August 2025: "Back to school" education for every age and every personEach 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 DisabilitiesStudents 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 DisabilitiesWe 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: . |
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| We also created videos that go with the guide- use these videos to help you better understand how to be a self-advocate: Why this work mattersEach 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. |
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