HIRE ME SC, Subminimum Wage Ends

 

Subminimum Wage in South Carolina Ends Today South Carolina's Historic Legislation In May of 2022 South Carolina's Governor signed the bill eliminating subminimum wage following years of grassroots advocacy by Able SC and partners. Our state became the third state in the Southeast and the thirteenth in the nation to pass legislation, breaking from federal law that permits the practice. Since that time subminimum wages have been phased out, officially ending today, August 1, 2024. The minimum wage in South Carolina is $7.25 per hour, but prior to today, people with disabilities were getting paid as little as five cents per hour. This was done in "work activity centers” or sheltered workshop settings. Sheltered workshops are places where people with disabilities are segregated from non-disabled people to work for subminimum wages. From these settings, less than 5% transition into community-based employment. Community-based employment offers jobs where people with disabilities can work alongside non-disabled peers. South Carolina’s bill prioritized the stability of those subject to subminimum wage by developing the Task Force on Eliminating Subminimum wage. The task force developed a plan and monitored the phase-out of subminimum wage and their final plan to further support the people who transitioned and build capacity for data collection and employment services for people with disabilities. While we applaud the leadership of Senator Katrina Shealy, Senator Tom Davis, Representative Neal Collins, Representative Bill Sandifer, and South Carolina’s lawmakers for supporting the rights of the 1.2 million people with disabilities in our state, we also honor those disabilities who tirelessly advocated for their employment rights for decades. “Ending subminimum wage is finally employment justice for people with disabilities! We are thrilled by the result, ensuring that people with disabilities are valued and equal members of South Carolina’s competitive workforce. Today marks a new future for people with disabilities in South Carolina.” -Kimberly Tissot, Able SC President and CEO Bill S.533 View our website What's Next: Task Force to Oversight Commission The Task Force on Eliminating Subminimum wage is set to be dismantled this month and will leave behind a report for the Employment First Oversight Commission, established due to the passing of bill S.533 which contained the Employment First Initiative Act. The report will contain recommendations and monitoring efforts that will require continued work.  Employment First means that employment in the community should be the first and preferred option for people with disabilities. It means real jobs for real wages. You can learn more about employment first at the APSE website. The Employment First Initiative Act: · Requires an Employment First Oversight Commission. An oversight commission is a group of people who have the authority to study and make recommendations about a topic. · Makes our state a leader in inclusive hiring practices. This means hiring people based on their skills and abilities, regardless of whether they are disabled or not. · Encourage businesses to include people with disabilities in the workforce by providing incentives. An incentive is a payment, tax break, lowered fee, or no-cost option to encourage people and businesses to do something. Learn the Stats Increase in Employment Among People with Disabilities The most recent data from the American Community Survey shows that from 2021 to 2022, employment among people with disabilities in South Carolina increased by 4.5%! The number of South Carolinians with disabilities who are employed increased from 35.8% in 2021, to 40.3% in 2022! There is still a lot of work to be done, but these numbers show that our state is headed in the right direction. Follow the link in the "learn the stats" button for a larger view of the image. Hire Me SC is here for you - we have resources for everyone: Job Seekers- You have skills and talents. Employment is possible, and we have the resources you need to get there. Employers- You will benefit from hiring individuals with disabilities. We can show you how your company can thrive. Service Providers- You can empower disabled people to reach their goals. We can show you the skills you need to make it happen. You can empower your loved one to meet their employment goals. We can help you be an educated advocate. I'm a job seeker I'm an employer I'm a provider I'm family WIN: Expanded access to childcare jobs for people with disabilities in South Carolina We have been supporting s.862, a bill that expands access to jobs in childcare for people with disabilities. We are thrilled to report that that bill was overwhelmingly supported and passed into law! “This will not only increase the employment rate for people with disabilities in South Carolina, but it will also fit that gap for the need for childcare workers,” Kimberly Tissot, the president and CEO of Able South Carolina.  We know that when employers hire people with disabilities, there’s less turnover, meeting a critical need in the field of childcare what the childcare field is needing. Learn more about the bill at the links in the buttons. Childcare Bill Article Childcare Bill TV Segment Employment Programs Able SC Employment Programs We offer a variety of employment programs and initiatives to help people with disabilities achieve their employment goals. Our Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA team works with people who receive social security benefits to help them understand how working may impact their benefits and what work incentives may be available to them.  Our employment services include: · Self-esteem/confidence building to prepare for employment · Access to benefits counseling · Career options counseling · Job search skills (resumes, interviews) · Workplace skill-building (communicating effectively, workplace etiquette, professional relationships, etc.) · Job performance support · Troubleshooting Workplace Issues (including disclosure, accommodations, and advocacy) · Peer Support Other employment programs include Hire Me SC, Ticket to Work, SNAP2Work, and SC Disability Employment Coalition. Employers: Take your Commitment to the Next Level Register for the 9th Annual Employer Summit "Access to Good Jobs for All" One in three South Carolinians has a disability however, 60% of people with disabilities are unemployed. This is a workforce employers can’t afford to miss out on. The Employer Summit is a one-day conference for business managers, executives, and HR professionals ready to hire and retain a workforce inclusive of people with disabilities. The Employer Summit will show businesses how including individuals with disabilities will strengthen their workforce.  Early bird registration for individual attendees is open now through June 30th! Register today to get your seat at a $20 discount! When: October 2, 2024 from 10 AM-3 PM Where: Philips Market Center, West Columbia, SC Register for the Employer Summit Hire Me SC 720 Gracern Road Suite 106 | Columbia, South Carolina 29210 803.779.5121 | hiremesc@able-sc.org Follow Us Having trouble viewing this email? View it in your web browser Unsubscribe or Manage Your Preferences

ABLE SC, Severe Weather

 

SC could experience severe weather next week ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Possible Severe Weather and Tornados- Know What To Do: ALERT! The threat of severe storms is possible across South Carolina next week, with the possibility of damaging winds, tornados, heavy rains, and flooding. Be prepared and know what to do if there is a storm. Before the Storm: Build or update your personal emergency kit. Your kit should have the essential items you can't live without. Learn more about what's needed in your kit here. You can also read this kit list from ready.gov. Build or update your service animal or pet's emergency kit. Learn more about what's needed in their kit here. Make sure you have enough food and medicine if you need to shelter in place for a long period of time. Make sure your medical equipment or accommodations that use batteries are fully charged and in good working condition. During the Storm: Never drive through flooded areas. If you approach a barricade, do not drive around it! As little as six inches of water can cause you to lose control of your vehicle, and two feet of water can cause your car to be swept away. Turn around, don’t drown. Watch your local news media for storm updates. If the storm updates say to shelter in place, do so! If you need to evacuate, take only the essential items, including your emergency kit and medical supplies. If you lose power, follow these tips to keep your water and food safe, here. The link includes a link to a video that explains what to do. If you need to stay home: Keep paying attention to the radio or TV for updates on the hurricane or flooding. Stay inside. Even if it looks calm, don’t go outside. Wait until you hear or see an official message that the storm is over. Sometimes, the weather gets calm in the middle of a storm but then gets worse again quickly. Stay away from windows. You could get hurt by pieces of broken glass during a storm. If emergency authorities order you to leave or if your home is damaged, you may need to go to a shelter or a neighbor’s house. If you need to evacuate: Only take what you really need with you, like your cell phone, chargers, medicines, ID, and cash. Make sure you have your emergency kit. If you have time, turn off the gas, electricity, and water. Follow the roads that emergency workers tell you to take, even if there’s traffic. Other routes might be blocked and unsafe. After the Storm: If you have durable medical equipment or adaptive technology that gets damaged by the storm, contact Able SC. We may have a replacement for you, free of charge. If you had to evacuate during the storm, only go home when authorities tell you it's safe to do so. If your home was flooded during the storm, you will need to clean and disinfect it to stay safe. You should clean and disinfect anything that could have been touched by flood water, including toys for kids or pets. We may be at risk of tornados. Here's how you stay safe: Check out the tornado safety fact sheet from the National Weather Service provides easy-to-read information on how to be prepared: https://rb.gy/j18vq Check batteries in flashlights and battery-operated or hand-crank weather radios. Keep these items nearby in case you lose power. Be ready to take cover in a basement or a windowless area of your home, such as a bathroom, hallway, under-stair area, or large closet. Be sure you and everyone in your household knows where to meet if you are separated. This is also important if your home is damaged and you need to go to a shelter or to friends or family. What if there's a flood? Here's how you stay safe: If you are escaping flood water to save your life, do not stay in the attic of your house. If the highest floor of your home becomes dangerous, get on the roof. Call 911 for help and stay on the line until the call is answered. If your disability prevents you from doing this, call 911 as soon as possible and tell them! Pay attention to the radio or TV news to follow instructions. Flood water is a drowning risk for everyone, even if you can swim. Swiftly moving shallow water can be deadly, and even shallow standing water can be dangerous for small children. Vehicles do not protect you from flood waters. They can be swept away or stall in moving water. If flooding happens while you're in your car, get to higher ground. Get out of areas that could flood like dips, low spots, canyons, washes, etc. If you are in an area that is in danger of flooding or you are under a flood watch or warning: Get your emergency kit, including prescription medications, and stay tuned to your local radio or television station for updates. If you have to evacuate, turn off the main power switch and close the main gas valve to your home. Have your immunization (shot) records handy or know when you got your last tetanus shot in case you get a puncture wound or a wound becomes infected during or after the flood. Immunization records should be stored in a waterproof container. Fill bathtubs, sinks, and containers with clean water. Sanitize the sinks and tubs first by using bleach. Rinse and fill with clean water. What if there's a power outage or downed power lines? NEVER touch a fallen power line. Call the power company to report fallen power lines. Do not walk or drive through standing water if downed power lines are in the water. If you believe someone has been electrocuted, call or have someone else call 911. Do not touch them unless you know they are not touching the electrical current. You can use a piece of wood, cardboard, or plastic to push them off the current safely. If a power line falls across your car while you are driving, stay inside your vehicle and continue to drive away from the line. If your engine stalls, do not turn off the ignition. Warn people not to touch your car or the line. Call or ask someone to call 911. Do not allow anyone other than emergency workers to come to your vehicle. If your power breaker is in standing water, never turn the power on or off yourself. Call a qualified electrician. Never use a gas-powered generator or gas power source inside your home, basement, or garage! Never use a gas stove or oven to heat your home. Never use a grill or fire pit indoors. These things make carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is a deadly invisible gas with no smell. The gas can build up and kill you. If you need a generator, choose a battery-powered one! How can Able SC help me? If you have a disability, we can give you information if you need advocacy and support. Just call us: 800.681.6805 We can help you get durable medical equipment like canes, walkers, AT chargers, wheelchairs, shower chairs, accessible cots, etc. if your items were lost or damaged during the emergency. We make sure people with disabilities are accommodated in emergency shelters and other locations! This includes advocating for equal access to information, food, sleeping, bedding, etc. at the shelter. Call us if you are having trouble: 800.681.6805 We send shelter modifications to make sure they are accessible. We send things like adjustable/accessible cots, ramp, temporary disabled parking signs, shower hoses, shower chairs, communication boards, and technology, etc.  We navigate FEMA, American Red Cross, Partnership for Inclusive Disasters, and other Emergency Services, including aiding with FEMA or Red Cross applications! We are here for you! Resources:  Emergency Preparedness Workbook for People with Disabilities  SCEMD, Family Emergency Kit  Red Cross, Survival Kit Supplies CDC Emergency Prep 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 Unsubscribe or Manage Your Preferences