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. 

International Wheelchair Day

Today is international wheelchair day 

and the SC Assistive Technology Program wants to help!

Do you know someone with paralysis who can benefit from a wheelchair loan? The South Carolina Assistive Technology Program (SCATP) is accepting loan applications for three power wheelchairs and three manual wheelchairs. The wheelchairs are available for up to a six-week loan to individuals with paralysis.  SCATP’s “Mobility Independence Project” is funded by the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. 

There is no fee to borrow one of the wheelchairs.  For more information about the “Mobility Independence Project” and to learn how to complete the application and schedule delivery of a wheelchair,  please contact us at 803-935-5263 or carol.page@uscmed.sc.edu or tammy.wallace@uscmed.sc.edu .