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Tuesday, November 15, 2022
Don't miss out on this great Brain Injury training opportunity! Registration ends tomorrow!
In-Person Empower Hour returns for final months of 2022!
Now available in-person and 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 4 pm to 5 pm in our Columbia and Greenville Offices
*In-Person Dates:
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.
Able South Carolina
720 Gracern Road Suite 106
Columbia, South Carolina 29210
803.779.5121 | advocacy@able-sc.org
Monday, November 14, 2022
Able SC is going to the White House!
Able SC is going to the White House!
The White House is hosting a Summit on COVID-19 Equity and What Works Showcase next week to highlight interventions and approaches that have moved the needle on equitable COVID-19 outcomes, and to showcase a path forward.
As a recipient of CDC Foundation Grant funding, an Able South Carolina program has been selected to present at the event! Able SC has been selected because of our efforts to increase COVID-19 vaccine access and vaccine fact awareness among disabled Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC Community).
Please forward this invite widely for virtual participation via livestream!
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“We are extremely excited to show the important work we do and the impact we are making in South Carolina.” Kimberly Tissot, President and CEO
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White House Summit on Covid-19 Equity
and What Works Showcase
You are invited to join the White House Summit on Covid-19 Equity and What Works Showcase virtually on Wednesday, November 16th, from 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM .
RSVP for a link to the livestream of the Summit (12-3PM) and to sign up for the Virtual What Works Showcase (3:15-5PM).
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A message from the White House about this event:
From his first day in office, President Biden committed to a Covid-19 response that placed equity squarely at its center. Since that time, much progress has been made in a truly whole-of-society effort to protect, support and uplift the hardest-hit and highest-risk communities in the face of this unprecedented public health threat. In particular, the efforts of organizations and collaborations in communities across the country amounts to a historic proof of concept for how—when appropriately resourced and supported—inequities in health can be minimized and eliminated with thoughtfulness, intentionality, and innovation.
While there remains much to do in pursuit of Covid-19 equity—and beyond—the White House Summit on Covid-19 Equity and What Works Showcase on November 16, 2022 highlights interventions and approaches that have moved the needle on equitable Covid-19 outcomes, and showcases a path forward. This event will convene community organizations, equity leaders, government officials and philanthropic organizations in the sharing of best practices to light the way forward. Panel discussions (described below) will be live streamed, and followed by an in-person as well as a virtual showcase featuring community organizations from across the nation and their groundbreaking work on COVID-19 equity.
The White House is joined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in hosting this event.
Date: Wednesday, November 16, 2022
Time: 12:00 –– 5:00 PM
WH Covid-19 Equity Summit & What Works Showcase
LIVE STREAM AVAILABLE
- 12:00 – 12:15 PM Opening Remarks
- 12:15 – 1:00 PM It All Starts With Trust: Discussing the importance of hyper-local approaches and what has worked in building and maintaining trust in public health.
- 1:00 – 1:15 PM Break
- 1:15 – 2:00 PM The Power of Partnerships: Discussing the importance of local leadership and share how community organizations, local, state and federal authorities, medical systems and others have worked together to provide support systems that improved COVID-19 outcomes.
- 2:00 – 2:15 PM Break
- 2:15 – 3:00 PM From Covid-19 Equity to Health Equity: Highlighting how approaches that worked for COVID-19 are being applied more broadly, and what it will take to keep health equity at the center of recovery and post-recovery efforts.
- LIVE STREAM ENDS
- 3:15 – 5:00 PM Covid-19 Equity What Works Showcase | ZOOM
*Captioning and ASL will be provided throughout the event.
RSVP link:
https://pitc.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_CsigGwv8QrKUpTNN3cDAOQ
Thank you!
White House Office of COVID-19 Response
Participating Organizations
- Urban Indian Health Institute
- AltaMed
- Equity Wellness Alliance
- Border Network for Human Rights
- Health Advocates In-Reach and Research
- The Every Neighborhood Partnership
- Pink Cornrows
- Center for Independent Living Florida
- Mississippi State Health Department
- UnidosUS
- Roots Health Center
- Unidos en Salud
- Maricopa Department of Public Health
- Valleywise
- Southern Echo
- Vietlead
- Yee Ha'olnii Doo
- CommuniVaxx Alabama
- Able South Carolina
- Chicagoland Vaccine Partnership
- Young Invincibles
- Gap Community Center
- The Wright Center for Community Health
- National Healthcare for the Homeless Council
- Institute for Family Health
- National Health Care for the Homeless Council
- C-Assist
- Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese
- MAVI Center for Independent Living
- Idaho Immunization Coalition
- BMoreVaxxed
- Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness
- Lantern Community Services
Thank you to our partners who helped make this program possible!
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Want to learn more about the Able SC "This is Our Shot" campaign? Visit our website for Frequently Asked Questions from the disabled BIPOC community, created specifically for the disabled BIPOC population. Read stories from members of the BIPOC population about why they chose to get vaccinated. Learn more about what you can do to ensure that BIPOC individuals are gaining access to the flu and COVID-19 vaccines they need to ensure health and well-being.
Contact our Vaccine Access Helpline at 1-800-787-6046.
Friday, November 11, 2022
Registration Extended!
Wednesday, November 16th!
Are you a caregiver of a person with a brain injury, direct support professional, or other professional and interested in receiving a Brain Injury Fundamentals Certificate?
Then this is the class for you!
Brain Injury Fundamentals is an essential training and certificate program designed for direct care staff, family members, and individual caregivers. The training course covers essential topics such as cognition, medical complications, and medication safety and management.
When:
- Friday, December 2, 2022 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM
- Friday, December 9, 2022 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM
- Friday, December 16, 2022 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM
Where: Online via Zoom Platform
Fees: (includes a workbook, training, and exam)
- $25 for Unpaid Caregivers
- $50 for Professionals
- $85 for Non-SC Residents (Professionals and Caregivers)
Instructors:
- Kay Brooks, MA, CBIST
Director, Head and Spinal Cord Injury Services,
Thrive Upstate
- Meghan Trowbridge, LISW-AP, CBIST, C-ASWCM
Assistant Director, Center for Disability Resources,
USC School of Medicine
Deadline to register is November 16, 2022.
*Class is limited to 25 participants.
If you have any questions, please contact Kristi Hartwell
at coordinator@biaofsc.com or 803-731-9823.
Thursday, November 10, 2022
5th Annual Adapted Toy Workshops
Join us for the 5th Annual Adapted Toy Workshops!
Date: November 17-18, 2022
Time: 1 - 4 p.m.
Type: In-Person Training
Location: 8301 Farrow Road, Columbia, SC 29203
Cost: Free. (Registration is required.)
You must choose the date and session time you wish to attend.
About the Program
Adapted Toy Workshops are being offered in person in 2022! During the workshop, SCATP staff and volunteers will help participants adapt their toy(s) for switch use. Participants will assemble a 3-D printed switch to take home that will operate adapted toys. No experience necessary.
Who
The workshops are for families with children with disabilities who need adapted toys, and professionals and school staff who work with children with disabilities who need adapted toys. Workshops are open to the public to learn to adapt toys and make toy donations.
When
Thursday, November 17 and Friday, November 18
Workshop sessions will be offered at 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00 p.m. each day. Registration is limited to eight participants in each session.
Where
The SC Assistive Technology Resource Center located at 8301 Farrow Road, Columbia, SC
What to Bring
All participants should bring battery operated toy(s) to adapt during the workshop. This Amazon Wish List provides examples of toys to bring or to donate.
Accommodations
If you need an accommodation to participate, please contact us at least one week prior to the workshop via email at janet.lambert@uscmed.sc.edu or by phone at 803-935-5263.
Wednesday, November 09, 2022
AAIDD FYI - November 2022
Developing Person-Centered Home and Community Based Outcome Measures
15 November, 2022, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
This webinar will entail a discussion of person-centered HCBS outcome measurement and the important role it can play for both quality improvement and documentation of compliance with the HCBS final settings rule. Presenters with discuss the characteristics of outcome measurement that is truly person centered, its role in quality improvement, and the process being used by the University of Minnesota’s Research and Training Centered on HCBS Outcome Measurement to develop and validate measures of this type.
Addressing Equity for People with IDD: Healthy Relationships Matter
13 December, 2022, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
This initiative addresses a health equity concern for people with IDD: the inequity impacting many people with IDD without access to information about healthy and unhealthy relationships. Schools often do not offer this in curricula, and assume that family members/caregivers will provide this critical information to people with IDD. This webinar discusses family readiness and knowledge for this information, and teaching these skills to people with IDD.
AAIDD Announcements
Call for Proposals: 2023 AAIDD Annual Conference
The theme for the 147th AAIDD Annual Meeting is Setting New Norms for Integrated & Competitive Employment: Challenges, Opportunities, Strategies
Submission Deadline: Monday, November 28, 2022
Save the date: conference to be held June 5-8, 2023 in Pittsburgh, PA
The award recognizes the contributions of an individual who has been a major influence in furthering opportunities, access, and support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in their spiritual lives.
Deadline: Thursday, December 15, 2022.
Call for Papers: Special Issue of Inclusion on Direct Support Professionals
To be considered for the special issue, submit a brief abstract (no more than 250 words) no later than December 15, 2022. Full manuscripts must be submitted by March 1, 2023. Email questions and abstracts to Dr. Lauren Bruno. Tentative publication date is September 1, 2023.’
AAIDD Announces Amy Hewitt as Interim Editor of IDD
AAIDD is extremely pleased to announce the appointment of Amy S. Hewitt, PhD, FAAIDD, as the Interim Editor of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD),the Association’s multidisciplinary peer-reviewed journal of policy, practices, and perspectives. She succeeds Dr. James Thompson in her editorship of this journal.
AAIDD Searches for Next Editor of IDD
AAIDD is seeking applicants for the position of Editor of its peer-reviewed journal, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), for a term of five years beginning in February 2023, with the first issue under the direction of this Editor to be published in mid-2023.
In Memoriam: James R. Thompson
February 13, 1958 - September 11, 2022
Dr. Thompson served the Association as President of the AAIDD Board of Directors (2013-2014), Editor of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (2016-2022), and lead author of the Supports Intensity Scale (SIS) suite of tools.
Donations to the AAIDD student scholarship fund in his honor may be made here.
Tuesday, November 08, 2022
One Day Left to Register!
Deadline to Register is November 9th!
Brain Injury Fundamentals Training!
Are you a caregiver of a person with a brain injury, direct support professional, or other professional and interested in receiving a Brain Injury Fundamentals Certificate?
Then this is the class for you!
Brain Injury Fundamentals is an essential training and certificate program designed for direct care staff, family members, and individual caregivers. The training course covers essential topics such as cognition, medical complications, and medication safety and management.
When:
- Friday, December 2, 2022 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM
- Friday, December 9, 2022 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM
- Friday, December 16, 2022 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM
Where: Online via Zoom Platform
Fees: (includes a workbook, training, and exam)
- $25 for Unpaid Caregivers
- $50 for Professionals
- $85 for Non-SC Residents (Professionals and Caregivers)
Instructors:
- Kay Brooks, MA, CBIST
Director, Head and Spinal Cord Injury Services
Thrive Upstate
- Meghan Trowbridge, LISW-AP, CBIST, C-ASWCM
Assistant Director, Center for Disability Resources
USC School of Medicine
To Register:
Please go to https://www.biaofsc.com/trainings-and-certifications.
Deadline to register is November 9, 2022.
*Class is limited to 25 participants.
If you have any questions, please contact Kristi Hartwell
at coordinator@biaofsc.com or 803-731-9823.
Monday, November 07, 2022
Stay healthy from respiratory sickness
- Get vaccinated & boosted! Even though there's no vaccine for RSV, there are vaccines for COVID-19 and the flu. Talk to your healthcare provider, like a doctor or pharmacist, about getting vaccinated. If you are not up to date on your vaccines, you could get really sick! You can learn more about COVID-19 and vaccination from the SC Disability Vaccine Access Network.
- Wash your hands often, using soap and water, for a minimum of 20 seconds. Remind others to do the same!
- Cover your coughs and sneezes using a tissue or into the upper arm sleeve of your shirt.
- Surfaces touched often should be cleaned frequently – this would include mobile phones, doorknobs & remote controls.
- Avoid contact with individuals showing viral symptoms such as runny nose, coughing, or fever. This may mean staying away from people you love while they get better.
- Keep your distance from others by staying at least 6 feet apart – avoiding close contact and crowded places can protect you from sickness.
- You can also wear a facemask. N95 and KN95 type masks provide some of the best protection from getting sick with respiratory viruses.
- Get tested by and get help from a medical provider like your doctor if you do get sick; Getting the help you need can help you keep others around you from getting sick.
Friday, November 04, 2022
Wheelchair Repair Law is First of its Kind
NEW ISSUE
Building an Accessible Home to Fit Your Life
This year’s Consumer Guide is all about creating an accessible home. For our cover story, Seth McBride talks with five fellow wheelchair users, all with different budgets and levels of function, about how they built their own accessible dream homes. And even if you don’t have the budget or the energy for building a new house, they offer plenty of tips and tricks for making any space accessible.
NEWS
'Right to Repair' Aims to Empower Colorado Power Wheelchair Users
Every wheelchair user knows how long it can take to get the simplest of repairs done. A new law in Colorado seeks to expand access to power wheelchair service by mandating unrestricted access to parts, software and repair manuals. “The ultimate success is when we see the time for repairs go down,” says David Ortiz, the first wheelchair user to serve in Colorado’s state legislature and one of the primary sponsors of the bill.
PRODUCTS
Microsoft Releases New Adaptive Computer Accessories
Microsoft has released a line of versatile and customizable peripherals designed to make it easier for anyone with hand or arm weakness to use Windows PCs. The Adaptive Accessories line features a mouse, buttons and hub, which can be used to connect multiple assistive devices and create a custom control center. Microsoft has partnered with Shapeways to offer a variety of 3D-printed mouse tails and button toppers for further customization.