In-Person Empower Hour returns for final months of 2022!

 

EMPOWER HOUR 2022 

Now available in-person & online! 

Peer Networking - Discover your power! 

Have a disability? Want to build your support network? Empower Hour is led by your peers and meets to discuss independence, share resources, make new friends, and give support to each other. Empower Hour is a great chance to connect with others. 

If you are interested in participating in either the online or in-person support group, please RSVP by email to dwheeler@able-sc.org or by calling 1-800-681-6805, TTY: 803-779-0949 at least one day before the meeting. 

To make a request for an accommodation based upon disability, for either the in-person or online Empower Hour, please call us at 800-681-6805 or email at dwheeler@able-sc.org a week before the event. 

Empower Hour Online: Every Thursday from 1 pm to 2 pm. 

Empower Hour In-Person: Monthly from 4pm to 5pm in our Columbia & Greenville Offices

*In-Person Dates:

• October 20
• November 17
• December 15  

*To ensure safety people attending Empower Hour in person must have their temperatures checked at office front doors and wear a mask. The number of participants will be limited to allow for social distancing. 

803.779.5121 | advocacy@able-sc.org 

2022 Assistive Technology Leadership Conference

2022 Assistive Technology 

Leadership Conference

Date: November 3, 2022

Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Cost: FREE 

REGISTER NOW!

The Assistive Technology Leadership Conference is a webinar designed to provide resources, networking and support to South Carolina school district assistive technology leaders and teams. Join us for a morning filled with opportunities to collaborate, share, and expand your knowledge of assistive technology best practices. Participants will receive information to assist with leading the way to excellence in assistive technology services.

• Explore assistive technology best practices for hearing and vision services 
• Network with assistive technology teams from other school districts across South Carolina
• Learn what is working well for other practitioners 
• Tell us how we can support you in the coming year!

Conference Facilitators:

Madalina Tudora is a RESNA* certified Assistive Technology Professional and experienced educator, currently serving as an Assistive Technology contact for the South Carolina Department of Education. She supports local school districts and state agencies in building capacity for assistive technology by providing guidance, resources, and training for local assistive technology teams in South Carolina.  Madalina conducts regional and international AT trainings and speaks at various conferences with a focus on technology and accessibility. 

Rachell Johnson, MCD, CCC-SLP, ATP is the Program Manager of the South Carolina Assistive Technology Program in the Center for Disability Resources, a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at the USC School of Medicine. She is a RESNA* certified Assistive Technology Professional.  Rachell received her master’s degree in communication disorders from the University of South Carolina. She conducts regional and international trainings on assistive technology for persons with disabilities of all ages, their caregivers and professionals who serve them.

*Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA)

Governor McMaster Proclaims October Disability Employment Awareness Month

 

Governor McMaster Proclaims October 2022 as 

Disability Employment Awareness Month!

How will YOU celebrate #NDEAM this month? 

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster proclaimed this October as Disability Employment Awareness Month! By doing so, the governor is sending the message that people with disabilities are capable, contributing members of society, worthy of full access and inclusion in South Carolina's workforce. 

MORE ABOUT DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH: Held each October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), aims to educate the public about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities. NDEAM is led by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), but its true spirit lies in the many observances held at the grassroots level across the nation every year. Learn how you can support NDEAM and this year's theme, Disability: Part of the Equity Equation, by visiting the ODEP website here. 

The proclamation will be read at Hire Me SC's 7th annual Employer Summit. The summit will convene HR directors and employers with experts in disability, accessibility, and inclusion to talk about hiring and retaining people with disabilities. 

How can you celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month? 

• Sign the Employment First Pledge! If you support people with disabilities having competitive, integrated employment opportunities in the workforce, sign the pledge to show how we are a growing, strong movement in South Carolina!

• Celebrate with education! Visit HireMeSC.org and the Hire Me SC social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to learn more about the state of disability employment and how you can get involved in our efforts to achieve employment for all! 

Happy NDEAM!🎉

Housing Resources for People with Disabilities and Health Conditions

 

Do you need help finding housing resources in your community? 

Are you at risk of losing your current apartment? 

Living in the community is important. We want to equip you with the information and tools to find and maintain affordable housing in your community.   

Able South Carolina assists people with disabilities in your area with navigating housing issues.  

Here are some services we can provide:  

• Skills related to living more independently in the community 
• Guidance on filling out housing applications 
• Help with budgeting for affordability 
• Searching for housing and accessible places as needed 
• Communicating and advocating with the landlord 
• Assistive technology to support independence in the home  

How to qualify for services:  

• Have a disability or other health condition  
• Currently renting, homeless, or at risk of homelessness  
• Meet certain income requirements   

Call 803-779-5121 or email info@able-sc.org today 

to see if you qualify for services and get started. 

School Psychologists: Get CEU Credits through a Webinar with Dr. Ashley Harbin, PhD, CBIS!

 

Dr. Ashley Harbin ins a Medical Clinical Psychologist and Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS) trained to guide students with concussions and their families through the lengthy and challenging route of recovery. Dr. Harbin serves on the Brain Injury Safety Net (BISN) Taskforce, a youth-focused program of the Brain Injury Association of South Carolina (BIASC), and on the South Carolina Brain Injury Leadership Council (SC BILC). She has been instrumental in bringing Return To Learn (RTL) resources to the state of South Carolina and presents at local and national conferences on the psychological and neuropsychological sequelae of brain injury and concussions. Dr. Harbin holds both a Master Degree and Doctorate in Medical Clinical Psychology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The Brain Injury Association of South Carolina remains in gratitude to Dr. Harbin for her continued contributions and leadership.

Join Brain Injury Safety Net, Dr. Ashley Harbin, PhD, CBIS and the South Carolina Association of School Psychologists (SCASP) in a recorded webinar about Concussions and what [School] Psychologists need to know to provide adequate care and support for youth!

This is a FREE, recorded webinar that provides CEU credits for school psychologists thanks to a collaboration with SCASP.

Join Dr. Harbin as she discusses concussion signs, symptoms, and treatment. She will share how school psychologists can assist in providing essential concussion management and follow-up care for youth that experience concussion symptoms!

Click Here to View Webinar & Receive CEU Credits 

Dr. Harbin will be providing in-person case studies and overview of this content at the SCASP Conference being held in Columbia on Friday, October 14, 2022.

Click Here For More Information on the SCASP Conference 

2023 AAIDD Annual Meeting Call for Papers Now Open

Setting New Norms for Integrated & Competitive Employment: Challenges, Opportunities, Strategies

The 147th AAIDD Annual Meeting will provide a forum for researchers, practitioners, policymakers, students and early career professionals, and advocates to come together to tackle challenges, explore opportunities, and discuss strategies related to integrated and competitive employment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). It is an event where we can set new norms for promoting employment and other quality of life outcomes in the face of the complex challenges of the 21st century, including the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Integrated and competitive employment is one of the cornerstones for advancing equity and inclusion. Achieving quality employment outcomes will require systemic reforms, tiered systems of support and services, interagency collaborations, and the recognition of post-pandemic changes in the workforce and workplace. 

The conference will:

• Include plenary sessions focused on identifying systems of support, interagency collaborations and other effective strategies in research, policy, and practice, to identify new and innovative ways to promote integrated and competitive employment.
• Feature panel presentations, poster presentations, poster symposia, and networking opportunities for conference participants to learn from one another with a focus on integrated and competitive employment.  
• Showcase research, policy, and practice briefs – and opportunity for short and informative updates on the latest from our field advancing integrated and competitive employment.
• Include pre- and post-conference workshops addressing topics in greater depth and across the life course.

AAIDD members have been leaders in producing cutting edge and ground-breaking research, practice, and policy in the field of IDD for over a century, but we are at a critical juncture and need new norms for integrated and competitive employment. We need to devote our research, policy, and practice in the next century to promoting employment and other quality of life outcomes. AAIDD’s role as the leading interdisciplinary professional organization in the field provides a context to engage in cutting-edge research, effective practices, and policy initiatives that set new norms for addressing challenges and develop strategies that support people with IDD in integrated and competitive employment.  

To learn more and instructions about submitting a proposal,

please visit our website.

Submission Deadline: November 28, 2022 at midnight

Survey: Help us improve the lives of people with disabilities!

We need you!

It's time to work together to make the lives of people with disabilities living in South Carolina better! 

Do you have a disability? Tell us what it is like to live with a disability in South Carolina. We will use what you tell us to help statewide organizations improve and advocate for access for people with disabilities. 

The survey should only take you 10 minutes to finish. The survey is 100% confidential. Confidential means we will not ask for your email address or other personal information.  

If you have questions about the survey or want to speak to someone about services, contact Lori Hammond at lhammond@able-sc.org. 

What you tell us in the survey can make a difference in how people with disabilities receive services in the state! 

Take the Survey!

SCATP Webinar: Expanding Expression: A Multi-Sensory Approach for Oral & Written Language

SCATP is hosting a webinar entitled 

“Expanding Expression: A Multi-Sensory Approach

 for Oral and Written Language” 

Date: October 13, 2022

Time: 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. 

Place: Zoom Webinar

Cost: FREE (Registration is required to receive the Zoom confirmation email)

Registration: Participants must register to receive the webinar link. 

REGISTER NOW!

About the Program

The Expanding Expression Tool (EET) is a multi-sensory approach used to facilitate more detailed descriptions and definitions. The tool targets oral expression, vocabulary comprehension, similarities and differences, written expression, associations, categorization, functions and more. After a brief literature review (the brain, how children learn, and the norms for defining), the Expanding Expression Tool is introduced with multiple language activities and student samples provided.

Learner Outcomes 

Participants will be able to:

• Teach students a multi-sensory approach for including more details in their definitions, descriptions, and writing.
• Explain how to use strategies to target the following areas: categorization, function, appearance, composition, associated parts, location, and similarities and differences.
• Explain how to collect baseline data and monitor progress using the program.
• Complete a curriculum-based lesson using a language tool. 

About the Presenter

Sara L. Smith, MS, CCC-SLP

Sara L. Smith, MS, CCC-SLP, is an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist and founder of the Expanding Expression Tool™ (EET). She began her career in the Bay City Public Schools (Michigan) where she focused on developing and teaching language strategies to facilitate academic success. Her interest and continued study of language processing and multi-sensory approaches to learning have led to her development of the Expanding Expression Program for improved oral and written language. As a national speaker, Sara provides insight into learning and demonstrates strategies to use with all children. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Central Michigan University and her Master’s Degree from Bowling Green State University.

Accommodations

CART captioning is provided for all SCATP webinars. If you need an additional accommodation to participate, please contact us at least one week prior to the webinar at 803-935-5263. 

https://sc.edu/medicine/scatp

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

Employer Summit 2022: SHRM and HRCI Credits Approved

Registration closes on 

Wednesday, October 12 at 5 pm! 

Registration Fee: $75

Discounts for businesses that register 5 or more! 

Contact hiremesc@able-sc.org for details. 

The 2022 Employer Summit is approved for 

4.5 hours of SHRM and HRCI credits. 

Topics will follow the 2022 National Disability Employment Awareness Month Theme: 

Disability: Part of the Equity Equation 

Learn more about our speakers

Check out the Agenda

Join us for the 2022 Employer Summit, a conference for business managers, executives, and HR professionals looking to hire and retain a workforce inclusive of people with disabilities. 

The Employer Summit will show you how including individuals with disabilities will strengthen your workforce. 

This year’s event boasts Jim Sinocchi, former IMB Executive and JPMorgan Chase & Co. Managing Director and Head of Disability Inclusion, as the keynote speaker. 

To accommodate a larger audience this will be a hybrid event that offers both online and in-person attendance to the same event. 

Register for the Employer Summit

What to expect at the in-person event: 

• The same sessions, speakers, and content as the online event 
• Spending 9:30 AM - 3:00 PM at the Phillips Market Center in West Columbia, SC 
• Catered lunch with food trucks to choose from 
• In-person networking 
• Service providers at information booths 

What to expect at the online event: 

• The same sessions, speakers, and content as the in-person event, recorded live and streamed through Zoom  
• Spending 9:30 AM - 3:00 PM on Zoom on your computer, with a break for lunch 
• Interaction/networking with online participants through the Zoom chat functions 
• Online resources 

Meet our Buddy Walk Ambassadors!

Meet the Brady Family!

 

The Brady family of Columbia is serving as Ambassadors for this year's Buddy Walk! The Bradys have supported Buddy Walk since 2019, and are excited to serve in this volunteer role. 

"We encourage Buddy Walk families to join us and our team, Dade's Aviators, in raising funds in honor of Down Syndrome Awareness Month and the mission of Family Connection" says Dade's mom, Heather Brady. 

Catch a glimpse into a day at the park with the Brady family. You will see Dade is an outgoing 3-year-old ready to offer an energetic smile to everyone he meets! 

Watch the Video!

We are proud to announce...  

Our Buddy Walk 2022 Presenting Sponsor is Zingers Fencing! Zingers is a veteran sponsor of Buddy Walk and a proud supporter of the Loving Lizzy team. We are so grateful to have them return for this exciting Buddy Walk year! Thank you Zingers and to all of the supporters Loving Lizzy! 

Fundraising Challenge 

October is here, and that means it’s time to start or rev up your fundraising! For every $20 raised from Tuesday, October 4 to Sunday, October 9 at 11:59 p.m. you will receive a chance to win a $25 Gift Card restaurant gift card you can use at Liberty Tap Room, Rioz Brazillian Steakhouse, Pearl Oyster Bar, or Kaminsky's Dessert Cafe! Get excited to support Buddy Walk and to qualify for more prizes on Buddy Walk day! 

Speaking of prizes: Check out the scorecard in the Team Captain Packet on our Team Captain Resource Page. Track the points you raise for each step in your fundraising efforts, then share your results with us before the big day. Team Captains with the tops scores will receive a prize on Buddy Walk Day! 

Attention Tailgaters! 

Interested in tailgating at Buddy Walk? Review our Tailgating Guidelines and reserve your spots by Friday, October 28th! 

We Need You!

We are so happy to be hosting an in-person event this year and we want to create a great event day for everyone! How can you help? Contact us if you can assist with any of these event needs: 

• Use of two golf carts to offer rides to families parking in the overflow lot. 
• Donations of concessions for our large crowd! Hot dogs, sandwiches, chips, cookies--any goodies that are crowd pleasers are welcome! Large donors will be recognized as a food sponsor of this event. Thank you to Pepsico for donating beverages! 
• Raffle Prizes: donations of goods and services valued at $50 or more are needed to make our raffle table extra special this year! 
• Vendor and sponsor opportunities are still available! 

Contact us if you can help or if you have questions! 

*****

Buddy Walk 2022

Saluda Shoals Park Athletic Fields

Sunday, November 6th

Vendors and Tailgaters Arrive: 11:00 a.m.

Family Fun Activities: 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Walk around the Fields: 2:00 p.m. 

Closing Ceremony and Awards: 2:30 p.m. 

Register Now!

Team Captain Resource Page

Join Buddy Walk Facebook Group

Sponsor and Vendor Sign up

Buddy Walk is part of our Down Syndrome Awareness activities. Funds raised at Buddy Walk support programs and services provided by Family Connection. Funds also support the National Down Syndrome Society. 

Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor: 

Thanks also to our Event Sponsors: 

Family of Richard B. Perkins

Ongoing Sponsor: 

*****

Family Connection of South Carolina

1-800-578-8750

Para Espanol 1-888-808-7462

info@familyconnectionsc.org

Over the Counter Hearing Aids

 

In August 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finalized a rule allowing the sale of hearing aids over the counter. This new rule will increase access to hearing health for adults ages 18 and older.

What are Over the Counter (OTC) hearing aids?  

Over the counter hearing aids are a new category of hearing device that a consumer can purchase without needing a prescription from a healthcare provider. Like prescription hearing aids, OTC hearing aids make sounds louder so that individuals wearing them can hear better & communicate more effectively.

Who will benefit from OTC hearing aids?  

Over the counter hearing aids are intended for use by adults who have mild to moderate hearing loss. They are not meant for children and are not meant for individuals with severe hearing loss.

 

What are symptoms of mild to moderate hearing loss?  

According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, you may have mild to moderate hearing loss if,  

• Speech or other sounds seem muffled.  
• You have trouble hearing when you’re in a group, in a noisy area, on the phone, or when you can’t see who is talking.  
• You have to ask others to speak more slowly or clearly, to talk louder, or to repeat what they said.  
• You turn up the volume higher than other people prefer when watching TV or listening to the radio or music.

When are OTC hearing aids available?  

OTC hearing aids will be available for purchase as soon as mid-October, 2022.   

More info is available on OTC Hearing Aids, Hearing Aids & Hearing Loss

Source: National Counsel on Deafness & Other Communication Disorders Over the Counter Hearing Aids

What's Up with the New Boosters?

Bivalent- What's Up with the New Boosters? 

In September 2022 the FDA and CDC approved a new, updated booster for people over age 12 to fight COVID-19. The new booster will fight COVID-19 variants that can make you very sick. You need your new booster to stay healthy this fall and winter! 

Able SC is hosting a barrier-free clinic for COVID-19 

& flu shots on October 7 

Register for Able SC's Clinic Here!

If it's been 2 months since your last COVID-19 dose or booster, it's time to get the NEW, updated booster shot! 

If you do not have your updated booster shot, you are not protected from COVID-19, severe sickness, and death. 

Keep reading to learn more about it. 

*****

What is the difference between bivalent and monovalent shots? 

• A monovalent vaccine has ingredients that fight one strain of a virus. The COVID-19 monovalent vaccines and boosters were made to fight the original COVID-19 virus. 
• A bivalent vaccine has ingredients that fight two strains of a virus. The original COVID-19 vaccines were monovalent. Monovalent means they fight only one mRNA strain of the COVID-19 virus. The updated COVID-19 vaccine boosters contain MRNA from 1)The original SARS-CoV-2 virus, and 2) a strain of the Omicron variant to fight against BA.4 and BA.5. 

Why is a bivalent booster important?

• The updated boosters will provide more protection against the COVID-19 virus. They provide more protection because they have two mRNA strains that teach your body how to fight the virus. Scientists use mRNA from the original COVID-19 virus. The mRNA from the original COVID-19 virus increases the protection you get from your first vaccines. They add mRNA that fights the BA.4 and BA5 variants. The BA.4 and BA5 variants are making most people sick right now. Scientists expect these variants will continue infecting people into the fall and winter of 2022. 

Does the bivalent booster have different side effects?  

• Side effects from the bivalent boosters are similar to the side effects from the original monovalent vaccines. 
• Most side effects are redness and swelling where you got your vaccine. You may also have fatigue, headache, fever, and joint pain. 

Who should get a booster shot? 

People 5 years and older should get at least 1 booster shot after completing their COVID-19 vaccine primary series.* Your primary vaccine series is either one shot of J&J or 2 shots of Moderna, Pfizer, or Novavax vaccines. 

• *People ages 5 to 11 that got the Moderna vaccine for your primary vaccine series are not eligible for a booster shot. 

You should get the new bivalent booster shot if you: 

• Are 12 years or older. 
• It has been 2 months or longer since you had your last dose. 

You should get the monovalent booster shot if you: 

• Are between the ages of 5 and 11 
• Got the Pfizer vaccine for your primary vaccine series 
• It has been at least 5 months since your 2nd dose 

Which booster shot(s) should I get? 

Children and Youth ages 5 to 17: 

• Children 5 years old and older should get a single booster shot. 
• If you are 5 to 11 years old and got the Pfizer vaccine for your primary vaccine series, you can get the Pfizer monovalent booster shot. 
• If you are 12 to 17 years old, you can get the Pfizer bivalent booster shot. 
• If you are under 12 and got the Moderna vaccine for your primary vaccine series, you should not get a booster shot. 

What if my child already got 1 monovalent booster shot? 

If it has been 2 months or longer since their last shot, and they are at least 12 years old, then your child is eligible to get the bivalent booster. 

What if my child has a weakened immune system and already got 2 monovalent booster shots? 

If it has been 2 months or longer since their last shot, and they are at least 12 years old, then your child is eligible to get the bivalent booster. 

People ages 18 and older: 

If you are 18 or older, you can get the bivalent booster if it has been 2 months or longer since 

• You finished your primary vaccine series 
• You got a booster shot 

There are 2 bivalent boosters, one is Pfizer, and the other is Moderna. 

• It does not matter which brand you get. 
• For your primary vaccine series, your options are Pfizer, Moderna, J&J, or Novavax. 

I already got the monovalent booster shot. Can I still get a bivalent booster? 

If it has been at least 2 months since your last booster shot, you can get the Bivalent booster. 

I already got 2 doses of the monovalent booster shot. Can I still get a bivalent booster? 

• If you are 50 years old or older or have a moderately or severely compromised immune system, you may have already gotten 2 monovalent booster shots. 
• As long as it has been at least 2 months since your last booster, you are eligible for the new bivalent booster. 
• Note: If you had to get a certain vaccine because you are allergic to one of the ingredients in other COVID-19 vaccines, then talk to your doctor about booster options. 

When should I get my booster shots? 

• When you should get your booster shot depends on your age and when you finished your primary vaccine series or got your last dose. 
• Children ages 5 to 11 years old, who got the Pfizer vaccine, can get the the Pfizer monovalent booster 5 months after finishing their primary vaccine series. 
• People 12 years old and older can get the bivalent booster 2 months after finishing your primary vaccine series or getting your last booster. 
• If you have had an allergic reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine ingredient in the past, then your doctor may tell you to not get that vaccine. 
• If you have been instructed not to get one type of COVID-19 vaccine, you may still be able to get another type. 

Talk to your doctor to find out which

COVID-19 vaccine booster is best for you. 

Booster shots add the protection you need. Getting your vaccine and booster shots at the prescribed time will help you stay up-to-date on your COVID-19 vaccine. 

www.SCDisabilityVaccine.org

Contact our Vaccine Access Helpline at 1-800-787-6046. 

Sources: 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, August 11). Symptoms. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved August 22, 2022 from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.htm 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, July 20). People with Disabilities. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved August 23, 2022 from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/humandevelopment/covid-19/people-with-disabilities.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, July 11). Patient Tips: Healthcare Provider Appointments for Post-COVID Conditions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved June 8, 2022 from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/long-term-effects/post-covid-appointment/index.htm 

National Council on Disability. (2021, October 29). The Impact of COVID-19 on People with Disabilities. National Council on Disability. Retrieved August 23, 2022 from https://ncd.gov/sites/default/files/NCD_COVID-19_Progress_Report_508.pdf 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, August 22). CDC Recommends Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine for Adolescents. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from  https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/s0822-novax-vaccine.html 

Cunningham, J. (2022, February 7). Study shows persistent antibodies in infants after COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy. Massachusetts General Hospital. Retrieved August 31, 2022 from https://www.massgeneral.org/news/press-release/study-shows-persistent-antibodies-in-infants-after-covid-19-vaccination-in-pregnancy 

Jamieson, D. and Rasmusse, S. (2022, July 14). Covid-19 Vaccination during Pregnancy — Two for the Price of One. The New England Journal of Medicine. Retrieved August 31, 2022 from https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2206730 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, August 17). Long COVID or Post-COVID Conditions. Retrieved from  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/long-term-effects/index.html 

Reno, J. (2021, July 6). Vaccine Side Effects vs. COVID-19 Damage? There’s No Comparison. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health-news/vaccine-side-effects-vs-covid-19-damage-theres-no-comparison 

Ferreira, V. and Solera J. (2022, August 4). Immunocompromised in the Omicron Era. Retrieved August 31st, 2022 from https://microbiologycommunity.nature.com/posts/immunocompromised-in-the-omicron-era 

Food and Drug Administration (2022) “COVID-19 Bivalent Vaccine Boosters. Retrieved September 1, 2022, from https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/covid-19-bivalent-vaccine-boosters 

Food and Drug Administration (2022), FDA News Release: “Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Authorizes Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccines as a Booster.” August 31, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022 from https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-moderna-pfizer-biontech-bivalent-covid-19-vaccines-use 

Sick-Samuels, A., M.D., M.P.H., and Messina, A., M.D. (2022, June 2022). COVID Vaccine: What Parents Need to Know. Retrieved August 23, 2022 from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/covid19-vaccine-what-parents-need-to-know 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, July 11). Patient Tips: Healthcare Provider Appointments for Post-COVID Conditions. Retreived August 17, 2022 from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/long-term-effects/post-covid-appointment/index.html. 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, September 8). Stay Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines Including Boosters. Retrieved September 8, 2022 from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html.

CLA Virtual Course for People with Disabilities and Families Begins Tomorrow!

The USC Aphasia Lab is hosting a Community Leadership Course with Able SC, sponsored by the SC Developmental Disabilities Council for people with disabilities and family members of individuals with disabilities, teaching them how to serve on boards, councils, committees, and commissions. Most importantly, this six-week course teaches people with disabilities and family members how to develop advocacy, leadership, and self-advocacy skills. These skills are essential for people with disabilities to thrive and co-lead the direction of their lives alongside family members. This course helps individuals learn how to lead and advocate, develop professionalism, soft skills, communication strategies (traditional and non-traditional), understand financial statements, networking, disability culture, and rights, and serve in the community using disability pride and confidence!

The USC Aphasia Lab has kindly offered to open its course to others in the community who want to participate virtually. The course will consist of six 1 ½ hour classes with breaks from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM on Tuesdays, from October 4 to November 8, 2022, on Zoom. Please share with your clients, community partners, and family members!

The accessible digital flyer is below with the registration link in the flyer:

https://ablesouthcarolina.salsalabs.org/communityleadershipacademy2022fall/index.html

People may request reasonable accommodations in the registration.

Please email Dori Tempio at dtempio@able-sc.org 

if you have any questions!