fax: 803-935-5342 | ​Toll Free: 800-915-4522

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ABLE SC, August News 2025

 

August 2025 News for People with Disabilities Upcoming events in September, and more! We've got a few annoucements too- be sure to scroll all the way to the end to see it all! You are invited to join us for FREE monthly training classes online and in person! To register and make a request for an accommodation based upon disability for any of the above trainings, please contact us at 800-681-6805, TTY: 803-779-0949, or email dtempio@able-sc.org a week before the event. 2025 Trainings: September: Adjusting and Adapting to a Disability ​​​​​​​​Virtual September 17 at 3 pm In Person September 16 at 3 pm October: Empowering Employment November: Getting Around Town December: Building Confidence in the Workplace For questions, contact info@able-sc.org Empower Hour! Have a disability? Empower Hour is led by your peers. If you'd like to join, contact info@able-sc.org or call 1-800-681-6805. To make a request for accommodation based on disability, please call us at 800-681-6805 a week before the event. Empower Hour meets online weekly: Thursdays from 1 pm to 2 pm In Person Monthly at Columbia and Greenville offices: 2nd Thursday of each month from 4 pm- 5 pm. Next in person meeting: September 11 from 4 pm to 5 pm New Resource: Plain Language Advocacy Guide Able SC created a plain language guide for the Southeast ADA Center, designed for people with disabilities in different situations. The guide has sample advocacy phrases, scripts, and templates for you to use.   Follow the link to check out the guide: Empowerment in Action Advocacy Guide: A Plain Language Guide to Advocacy for People with Disabilities We also created videos that go with the guide- use these videos to help you better understand how to be a self-advocate! Follow the link to see thEmpowerment in Action Video Playlist These new resources are also available on the Able SC resources tab on our website. Opportunity for People with Disabilities: Join the Beneficiary Advisory Council The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SC DHHS), with Family Connections, has created the Beneficiary Advisory Council (BAC). They want the voices and lived experiences of Medicaid beneficiaries to be heard. You can help inform the decision-making of Medicaid programs. What you would do as a BAC member: BAC members help identify things within the Medicaid system, including service gaps and barriers to access. By engaging with SCDHHS staff, the BAC can help improve Medicaid programs! Council members also serve as community representatives. You can help raise issues that may otherwise go not known. Benefits + Expectations Benefits: 100$ for each meeting you attend 4 per quarter of the year ($400 per year if you attend each meeting) Paper check or direct deposit Offers hybrid option + mileage reimbursement Mileage reimbursement ($.70 per mile) for attending in person 100$ stipend does count as income, but the mileage reimbursement DOES NOT count as income Member Expectations: Term Length: Serve 2- or 3-year terms with no consecutive terms Rotating Basis Meeting Participation Attend a 1-in-person, half-day training in Columbia, SC, before the beginning of BAC Attend 4 BAC meetings each year in a hybrid format (with options to attend in-person or virtually) Participate in optional virtual prep and follow-up meetings before and after each quarterly BAC meeting Review relevant materials ahead of meetings and actively engage in discussions To Apply: Website for more information Application linked here (is an online form) Questions? This is NOT an Able SC program, so all questions should be sent by email to Shadda Winterhalter at shadda.winterhalter@scdhhs.gov

Youth Corner: Hangouts for ages 13-28 Did you know Able SC offers peer support for youth with disabilities? Our Youth Hangouts are run by our Equip Leadership Group. We talk about becoming an adult, self-advocacy, and independent living skills. Learn more about the Equip Program. Equip Hangouts are held 2 times a month. You must be between 13 and 28 to be a part. Register to attend.

Labor Day: Able SC Closed September 1 Today, we celebrate the social and economic achievements of disabled American workers and our rights to fair and equitable work settings, pay, and more! Thank you to the disabled activists who have made working possible, and who have ended the unfair and disgraceful practice of subminimum wage in many states, including SC, and who continue to fight for equity in the workplace!

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