RERC Survey on Wireless Device User Experiences

Seeking People with Disabilities to Take a Survey on 

Wireless Device User Experiences

The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Wireless Inclusive Technologies (Wireless RERC) announces the launch of its 2020 Survey of User Needs (SUN). The SUN is the Wireless RERC's cornerstone survey on wireless technology use by people with disabilities. Over 8,000 consumers have completed it with disabilities since it was first launched in 2001.

This latest version has been updated in response to changes in technology. In addition to questions about cell phone and tablet use, this latest version of the SUN collects information about wearables, "smart" home technologies, and other next-generation wirelessly connected devices. User responses will help designers and engineers make new wireless devices and services for people with disabilities. Data from the SUN also provides important information to the wireless industry, government regulators, and other researchers to help them make wireless technology more accessible and more useful to people with all types of disabilities.

If you have a disability, please consider taking this survey. If you know someone who has a disability, please forward the survey to them. Thank you! Select this link to take the 2020 Survey of User Needs

How we are staying connected : Virtual Groups

How we are staying connected...

Virtual Breeze 

peer support groups!!!

We had a very successful first week of running 

our Breeze peer support groups online via Zoom! 

We encourage you to join us this week, 

Wednesday April 1st at 1:30PM!

During this time of isolation and social distancing-- 

t's really important to keep in touch with each other when you can.  

To join the next virtual group, see details below:

April 1st @ 1:30PM EST

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/340781916

Meeting ID: 340 781 916

Dial by your location

+1 929 436 2866 US (New York)

Stuck at Home? Check Out Our Online Peer Mentoring Classes!

With the outbreak of COVID-19 and the school closures that came from it, we understand that the school year has become quite complicated, and as it currently stands, students are at home with little to do. We want to let you know that Able SC is creating more opportunities than ever before for students to learn and receive peer support online.

During this time out of school, we will be hosting online peer mentoring classes so students with disabilities can safely interact with one another AND learn useful tips like how to manage anxiety and how to "adult."

These fully-accessible classes are free and available online to any and all youth with disabilities! A few things we'll discuss together:

• Setting and Adjusting Goals
• Independence at Home
• Communication and Conflict Management
• Work from Home - Student Edition
• Introduction to Mindfulness

Register by clicking the link below. Once you submit the form, you will receive a link to join the online classes.

JOIN US!

Note: Able SC is here and ready to assist our community.

If you have any questions or concerns, 

please contact our offices 

at 803-779-5121 or by email at youthteam@able-sc.org.

Family Connection: Our continued response to COVID-19

We are here for you!

We continue to monitor the latest information regarding COVID-19 and how it may affect the families and partners we work with. While our in-person activities are postponed until after April 3, our Family Information Center staff are available to assist families and partners. Call 1-800-578-8750 or 1-888-808-7462 (Spanish) between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday. Referrals can also be made on our website or by Fax: 1-866-420-4082.

We remain committed to serving and supporting South Carolina families and children with disabilities!

We are continuing to share new COVID-19 resources for families--here are few we'd like to highlight!

Keeping Kids Active

• Teach Motor Skills to Toddlers with Household Utensils!
• Speech Therapy Tools
• Occupational and Physical Therapies
• Educational and Entertaining ideas for Kids K-12. Hands-on activities, Best Pod Casts for Kids and more!
• 30 Virtual Field Trips

Additional Topics of Interest

• Grandfamilies and Multigenerational Homes
• Ideas for Parents/Caregivers; How to Help Children Cope chart
• Helping Kids with Transitions
• Keeping Peace Among Siblings

Visit our COVID-19 web page for more information and the latest updates!

Stay safe. Stay informed.

Family Connection of South Carolina 

www.familyconnectionsc.org

Get EXCITED for Advocacy Day!

We can't wait for Advocacy Day on April 1!

As you have seen by now, Advocacy Day for Access & Independence will be entirely virtual this year to protect that safety of our community and staff. One of the good things about hosting an online event is that we have more opportunities than ever before to connect with one another across the world. This is a time when everyone needs connection, and we are here to give you that!

We are so excited to be hosting a lineup of locally and nationally acclaimed speakers for Advocacy Day this year! Here are just a few:

A little bit about them:

• Jason Hurdich is a Certified Deaf Interpreter in South Carolina who achieved statewide recognition for his interpreting during the governor's emergency press conferences. He is also an American Sign Language (ASL) lecturer at Clemson University.
• Judy Heumann is an internationally recognized leader of the disability rights movement. She helped lead the monumental Section 504 Sit-In in 1977. Under the Obama administration, she was appointed as the first Special Advisor for International Disability Rights for the U.S. Department of State. Recently, she released a memoir called "Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist," and has been featured in the Sundance documentary Crip Camp, which released on Netflix today!
• Naomi Simmons-Thorne is an activist for social justice in South Carolina and the director of the Center for Social Equity, an organization that seeks to provide and create safe spaces for Black and LGBTQ+ youth in South Carolina.
• Marcie Roth is the executive director and CEO of the World Institute on Disability. She has previous experience in emergency management in past positions such as CEO of the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies, Inc. and senior advisor to the FEMA Administrator and Director of the Office of Disability Integration and Coordination. She will address the COVID-19 response in her speech at Advocacy Day.

Are you excited yet? We are too! To get ready for Advocacy Day and to show your friends your excitement, we invite you to take the #BarrierFreeSC Challenge. Take a video or picture explaining what a #BarrierFreeSC means to you, and share it on social media with the hashtag! Click here for a petition that you can print and share.

We will see you online next week for Advocacy Day!

Follow us on Facebook!

Free Online AVAZ Training

Join a free webinar session on assistive technology apps for communication, cognitive & language impairments by Avaz Inc. 

Avaz has a bunch of neat apps (listed below) that I believe will add great value to your AT and AAC toolkit. 

Avaz, Inc. is also offering a free 3-month subscription to all of their apps.

Avaz AAC - picture & text-based AAC app

MDA Avaz Reader - reader app for children with dyslexia & visual impairments

Avaz FreeSpeech - helps build grammar comprehension

Date: March 26, 2020

Time: 7 PM EST

Register Here!

TASC Webinars!

TASC Webinar Series

• Are you working with students with disabilities who are preparing to transition from high school to adult life?
• Do you supervise or collaborate with staff who work with transition-aged youth?

Register Now!

TASC in conjunction with the postsecondary team at OSES, wants to support teachers with designing VIRTUAL instructional plans to meet transition goals that respond to the different ways students learn and their individual needs. Join us to learn more about available virtual resources and share your own ideas as well!

Web-Based Work Experience Resources
Thursday, March 26, 2020 (10:00 am – 11:00 am)

Free Curriculum Resources to Promote Student Engagement and Self-Determination
Thursday, April 30, 2020 (10:00 am – 11:00 am)

Assistive Technology Resources to Support the High School Credential
Tuesday, May 5, 2020 (10:00 am-11:00 am)

Wheeling in New Directions Conference - POSTPONED

Out of an abundance of caution and concern 

for the safety of our sponsors, speakers and attendees, 

we have made the decision to POSTPONE our event, 

previously on May 30th, 2020-- until:

Saturday, September 12, 2020

We look forward to providing you with the best event possible. 

We cannot thank you enough for supporting this event. 

Please feel free to contact the staff of the 

SC Spinal Cord Injury Association 

if you have any questions.

You may still sign up for the event now-- 

please follow the link below.

Register

If you have already registered-- 

you will be receiving a separate email 

on steps moving forward from the Association.

Did you know?

Did you know that the 2020 United States Census opened for responses exactly one week ago? Take a moment of your downtime to complete the quick Census survey!

A fair and accurate Census is so important for people with disabilities—and really for everybody!

Did you know the Census decides how much the government gives to health care, special education, and support services like SNAP?

Did you know the Census decides how much funding is set aside for our schools, roads, and public transportation? That's billions of dollars in impact over the next 10 years!

Did you know the Census ensures equal political representation among all 50 states? When South Carolinians are counted, we may end up with more seats in the US Congress!

Did you know that Census Day is celebrated on April 1, the same day as our online Advocacy Day for Access & Independence?

The Census is only taken once every 10 years. This is your chance to be #MoreThanANumber and make sure that #DisabilityCounts2020!

If you have any questions about completing the Census, please contact Able SC by emailing advocacy@able-sc.org or calling 803-779-5121.

Take the Census!

Able South Carolina

720 Gracern Road Suite 106

Columbia, South Carolina 29210

803.779.5121

advocacy@able-sc.org

COVID-19 Virus: Outreach Policy Update from Family Connection

Temporary Changes to Outreach Services

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

During this uncertain time, we are closely monitoring the latest information and protocols regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and how it may affect the families and partners we work with.

We are temporarily postponing in-person trainings, outreach events and home visits until after April 3, 2020. We are taking these precautions in order to protect the health and well-being of the families and communities we serve. 

Our Family Information Center will remain open to provide support, information, and referrals for families with children that have a disability or special healthcare need. We will also continue to take referrals for our support services via our website.

Family Information Center staff will be available to assist families and partners between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday. Please call 1-800-578-8750 (English) or 1-888-808-7462 (Spanish). Online referrals can be made at the button below.

Please visit our Coronavirus Update page on our web site for vital information and resources for families. We will continue to post updates as they become available.

We will continue working diligently to ensure children with disabilities and their families receive the information they need to protect themselves during this time! Stay well.

Sincerely,

Amy Hobert
CEO Family Connection of South Carolina

If you have any questions or have a resource you'd like us to share please email info@familyconnectionsc.org

Make a Referral

Coronavirus Updates and Resources

ABLE: Our offices are closed, but are services are open

Friends, 

With the recent CDC guidelines discouraging gatherings of more than 10 people and the continued outbreak in South Carolina, we have decided to close our offices to the public and instead make all of our services available virtually. However, it is important to know that we are still here for you.

To be clear: our physical offices are closing, but our services are not. We are continuing to offer and increasing the number of remote service (telephone and online) opportunities and one-on-one services. We are still just a phone call or email away! 

We know that this is a difficult time for our community, but we want you to know that we will get through it together. Able SC is still in your corner, making sure that your rights are protected and that the lives of people at high risk for COVID-19 are treated with the same importance as everyone else. We see you and we hear you! 

A few ways to get connected with us and the community:

• If you are seeking one-on-one services, call us at 803.779.5121 or email us at info@able-sc.org.
• If you are a youth (ages 13-28) with a disability, we encourage you to participate in our online peer mentoring sessions and our Equip hangouts.
• If you are an adult who wants to remain connected online, attend our consumer trainings and empower hours virtually. Email dtempio@able-sc.org to register or request more info.
• Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for frequent updates and helpful resources.
• Read our full COVID-19 statement here.

We will get through this together. 

In Solidarity,

Kimberly Tissot
Executive Director

Advocacy Day: Because it matters!

Inclusion matters!

That's why we need YOU at Advocacy Day for Access & Independence on April 1 at the Statehouse.

You already know that people with disabilities face barriers to living independent lives. You probably live it or see it every day. Advocacy Day is here to change that. We will be talking about solutions to the barriers that South Carolinians face, such as transportation, public access, and employment.

We need you to help us build momentum and advocate for disability rights. They are human rights, after all.

Can we count you in?

REGISTER HERE!

Able South Carolina

720 Gracern Road Suite 106

Columbia, South Carolina 29210

803.779.5121

advocacy@able-sc.org

ABLE SC: Our statement on COVID-19

Able South Carolina continues to work closely with health officials, government agencies, and community organizations to monitor information about the coronavirus (COVID-19). We are taking serious precautions to maintain a safe environment and protect the health and well-being of our consumers, staff, and community. As always, we are committed to being here for our community. Therefore, Able SC’s services are available as usual with additional remote options. 

Able SC recommends that you take the steps necessary to protect yourself and follow the guidance from SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as it is released. In addition to the steps needed to protect yourself from COVID-19, additional tips and information for people with disabilities are as follows:  

Additional Tips/Information:

• People with disabilities have the same rights to services and healthcare as everyone else, including choosing who provides assistance with their individual needs. These rights remain the same during any public health emergency or declared pandemic. Contact Able SC if you need assistance with navigating any barriers with accessing treatment, testing, and home and community based services. 
•  During this rapidly changing situation, access to information is vital. Messages ranging from steps for prevention to news of community spread must be made accessible for everyone. 
•  People with and without disabilities must stay rooted in the facts. Minimizing the risks and inciting panic are equally damaging and distract from reasonable preparation. We are encouraging individuals to focus on the facts that are being issued by trusted sources, such as SC DHEC and CDC. 
•  Create a back-up plan if you require assistance with living independently and your supporters become ill, or if there are office closures. If you provide care to others, ensure that you also have a back-up plan.  
•  Review your plan for alternate transportation in the event of service interruptions. Public transportation, taxis, rideshare, and other transportation services are a lifeline for people with disabilities who do not drive. 
•  If self-quarantine is preferred or recommended, preparing to stay indoors for fourteen days may be outside of the norm for you. Contact your healthcare providers to discuss options for obtaining extended supplies of medical supplies and prescriptions. Stock up on other important supplies such as food, toilet paper, hygiene products, and cleaning supplies. 
•  Connect with your local service providers now to make a plan so you are prepared for any potential closures.
•  Contact your health care and insurance providers to discuss your options for obtaining any extra medical supplies and prescriptions you need. 
•  With any illness, medical help will be critical. Seek treatment as needed, and call Able SC if you find yourself referred to an institution like a nursing home or other institutional settings. You have the right to decide where you live. 

  

The disability community is a population that faces higher risk of negative health outcomes from COVID-19. Below are two great resources to read more on the considerations of those risks: ACL’s COVID-19 Statement and this Forbes Article on COVID-19 and People with Disabilities.

 
Able SC is here and ready to assist our community. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our offices at 803-779-5121 or by email at advocacy@able-sc.org.