FREE Benefits Workshop in Greenville!

• Are you interested in going to work or increasing your earnings?
• Do you need information on how working will affect your disability benefits? (SSI and SSDI)?
• Do you want to connect with local agencies that can assist with finding a job and providing supports?

Then this is the workshop for you!

Join us for this FREE event!

Tuesday, June 25, 2019
4:00-6:00 PM

SC Works Greenville
McAlister Square Center
225 S Pleasantburg Drive, Suite E-1
Greenville, SC 29607

Register here!

ALL attendees must register to ensure we have enough materials for everyone.

For more information, e-mail hiremesc@able-sc.org or

call 1.800.681.7715/TTY 864.235.8798.

Accommodation requests must be made by June 18, 2019.

FREE WEBINAR FRIDAY @ 3PM!

ADA Compliance Webinar

FRIDAY, May 31st @ 3 PM

Click button below for link to webinar.

Want to know more about the Americans with Disability Act

and how it works for you?

Ever needed to file a complaint but didn't know how?

This webinar is for you.

Please join us for a webinar on

ADA compliance, access,

process for reporting noncompliance,

and exceptions to the rule.

We will be joined by Derek Mortland,

an ADA Accessibility Consultant,

and Colin Meeker, a lawyer.

Click on the link below to gain access.

Please call our office if you have any issues, (803) 252-2198.

Webinar



Medical Equipment for South Carolinians

Need a piece of durable medical equipment (DME)?

 

Not sure what to do with equipment you are no longer using?

There are two ways to do it:

• The SCATP Reuse service takes in donations of gently used DME, sanitizes it, and then makes it available to others who need it…for FREE! You can also ask to be added to our waiting list and contacted when we receive the item you need. Items that we can accept are: shower chairs, wheelchairs, walkers, canes, pediatric equipment and more. Not sure? Just call and ask!
• You can check the AT Exchange, which is a free database that list items that South Carolinians are selling, giving away, or need. Just connect with the person who posted the equipment.

If you have any questions, need a piece of equipment, or would like to donate, feel free to contact Alli Upchurch at (803) 935-5273 or alli.upchurch@uscmed.sc.edu.

Surviving & Thriving / Sobrevivir & Prosperar

Because language shouldn’t be a barrier to health,

 

the US National Library of Medicine has

HIV/AIDS information,

MedlinePlus,

 

and NIH MedlinePlus Magazine,

 

in Spanish:

 

https://infosida.nih.gov/,

https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/,

https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/magazine/.

Have You Registered for the AAIDD 2019 Conference?

Knowledge, Translation:

Power Through Research, Policy, and Practice

AAIDD's 143rd Annual Meeting, Knowledge, Translation: Power Through Research, Policy, and Practice, June 24-27 in The Twin Cities, Minnesota is really the "must attend" meeting of the year!

Join us for informative and inspiring plenary sessions, cutting edge concurrent sessions, posters addressing emerging issues, and in-depth pre- and post-conference meetings on a number of important topics.

See the full schedule of events, find hotel and CE information, and register by clicking here.


The deadline to register at the early bird rate is May 30, 2019.


The deadline to make hotel reservations at the preferred rate is May 27, 2019.

In addition to the fantastic plenaries, in-depth pre-and post-conference meetings, and exciting special events, the 2019 AAIDD Annual Conference features:

Issue Briefs (New for 2019)
Three (3) Issue Brief Sessions, one each focused on research, practice, and policy, consisting of a set of brief moderated presentations supported with PowerPoints

Poster Symposium Sessions
Five (5) Poster Symposia, each featuring oral presentations on 10-15 posters in a moderated symposia format.  One symposium session is presented in each concurrent block of the conference.

Poster Reception Session
Over 100 Poster Presentations on important and emerging issues in a reception atmosphere.
See the list of posters here!

Concurrent Sessions
Thirty (30) Concurrent Sessions that describe the outcomes of more than 170 projects, programs, and research studies!
See the concurrent sessions (in groups A-E) here!

CEs
Psychologists: The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor CE for psychologists. UTHSC maintains responsibility for this program and its content. UTHSC is offering these activities for as many as 5 CE credits.
Social Workers: This program is Approved by the National Association of Social Workers (Approval # 886593756-3727) for 8 continuing education contact hours.

Calling all Members!

Win an Experience with AAIDD's Board Members

Refer members to AAIDD and be entered to win fun prizes at this year's Annual Meeting!  Show your commitment to evidence-based knowledge by helping to grow your Association and expand your network of friends and colleagues. Prizes include meals with AAIDD board members, AAIDD goodies gift baskets, and special mentions in AAIDD newsletters. Get started today!

Lodging

Meet us in The Twin Cities!
The deadline to make hotel reservations at the preferred rate is May 27, 2019.
Rooms sell out every year.
Reserve your hotel room now!

Advocacy Training for Youth with Brain Injury

SC Transition News

Building Bridges:
Constructing and Navigating
Transition Services for Youth with Disabilities
South Carolina’s 6th Annual
Interagency Transition Conference  

November 19-21, 2019
Downtown Greenville, SC

Convene your local transition team and join your peers from across the state for South Carolina’s annual interagency transition team conference.

Sessions will include information and resources designed to improve practices and programs to support youth with a variety of transition service needs. Topics will range from career preparation, community-based employment experiences, and school based enterprises – to self-determination, student leadership, parent engagement, and drop-out prevention strategies. Sessions meeting the information needs of teachers and practitioners helping students work toward the SC High School Credential will also be highlighted.

GENERAL SESSIONS
Eric Rowles of Leading to Change
Youth from Charleston’s Leadership Academy
State Transition Leadership Updates

Register Now!

https://2019tascconference.eventbrite.com

Download Flyer





Our podcast, The Access Aisle, is NOW AVAILABLE!



On July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed, signaling a complete end to all barriers facing people with disabilities in America…except not.

Here we are, over 10,000 days since its passing and millions of Americans still face considerable barriers impacting their access to even the most basic of goods and services. From inaccessible job applications to patronizing customer service to drivers ignoring the importance of keeping access aisles clear – problems still persist. But so do we.

Able South Carolina is proud to announce The Access Aisle, a monthly advocacy podcast dedicated to exploring the barriers facing people with disabilities. Each month, we’ll be tackling real issues with real people working toward real solutions. We’re bringing together policy experts and the people who are impacted to give you the full picture on what’s being done to make change and what you can do to help. 

You can find all the episodes here or on our website.

Happy listening!


News From New Mobility - May 15, 2019

NEWS


Ali Stroker Nominated for a Tony Award
Ali Stroker, best known for her guest-starring role as Betty Pillsbury on the TV show Glee, has become the first wheelchair-using actor ever nominated for Broadway’s highest honor. She received the nod for her role as Ado Annie in the 2019 revival of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! The role wasn’t originally written for a wheelchair user, but “they said I was the best person for the role and I happen to be in a chair,” says Stroker.


TRENDING


Twitter Conversation: #TheCostofBeingDisabled
In a recent article for Good Company, disability activist Imani Barbarin outlined the hidden costs of living with a disability. Now she’s created the hashtag #TheCostofBeingDisabled, and disabled people all over the world are using it to share examples of how expensive — whether monetarily, socially or psychologically — disability can be. Use the hashtag to add your voice to the conversation.


SPONSORED CONTENT


Power Wheelchair Do’s & Don’ts From the Experts
Taking good care of your power wheelchair can help keep it running at optimal performance levels. But with so many electrical components, how you take care of it is very important so as not to damage anything. Get some tips for proper upkeep of power chairs from the Wheeltime team at Numotion in this video.


The Ultimate in TRULY Portable Mobility!
At home or on-the-road, GO-Anywhere Chairs™ from GO! Mobility Solutions’ enable people with disabilities to GO wherever they'd like, whenever they want. Completely portable, these commode/shower chairs fold and pack away easily in their wheeled travel bags. Convenient and lightweight GO-Anywhere Chairs™ are safe, durable, easy to use, adjustable, comfortable and maintenance-free. We ship worldwide and customer service is second to none!


NEW COLUMN


In the Media: An Authentic Voice in the Writer's Room
In her new column “In the Media,” Teal Sherer gives a behind-the-scenes look at disability in the entertainment industry. The first installment shares how NCIS: New Orleans recently broke new ground with an episode written by a wheelchair user, featuring wheelchair-using characters played by actual wheelchair users. Authentic disability representation on TV might seem like a far-off dream, but in some cases, at least, it’s starting to happen.


PRO TIPS


Adaptive House Painting
This month’s Gear Hacks will help you give your house a fresh glow, as we tackle tips and gear for house painting from a wheelchair. With a little help, a lot of patience and some common painting tools — extension handles, mini rollers and a box cutter, among others — you can DIY an otherwise expensive home improvement.


Dreaming with a Spinal Cord Injury
Hunting to locate an elevator in outer space, wandering through labyrinths looking for barrier-free exits and worrying about your wheelchair while walking — welcome to the strange world of paralysis at night. Brook McCall looks at the quirks and commonalities of dreaming with an SCI, and how some even use dreams to help solve problems and “explore physical experiences … and feel the sensation of activities we may not otherwise be able to access while awake.”


New Mobility is the member publication of United Spinal Association, whose mission is to improve quality of life of people with spinal cord injuries and disorders. It's free to join United Spinal, and members may receive New Mobility magazine for free. Join here.

Building Bridges Conference-Call for Proposals

www.transitionalliancesc.org

The Transition Alliance of South Carolina is pleased to announce that we are now accepting presentation proposals for the 6th Annual Building Bridges Interagency Transition Team Conference, to be held November 20-21st, 2019, in Greenville, SC.  TASC is looking for dynamic presenters that are willing to share their innovative practices and resources with South Carolina Transition Teams. 

Please click here for additional information and to submit a proposal.

 

LOOK! 2019 - Thank You, Groucho's Deli!

Thank You, Groucho's!

The third annual opening night of LOOK! will be on May 17, 2019, at EdVenture Children’s Museum in Columbia, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. and the program starting shortly thereafter.

 

Family Connection will be joined by our LOOK! event Life Changer sponsor, Groucho's Deli. Representatives from Groucho's Deli will be in attendance, along with Groucho Man, himself!

Groucho's founder, Harold "Groucho" Miller was a strong believer in giving back to his community.

 

Groucho learned at an early age in a Philadelphia orphanage, that the people you encounter in your neighborhood, are the same folks who look after you when times are tough. He carried this ideology to Columbia when he relocated his family to open Groucho’s Deli in 1941.

He immediately joined charities to help the needy, and his efforts were embraced by his new community. He helped everyone he could, focusing on obvious needs within a five mile radius of his home and business.

Groucho's Deli follows this tradition of giving back to communities they serve in every way possible, including giving support to Family Connection.

Family Connection would like to thank Groucho's for their generous support throughout the past few years; it has helped us to provide services to children and families living with a disability in South Carolina.



To read more about Groucho and how their legacy of giving, click here.





FREE Training: Do You Know Your Rights?

As a person with a disability, you have certain rights to housing, public access, and education, to name a few. Join us for this free training online or in-person to learn more about the laws that gave you these rights, and how to use this knowledge to advocate for yourself and others.

Register here!

Please make requests for accommodations

at least one week prior to the event

by emailing Dori at dtempio@able-sc.org
or calling 800-681-6805/TTY: 803-779-0949

Online Training

Monday, May 20, 1-2 PM

In-Person Training

Tuesday, May 21, 2-3:30 PM
Able SC Columbia
720 Gracern Road, Suite 106
Columbia, SC 29210

EdTech 2019 - Call for Proposals Now Open!

EdTech 2019 - Call for Proposals Now Open!

 

(Via Valarie Byrd from the SC Department of Education.)

Do you want to be an important part of EdTech 2019? Then you should apply to present a session at the state’s biggest educational technology conference!

The SC EdTech 2019 Conference will be November 6-8 at the Greenville Convention Center in Greenville, SC.

South Carolina’s premier educational technology conference is designed to promote the use of educational technology to enhance student learning. The mission of EdTech 2019 is to bring educators, administrators, technology professionals, college faculty and staff, public and academic librarians, business and industry trainers, industry representatives and policy makers together to think, discuss, listen and learn the best strategies to plan for, implement, and use educational technology in our schools.

We are looking for proposals on a variety of topics relevant to educational technology.  These include:

• Integrating Technology into the Classroom
• Distance Education
• Funding and Grant Issues
• Multimedia Applications
• Assistive Technology
• Wireless Technology
• Creating Websites and Online Courses
• Electronic Portfolios
• Technology Administration
• Integrating Technology into Standards
• Handheld Technologies
• Digital Media in Instruction
• Educational Television
• Technology in the Media Center
• Video on Demand
• Managing Tech Support
• Security
• and much more

The following tracks will be used to organize sessions:
 
• Instructional Technology
• IT Security
• Devices
• Technical Support
• Network and Infrastructure
• PowerSchool
• Professional Development and Professional Learning Communities
• One to One Initiatives
• Assistive Technology and Accessibility Technology
• Policies, Procedures and Safety

For more information and to submit a proposal, go to http://edtech.scaet.org/index.cfm/cfp/ After logging in with your EdTech user account (or creating a new account) you can download a worksheet to assist in your proposal preparation.

Proposals are only accepted via online submission. The deadline for submissions is May 31, 2019.

Be sure to visit the conference website and our Facebook and Twitter pages for updates and the latest conference news.
 

We hope to see you at EdTech this year!