Holiday Booster Shots!

 Hear from champions in your community. 

Important Updates on Booster Shots! 

As many gather for the holiday season, it’s more important than ever to make sure you’re protected.

1 in 3 South Carolinians has a disability.

People with disabilities are at the greatest risk of becoming very sick and dying from COVID-19. We’re here to help you protect your community by securing your shot. In addition to your initial round of COVID-19 vaccine, you will need a booster shot. The COVID-19 vaccine and booster shot will help protect you from becoming very sick with COVID-19 and COVID-19 variants. Keep reading to learn more! 

What is a COVID-19 variant?  

A COVID-19 variant is a version of the COVID-19 virus that’s just a little different from the version before it. Some of the most common differences are that COVID-19 variants can spread faster and more easily and can also make you sicker. 

Two of the variants that you might hear a lot about are the Delta and Omicron variants. That is because both of these variants spread easily and can make you very sick.   

Variants of viruses are common.  People with disabilities are at a higher risk of getting COVID-19 and COVID-19 variants.  

As a person with a disability, how can I protect myself from COVID-19 variants?  

The best way for people with disabilities to protect themselves from COVID-19 variants is by getting a vaccine. A vaccine may not stop you from getting sick, but it will help lower the risk that you will get very sick and go to the hospital with a COVID-19 variant.    

If you have already gotten your vaccine, getting a booster shot is another way you can help protect yourself from COVID-19 variants. This makes your immune system stronger to fight the virus.  

Wearing a mask also lowers your risk of getting COVID-19 and all of the COVID-19 variants.   

Talk to your doctor, or another medical provider you trust, about which COVID-19 vaccine is the best for you. If you need help scheduling your vaccine or have questions, you can call the Disability Vaccine Access Hotline. You should also make sure to wear masks anytime you’re inside in a public place and wash your hands often. 

So, what is a booster shot? 

The COVID-19 booster shot is a dose of the vaccine that will make sure your first vaccine round is strong for a longer amount of time. 

Who should I get a booster shot? 

Boosters are recommended for everyone over the age of 16 years old. 

When should I get a booster shot? 

It depends on which vaccine brand you originally had.

 

• Pfizer Vaccine (mRNA) 

First Dose: First 2 shots are given 2 weeks apart 

If you have a weakened immune system, you can get a 3rd shot 28 days after your 2nd shot 

Booster: You can get your booster shot 6 months after your first dose. 

Your booster shot can be Pfizer, Moderna, or J&J 

Note: If you're 16 or 17 years old, the Pfizer vaccine is the only vaccine and booster approved for your age group. 

• Moderna Vaccine (mRNA) 

First Dose: First 2 shots are given 2 weeks apart 

If you have a weakened immune system, you can get a 3rd shot 28 days after your 2nd shot 

Booster: You can get your booster shot 6 months after your first dose 

Your booster shot can be Pfizer, Moderna, or J&J 

• J&J Vaccine (viral vector) 

First Dose: 1 shot 

Booster: You can get your booster shot 2 months after your first dose 

Your booster shot can be Pfizer, Moderna, or J&J 

Find a vaccine clinic near you.

The SC Disability Vaccine Access Network is here to help reduce barriers to vaccine access. Learn more about vaccination and how to make an appointment at SCDisabilityVaccine.org or call us at 1-800-787-6046 for more information. 

www.SCDisabilityVaccine.org

 

Contact our Vaccine Access Hotline 

at 1-800-787-6046. 

Happy Holidays from United Spinal!

Warmest holiday greetings from United Spinal Association. As our triumphant 75th anniversary year comes to a close, we want to share our deepest gratitude for your support for our community.

We are grateful for everyone who helps us give the gift of independence and well-being year-round. This holiday season, we celebrate the one-of-a-kind resourcefulness and resilience of the United Spinal family. We can’t wait to show you how “Strong Wheeled” our community is during a brand new year of making change and transforming lives.

To make a holiday or end of year personal donation, please click here.

Save The Date - New Jersey Self-Direction Conference

Save the Date!

New Jersey Self-Direction Conference

We heard you! Because of your overwhelming feedback and votes, the 2022 New Jersey Self-Direction Conference is going virtual.

With the theme of “We Are In This Together!” we will host two pre-conference sessions in January and February with the main event in March, perfectly timed to honor Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.

More information about the entire event and how to register, is coming soon. Until then, mark your calendars for the first pre-conference session.

Save The Date!

January 20, 2022

11am Virtual Speaker Session 1

The National History of Self-Direction

Presenter: Sue Swenson

President of Inclusion International

Inclusion International is the international network of people with intellectual disabilities and their families advocating for the human rights of people with intellectual disabilities worldwide. Sue got involved with disability advocacy because her middle son, Charlie, had profound disabilities.

She has served under two previous U.S. government administrations in support of individuals with disabilities in American schools and workplaces. Sue is currently working with the Biden/Harris administration as Senior Advisor, for the Office of Special Education & Rehabilitative Services (OSERS). Her impressive bio can be found here.

Coming Soon 

 information about our second Virtual Speaker Session 2

The NJ History of Self-Direction

It is our sincere hope that all those involved in or considering self-directed services and support in NJ can participate.

Calling Aspiring Artists!

Let’s see your talent! 

Build our conference brand. Enter for a chance to win a $100 gift card and sponsor swag. The winner will be featured as the main brand with all submissions featured throughout the event.

Competition Guidelines

• “We Are In This Together” themed art.
• On paper, no larger than 8 ½ x 11
• Be creative, colorful and have fun!

Send all submissions to:

        Donna Schierman

        22 Goldenrod Court

        Hamilton, NJ 08690

2022 New Jersey Self-Direction Conference Sponsors:

Adapted Toys available for Children with Disabilities

Last week’s Adapted Toy Workshop 

was a wonderful success! 

We have some adapted toys left over for children with disabilities.

If you would like a FREE adapted toy and a switch in time for the holidays:

1. Email  Billfred Leverette at Billfred.leverette@uscmed.sc.edu to request a Equipment and Device Liability Release form. 
2. Complete, sign, and submit the form via email to Billfred by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, December 17th.
3. Billfred or Janet will contact you to let you know what toys are available for your child.

If you have questions, please call 

Janet Lambert at 803-935-5263.

Happy Holidays!

This is Our Shot! December Newsletter

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The holidays are fast approaching, and for many of us, that means eagerly looking forward to time with friends, family, and loved ones. Don’t let your anticipation for shared meals, gift exchanges, and other festive fun keep you from remembering just how important it is to protect those we love, particularly those with disabilities and/or underlying health conditions.  One of the best ways we can do this is by getting our COVID-19 and flu shots before spending the season together. 

In this month's newsletter, we spend some time with Wynee Fair.  Wynee is a member of the Black community who is committed to protecting her family.  That’s why she chose to get the COVID-19 vaccine. 

Fair also has a psychiatric disability.  When she heard about the COVID-19 vaccine, she didn’t hesitate to get it.  Her family is diabetic, and Fair knew that getting the shot would help her protect them. 

“I trusted the vaccine,” Fair said.  “And I trusted the government.” 

Fair recently lost a family member to diabetes. It's important to her now more than ever that she and her family protect themselves, each other, and their health. 

She has tried to convince her son to get his COVID-19 vaccine, but he remains skeptical.  He, like many others, is concerned about the speed with which the vaccine was created.  Fair won’t give up though, remaining determined to protect him.  You can learn more about vaccine safety by visiting Able South Carolina's vaccine frequently asked questions page.

“Trust the numbers,” Fair said when asked what she’d say to encourage others to get their COVID-19 vaccine. 

If you’re considering the COVID-19 vaccine but are feeling hesitant, reach out to your doctor or another medical professional you trust to find out which shot is best for you. 

Learn more about your risk of getting sick from COVID-19 and how the vaccine can help protect you, as a member of the BIPOC with disabilities community.

South Carolina Vaccine Access Hotline 

To protect your family and those you love, consider talking to your doctor, or another trusted medical provider, about if the COVID-19 and Flu vaccines are right for you.  

You can also contact the Disability Vaccine Access hotline, staffed by Able South Carolina and Disability Rights SC, at: (800) 787-6046 

What the Disability Vaccine Access hotline can do:

• 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. 

Brain Injury Fundamentals Training

Brain Injury Fundamentals Training Registration is Open!

Are you a caregiver of a person with a brain injury, a professional 

or anyone who is interested in receiving a Brain Injury Fundamentals Certificate?  

Then this is the class for you! 

Brain Injury Fundamentals is an essential training and certificate program designed for direct care staff, family members, and individual caregivers. The training course covers essential topics such as cognition, medical complications, and medication safety and management.

When:

• Wednesday, February 2, 2022 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Wednesday, February 9, 2022 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Wednesday, February 16, 2022 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Wednesday, February 23, 2022 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Where: Online via Zoom Platform        

 

Fees: $50 includes workbook, training, and exam

Register here:   https://www.biaofsc.com/trainings-and-certifications

Scholarships available for Unpaid Caregivers

12.0 CEUs available for Social Workers (must attend all four classes)

Deadline to register is December 29, 2021.

Class is limited to 25 participants.

Instructors:    

Kay Brooks, MA, CBIST

Director, Head and Spinal Cord Injury Services

Thrive Upstate

Ella Durham, MRC, NCC, CCM, CCTP, CBIS 

Certified Case Manager

Midlands Regional Rehabilitation Hospital

Meghan Trowbridge, LISW-AP, CBIST, C-ASWCM

Assistant Director, Center for Disability Resources

USC School of Medicine

If you have any questions, please contact Kristi Hartwell 

at coordinator@biaofsc.com or 803-731-9823.

 

Click here to check out our website!

UNC FPG 2021 Winter Newsletter

Equity Research Action Coalition takes shape at FPG

Despite national attention focused on addressing racial injustices—which are especially pressing for Black children and families—no discernible improvement in Black children's and other minoritized children's health, well-being, and educational outcomes has been made in recent decades. FPG Faculty Fellow Iheoma U. Iruka, PhD, aims to address this need through the newly established Equity Research Action Coalition at FPG.

Read the full story

More News from FPG

Project EXPRESS

A team from FPG recently launched Project EXPRESS: EXamining interventions to PRomote Executive function and Social Skills, which will evaluate two interventions working with adolescents on the autism spectrum. 

Addressing STEM Myths

A new guide addresses and debunks misconceptions about STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) learning experiences and opportunities for young children, including infants and toddlers, and children with disabilities. 

Team at UNC to establish NC Community Employment Collaborative

FPG Faculty Fellow Brianne Tomaszewski, PhD, and an interdisciplinary team at UNC will establish a community collaborative aimed at optimizing employment opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

5-Year NIH Award to Study Sex-Specific Trajectories in Autism Spectrum Disorder

FPG Faculty Fellow Clare Harrop, PhD, has received a 5-year, $3.28 million R01 award from the NIH to chart the impact of assigned sex at birth on developmental trajectories in young autistic children. Learn more about this project on our website. 

For more news stories and information about our projects, publications, and resources, be sure to visit our website. 

Community Living Resources - Online Consumer Training

 

Sometimes we all need a little help. But where can we find it? And if we do, how do we know if it's the best resource out there? Let us help! 

Register for a free online training on Monday, December 6 from 3:00-4:00 PM and learn all about: 

• How to identify what you need
• Figuring out where to find resources to help
• How to evaluate the information you find
• How to use that information to take action  
• and more! 

Registration will close on Sunday, December 5. 

For questions, contact Dori at dtempio@able-sc.org. 

Register Here!

Adapted Toy Project

The SC Assistive Technology Program is proud to invite parents, therapists and others to participate in the Adapted Toy Project in the following ways:

1) Attend our Adapted Toy Project Workshop held in-person in Columbia on December 9th and 10th.

Participants are encouraged to bring a toy from the wish lists below to adapt. Participants must register for a date and time to attend at this link: https://bit.ly/AdaptedToyWorkshop . If parents cannot afford to purchase a toy to be adapted, they can choose a toy when they arrive at the workshop.  

2) If parents don’t attend the workshop, they may ship or drop off new or old toys to be adapted.

3) If parents cannot afford to purchase an adapted toy, contact Billfred Leverette (see below).  

4) Donate toys or gift cards to the SC Assistive Technology Program’s Adapted Toy Project using these wish lists:

• Amazon Wish List
• Walmart Wish List
• Target Wish List

Contact Billfred Leverette at Billfred.leverette@uscmed.sc.edu 

or 803-935-5362 for more information.

Free Assistive Technology Webinars

This list of free webinars is compiled from around the Web by the Accessible Technology Coalition. 

Follow the ATC Facebook page for late additions.

The SC Assistive Technology Program offers free webinars, too!

Free Webinars re: K-12 Students

Dysgraphia and Writing Challenges—How to help! From DJI

December 2, 2021 at 10am Pacific, 1pm Eastern

Universal Design for Learning and Accessibility from AEM Café

December 2, 2021 at 1pm Pacific, 4pm Eastern

Included and Thriving: Kathy White’s Inclusion Playbook from DJI

December 9, 2021 at 10am Pacific, 1pm Eastern

Connecting AT to Occupation from SETC

December 16, 2021 at 3:30pm Pacific, 6:30pm Eastern

Tech for Teens Club : Coding Websites from PACER

December 18, 2021 at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern (90 min.)  

Adults or All Ages

Accessibility Insights with Anita Mortaloni of Xbox at Microsoft from AbilityNet

December 7, 2021 at 5am Pacific, 8am Eastern (30 min.) 

Technology and Marginal Gains - Small Changes Make a Big Difference from CallScotland

December 8, 2021 at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern

Wired Wednesday: AT Bits & Bytes with TFL and WATAP

December 8, 2021 at 11am Pacific, 2pm Eastern (45 min.)

Setting the Table for Accessibility: Creating inclusive experiences for QSR/Restaurant Customers from TPGi

December 9, 2021 at 9am Pacific, 12pm Eastern

Accommodation Solutions for Autoimmune Disorders from JAN

December 9, 2021 at 11am Pacific, 2pm Eastern

Switch Access Series: Switch Accessible Coding from SETC

December 13, 2021 at 4pm Pacific, 7pm Eastern

Mounting Speech Generating Devices and Tablets to Wheelchairs from AbleNet

December 14, 2021 at 9am Pacific, 12pm Eastern

Structuring Accessible Forms from TPGi

December 14, 2021 at 9am Pacific, 12pm Eastern

Switch Assessment, Part 1: Determining the Best Switch Type and Location for Clients with Muscle Weakness from AbleNet

December 16, 2021 at 9am Pacific, 12pm Eastern

AAC Webinars

AAC Talk: Troubleshooting and Programming Devices from SETC

December 9, 2021 at 3:30pm Pacific, 6:30pm Eastern

Tools to Know: Top 5 AAC Apps from SETC

December 14, 2021 at 12pm Pacific, 3pm Eastern

SC Disability Vaccine Access Network

 Are you nervous about COVID-19? The SC Disability Vaccine Access Network is here to help! 

Visit our new site, launched today, at scdisabilityvaccine.org for the facts about protecting yourself and others with vaccination. As people with disabilities, we know vaccine hesitancy is often related to past experiences or fear of how the vaccine will impact your disability. 

We are ready for your questions, and want to offer support. Click or call our hotline for help today: 1-800-787-6046.

Media:

Youtube video

Welcome to Capitol Connections

 

Capitol Connections Newsletter

In this issue of Capitol Connection, the Autism Society’s Policy Newsletter, take a look at the new title accompanying the Autism Society’s new brand launch! Also, in this edition is news on employment legislation, caregiving, education, and civil rights. Please visit the Autism Society’s Action Center for action steps to help us educate Members of Congress about the needs of people with autism.

Read More

Visit

Get Support

Autism Society of America

6110 Executive Boulevard Suite 305

Rockville, MD 20852

 1 (800) 328-8476

Let's Talk Training!

 

Upcoming Family Connection Trainings

Our Seat at the Table: A Parent Leadership Training

Make an impact as an EQUAL member of any team or group. Learn how to use your voice and your journey as a parent to make a difference and advocate for children. Our Parent Leadership Training is a two session, interactive, evidence-based curriculum for anyone who is currently serving, or wants to serve, on a decision-making group. This can include parents, students, educators, administrators, and community members. 

APPROVED for 4 hours of FOSTER PARENT CREDIT

certificate provided upon completion

Speakers: Sally Baker and Melissa Sanders

Session 1: Thursday, December 2, 2021

Session 2: Thursday, December 9, 2021

Zoom Meetings: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Register now!

*****

The Basics of the Individualized Education Program (IEP)

This training explains the basics of developing a well-written IEP. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that students who are eligible and need special education services have a written statement called the IEP. The session will enable participants to:

• Understand the purpose of the IEP,
• Identify the required components to design and develop the IEP,
• Identify quality indicators of a well-written IEP
• Understand the documentation to measure the success of the IEP.

Speaker: Dr. Susan Thomas

Thursday, December 2, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM -- Register now!

Tuesday, December 7, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM -- Register now!

*****

Overview of the Employability Credential 

(SC High School Credential)

This session for parents and families of students with disabilities will include an overview of the requirements to earning the Employability Credential known as the South Carolina High School Credential. In addition, this session will include information as to how a student can be considered “Career Ready” for employment.

This workshop is in partnership with Office of Special Education Services

Speakers: Kim A. Watkins and Chris Napier, 

Office of Special Education Services

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Zoom Meeting: 10:00 – 11:15 AM -- Register now!

*****

Fomentando Esperanza

Un espacio dedicado a familias Latinas con niños con necesidades de salud especiales. Donde se ofrecen recursos, informacion, capacitacion, y apoyo mutuo.

A space dedicated to the Latino Families of children with special needs, where resources, information, training and mutual support is offered.

Facilitador: Jenny Nuvan

Thursday, Dec 16, 2021 @ 7:00 PM EST

LOCATION: Unase a la reaunion virtual por Zoom

Hora: 7:00 pm a 8:30 pm EST

Registración: Para registrarse puede contactar a Jenny Nuvan al 803-995-9124 or al correo electrónico: jnuvan@familyconnectionsc.org o en la linea de Family Connection en Español al 1888-808-7465

*****

Watch select trainings on demand!

The latest topic added: 

Understanding the Laws that Protect Students with Disabilities 

by Dr. Susan Thomas