2016 SC Autism Society Annual Conference

2016 ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Announcing the South Carolina Autism Society’s Annual Conference, featuring Peter Gerhardt, E.D. as Keynote Speaker, Breakout Sessions, Bookstore, and more!

Date:  Friday, April 15, 2016
Time: 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
Cost:   $75 per person, includes lunch
Location: Medallion Conference Center, 7309 Garners Ferry Road, Columbia, SC  29209

Click here to Register Now!

 

Call for Presentations    Resource Fair   Limited Scholarships    Annual Awards

Keynote Speaker — Peter Gerhardt, E.D., is the director of education at the Upper School of the McCarton School and the founding chair of the Scientific Council for the Organization for Autism Research (OAR). He has more than 30 years of experience using the principles of applied behavior analysis in supporting adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in educational, employment, residential, and community-based settings. Dr. Gerhardt is the author or the coauthor of articles and book chapters on the needs of adolescents and adults with ASDs and has presented nationally and internationally on this topic. He serves on the editorial board of Behavior Analysis in Practice and on numerous professional advisory boards. Dr. Gerhardt received his doctorate from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Graduate School of Education.

Breakout Sessions to be announced by March 1, 2016.

Click here to Register Now!

Limited Scholarships are available for parents/guardians, self-advocates, and full-time students.  Click here to apply.

Annual Awards will be presented at the Conference.  Do you know someone who is deserving of recognition?  Click here to nominate them now.

Call for Presentations. If you are interested presenting during the breakout sessions at the Conference, please click here for more information.

Resource Fair. Spaces are available in our Resource Fair for businesses, organizations, and state agencies. Click here for more information.

For additional questions, please contact the South Carolina Autism Society at 803-750-6988 or email scas@scautism.org.

2016 Shuck-A-Rama Oyster Roast

Save the Date! 

The 2016 Shuck-A-Rama Oyster Roast all-inclusive tickets are on sale now!

 Come and enjoy an unlimited amount of fresh oysters, BBQ sliders and coleslaw, beer, wine, soft drinks, live music, and fun fellowship with friends!

Discounts available for groups of 10 or more!

 Sponsorships also available! Click here to learn more!

 To learn more about this event please click here.

Special thanks to our Bushel Sponsors Roper St. Francis Rehabilitation, Law Office of Kenneth E. Berger and The Doscher Family! We greatly appreciate your commitment to helping survivors of brain injury and their families.

Able SC Exceeding Expectations

Able SC’s EQUIP Young Adult Leadership program proudly presents a video about Exceeding Expectations for young adults with disabilities.

 

ASL Version | Descriptive Narration Version
 

To learn more about the EQUIP Program, please visit 
www.able-sc.org/equip

Donate to the Brain Injury Association of South Carolina

Donate to the Brain Injury Association of South Carolina!

To donate, you can visit their website (www.biausa.org/sc/), or click here!

Thank you for continuing to support the Brain Injury Association of South Carolina!

Transition Conference for Youth, Families, and Professionals

Mark your calendars for the third annual Mapping Your Future & Empowering A Future Conferences to be held at the USC Alumni Center in Columbia, SC in February 2016!

Empowering A Future is a one day conference where professionals who work with young adults ages 13-28 with disabilities will learn new strategies to assist in successful transition outcomes. Date: 2/26/16 Registration Fee: $50 Register Today

Mapping Your Future is a one day conference where young adults ages 13-28 with disabilities and their families will gain skills and resources for successful transition into adulthood. Date: 2/27/16 Registration Fee: Free Register Today

Networking for Social Opportunities

Networking for
Social Opportunities

Able SC is hosting a free training for individuals with disabilities. Join us as we:

• Understand socializing and networking
• Identify ways to meet new people
• Recognize networking techniques
• Develop intermingling skills
• Determine safe methods for getting to know others

Join Us In Person or Online! Online Webinar Tuesday, December 15 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Online Registration In Person Wednesday, December 16 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM 136 Stonemark Lane, Suite 100 Columbia, SC 29210 In Person Registration Please make reasonable accommodation requests for this event a week in advance of the event date. Professionals who wish to attend are encouraged to participate in the webinar session as there is limited space for individuals with disabilities during the in person training. For more information, contact Dori Tempio Phone: (800) 681-6805 TTY: (803) 779-0949 e-mail: dtempio@able-sc.org

An Introduction to Sign Language for Parents of Children with Special Needs

An Introduction to Sign Language for Parents of Children with Special Needs

Spaces are still available!

Date: 

Friday, December 11, 2015

Time: 

10:00 - 11:30 am

Cost: 

Free, but pre-registration is required

Location: 

Poplar Building Conference Room

Midlands Center, 8301 Farrow Road, Columbia, SC 29203

Registration: 

Complete the Sign Language for Parents of Children with Special Needs online registration form

Presenter: 

Jill Eversmann

Description: 

This is a fun, interactive workshop for parents of children with special needs. It covers 25 signs, the manual alphabet, and numbers 1-10. Parents will learn and practice the signs and learn tips for teaching signs to their children.  It also covers how sign language can encourage speech and language development, enhance overall communication and reduce frustration for children who are not yet able to effectively communicate using speech.

About the Speaker: 

Jill Eversmann is a pediatric speech-language pathologist with over 25 years of experience and a certified Signing Time Academy instructor. She loves working with young children and their families and also teaching sign language to children and adults. Jill received her B.S. in Speech-Language Pathology from James Madison University and her MS in Speech-Language Pathology from Towson University. She is ASHA certified and licensed in SC.

For questions about registration, call Will McCain at (803) 935-5004 or Lydia Durham at (803) 935-5263 or 800-915-4522.

Midlands Spring 2016 Social Skills Group

Midlands Spring 2016 Social Skills Group:

Running Out of Space! 

We hope you and your family enjoyed Thanksgiving!

We just wanted to send out a quick reminder that spring social skills groups will be beginning on January 11^th! 

Groups will be held at the Autism Academy of South Carolina (1505 Blanding St. Columbia SC 29201) on Mondays at either 4:00pm or 4:45pm (depending on age and functioning), and will cost $30 per session for 10 sessions. 

Groups are interactive and fun, and the children really seem to enjoy it! Ages for groups range from 4-23 years old and we cover several different topics including emotion recognition and regulation, conversation starters, bullying and problems solving.

We are also excited to announce our new Family Groups that will be held on Thursdays! These groups will encompass lessons on physical activity, nutrition, and mindfulness/yoga and are for the entire family. These sessions will be over period of 9 weeks and will also cost $30 per session per family (GREAT DEAL!). 

If you are interested in participating in either/both of these opportunities and have not already signed up, please email arandel@autismacademyofsc.org as soon as possible. There has been a lot of interest and spots are filling up fast!

Thank you, and we hope to hear from you soon!

Help Wanted!

Looking for a new job 

with great benefits and exciting opportunities?

Positions available at the 

USC School of Medicine -- Center for Disability Resources

• Occupational Therapist II (009375)

• Program Coordinator II (009713) 

Click here to apply

If you have questions, or need additional information, 

please contact 

Carol Page, Program Manager at the SC Assistive Technology Program at 803-935-5301, 

carol.page@uscmed.sc.edu .

ASD Parent/Caregiver Support Group Meeting

Midlands Parent/Caregiver Support Group Meeting

Join us this Wednesday, December 2^nd from 10 am – 12 noon at our West Columbia office!  This group is for caregivers of individuals with ASD to provide support, education, and encouragement and to share resources to help our children and young adults reach their full potential.  Come with your questions and learn more about how we can help you.

Please click here to RSVP so we know to expect you!

Free AT Trainings from the AT Coalition

Free AT Trainings from the AT Coalition

• Accessible Museum Exhibits from AccessibilityOnline on Thursday, December 3, 2015 at 11:30AM Pacific, 2:30PM Eastern

• Functional Accessibility Evaluator, AInspector Sidebar and Accessibility Bookmarklets from EASI on Thursday December 3, at 11PM Pacific, 2PM Eastern

• Funding AT for Blind to Support Work and Independence  from RESNA on Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at 11AM Pacific, 2PM Eastern

• Section 508 Refresh – Understanding the New Requirements from SSB BART on Thursday, December 10, 2015 at 11AM Pacific, 2PM Eastern (90 minutes) 

• Digital Accessibility Trends from SSB BART on Thursday, December 17, 2015 at 11AM Pacific, 2PM Eastern (90 min.)  

Free Webinars - K-12 Educators & Parents

• Acquiring Accessible Digital Materials: What to Look for! What to ask for! from AEM (Joy Zabala) on Thursday, December 3, 2015 at 11AM Pacific, 2PM Eastern

• A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words - Visual Literacy and UDL from OCALI on Wednesday, December 16, 2015 at 12:30PM Pacific, 3:30 Eastern (30 min.)  

SETC

 

All sessions start at 3:30PM Pacific, 6:30PM Eastern, except as noted.

 

December 1    Web-based Tool to Support AAC Goal Selection
December 3    The Role of OTs in AAC
December 7    AAC- What SLPs need to know about Access
December 8    Google Apps for AT
December 8    AAC in Story Reenactment (at 5PM Pacific, 8PM Eastern)
December 9    Windows Movie Maker Software    
December 14   AAC in Preschool: Participation and Play with a Purpose    
December 15   Apps for Organization- Tools for Organizing Self & Students!
December 17  Tips for Choosing the RIGHT Mounts for Tablets

 

Recently Archived Professional Development

AbilityNet Archive of recent archived webinars:

-Hearing Impairment and Computing
-Visual Impairment and Computing
-How Computers Can Help Reduce Stress At Work
-Accessible Apps: Building the Barclays Mobile Banking App
-Deep Dive: Building Accessible Forms
-Dyslexia and Digital Design. Websites, apps and more...

CTD Archives:

-iPad as Vehicle for Authentic Musical Expression: Empowered Leadership Through Creative
-Thought and Self – Expression
-Supporting Play and Problem Solving in Young Children in the Context of a UDL Early
-Learning Environment
-Recommendations for Use of Mobile Apps for Children Birth-8

Fundraising Event for SC Spinal Cord Injury Association!

Mark Your Calendar for this Fundraising Event!

Come out and join us at Buffalo Wild Wings
1100 Bower Parkway in Columbia
Wednesday, December 2, 2015.
All Day!

10% of meals that day will go to the SC Spinal Cord Injury Association when you present this admit ticket. Diane and Angela will be there around 6:30, if you want to join us then.

Assistive Technology Workshop

Assistive Technology Teams: What Works? What Does Not? 

Date: December 7, 2015

Time: 9:30 am - 11:30 am

Location: Collaborative Training Center

Register for the Assistive Technology Teams workshop

Assistive Technology (AT) devices and services have been mandated for years through IDEA federal legislation. As a result, school districts are in need of both guidance and tools for qualified personnel to plan, develop, and implement Assistive devices and services. If you are an AT professional looking for ways to enhance your AT team process, while increasing knowledge and skills, you are not alone. This workshop will cover issues around AT such as school district responsibilities, assistive technology policies, procedures, and guidelines, assessment, and compliance. Practical ideas for your team, free materials and resources will be provided. This is also a great networking opportunity for district AT team members.

Speaker: Madalina Tudora is an Assistive Technology Specialist for the SC Department of Education. She supports school districts in building capacity for assistive technology by providing guidance, resources and training for local assistive technology teams in SC. She also conducts workshops for teachers, therapists, administrators, and parents on various assistive technology topics. Her undergraduate degree is in Special Education, and her graduate degree is in Psychology. She is nationally certified as an Assistive Technology Professional through RESNA.