Free Training: SC Communities of Care Trauma-Informed Suicide Prevention

SC Communities of Care

Trauma-Informed 

Suicide Prevention Training

SC Communities of Care is a program through SC Department of Mental Health and the Education Development Center that provides trauma informed suicide prevention training for community members who are the initial point of contact when an adult, friend, family member, etc. in their community is experiencing a mental health crisis.

This free training will be held in-person on 

Monday, September 18, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 

at Richland Library Main.

Lunch and a light breakfast will be provided.

Space is limited to 20 participants.

Click Here to Register

In this training you will receive information on what it means to be trauma informed, identify the difference between suicidal ideation, suicide plan, and feeling suicidal, and how to ensure you are taking care of yourself as a trusted adult in your community! We will also talk about the prevalence of suicide among individuals with brain injuries.

This training is for caregivers and professionals who work with brain injury survivors. This is an opportunity to gain more knowledge and confidence in identifying some early warning signs of suicide and feel more equipped to be a part of someone’s support system.

If you have any questions or accommodation requests please contact Rachel Kaplan at safetynetcoordinator@biaofsc.com.

What?

Communities of Care Trauma-Informed 

Suicide Prevention Training

When? 

Monday, September 18 

from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Where? 

Richland Library Main, Meeting Room M

1431 Assembly St, Columbia, SC 29201

Attendee Registration is Open for the 2023 NADD Annual Conference

Attendee Registration is Open!

After three years of virtual conferences, NADD is pleased to announced that the 40th Annual NADD Conference will be held in person at the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel in Nashville, TN. Join us December 13-15 as we celebrate our 40th anniversary!

Register Early and SAVE!

Attendee registration is now open! Several pricing options are available, with discounts for NADD members, students, groups, and more. A detailed pricing breakdown can be found in the registration brochure.

Registration rates will increase after October 23, 2023. 

Sign up now for the lowest rate!

Register Here!

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Keynote Speakers Announced

Dr. Matthew Holder

Transforming the Care of People with IDD: a 20-Year Journey

Thursday, December 14

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Lou Radja

Dancing in the Rain: Thriving in Changing Times

Friday, December 15

Click here to learn more about our Keynote Speakers!

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Experience Nashville!

We are looking forward to hosting this year's conference in iconic Nashville, Tennessee! The Loews Vanderbilt Hotel is located just steps away from the Vanderbilt University campus and, Music Row. Don't miss out on this opportunity to experience the history, culture, and great food that awaits you in Nashville! Click here to start planning your trip today.

Lodging - Loews Vanderbilt Hotel

Overnight accommodations are available to NADD participants at the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel (2100 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203) for a discounted group rate starting at $219/night plus tax. Click here to reserve your room.

The discounted rate is available until November 17, 2023.

NADD | thenadd.org 

August Youth Newsletter

Spotlight

SC Youth Leadership Forum 2023 

SC YLF was a big hit this year! We had 30 delegates from across the state learning all about disability pride, self-advocacy, and leadership. This year we had so many amazing partners join us, including SC CATER, who discussed robotics and careers in STEAM; the Soda City Youth Slam, who discussed using poetry as advocacy; the South Carolina Dance Collaborative, who taught us the power of movement; the South Carolina Assistive Technology program, who showed us unique ways to create our own accommodations; SC Voting Right Coalition, who discussed our responsibility to vote to make change; the Applied Theatre Center, who showed us a fun and exciting way to express ourselves; and Interabled Lovebirds, who discussed flags for healthy and unhealthy relationships. Our partners at the SC Developmental Disabilities Council talked about exciting programs to build leadership skills, like the Partners in Policymaking program; and the state’s Centers for Independent Living (Able South Carolina, Walton Options, and AccessAbility) talked about how to build self-advocacy skills in big and small ways. A 90’s themed welcome party and an open mic kept our evenings fun and eventful! 

We are so excited to see how the fantastic youth of South Carolina will take all the skills they have learned and make their communities better places for people with disabilities! Special thanks to our funder, SC Developmental Disabilities Council, for helping us make YLF possible! 

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July was Disability Pride Month!

Able SC was honored to participate in the South Carolina State Museum’s Inaugural Disability Pride Day. Over 400 guests attended and learned about Able SC services and the importance of empowering people with disabilities. Able SC was so happy to participate and looks forward to continuing to partner with the community.  

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Advocacy 

Perez v Sturgis Public Schools 

On March 21, 2023, the United States Supreme Court in Perez v. Sturgis Public Schools decided people who have resolved claims involving the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) can additionally pursue claims for monetary damages against school districts under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 

In this episode of the Disability Rights Today Podcast, ADA Live! “Perez v Sturgis Public Schools,” Ms. Saideman and Dr. Blanck discuss how the Court’s decision will affect the rights of students with disabilities under the ADA and IDEA. 

Ellen Saideman is a Rhode Island attorney who represented Mr. Miguel Luna Perez, a Deaf student in this case. The podcast host is Dr. Peter Blanck, Chairman of the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University.  

Check Out the Podcast and Transcript

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Events 

Pre-ETS Services Available for 

the 2023-2024 School Year! 

Teachers and Other Education Leaders! We’re excited to be coming back to the schools. Would you like to enrich your students' lives by teaching them the skills they need to get employed and reach their independence goals? Able South Carolina provides free WIOA-mandated Pre-Employment Transition Services to students in the Midlands, Pee Dee Region, and the Upstate through their partnership with the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department and the South Carolina Commission for the Blind. Lessons are effective for all students with all types of disabilities. Each lesson is a fun activity and engaging discussion taught by a trained Youth Transition Specialist. All classes are offered as six weekly 45-minute sessions that can be done in person or virtually, but other options are available. Contact us with questions at youthteam@able-sc.org 

Learn About Pre-ETS Services

Register Your Students

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Equip Hangouts 

First and Third Thursday of the Month, 6:00 - 7:00 PM 

Equip Hangouts returned to their usual schedule after the Equip Summer Series, meeting on the first and third Thursdays of every month from 6-7 PM. The first Thursdays are held through a virtual meeting, and the third Thursdays are hosted in person at the Greenville and Columbia Able SC offices. Equip Leaders and Mentors help empower their peers to take charge of their lives, find their unique voice to self-advocate, and engage with their community of peers more fully. If you have any questions or need help entering, contact Holden Roberts through email at equip@able-sc.org  

Upcoming Equip Hangouts: 

Thursday, September 7, 6-7 PM, Virtual 

Thursday, September 21, 6-7 PM, In Person 

Register for the link here!

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Partner and National Events 

Save the Date! 

2023 APRIL Conference

The Magic of Independent Living

The Annual Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL) Conference is from October 13-14, 2023, and the Youth Conference is on October 12th, 2023. 

The theme of the 2023 APRIL Conference is The Magic of IL. It will be at the Hyatt Regency Orange County, 11999 Harbor Blvd, Garden Grove, CA 92840. 

Learn More and Register!

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Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL) 

Youth Peer Support Meetings

At APRIL, we believe peer support is one of the most important pieces of Independent Living. Let's learn together, not recreate the wheel, and make connections. We are constantly growing our peer support opportunities. Come spend an hour chatting with youth and young adults with disabilities from all over the United States about our shared and unique experiences! Register for one of the upcoming virtual Youth Peer Support meetings on Zoom: 

September 26, 7:00 PM 

October 24, 7:00 PM 

November 28, 7:00 PM 

ASL and CART will be available for all participants. 

Contact Abby Ritter for more information at aritter@april-rural.org. 

Register for the Meetings!

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Able South Carolina

720 Gracern Road Suite 106 | Columbia, South Carolina 29210

803.779.5121 | advocacy@able-sc.org 

Hurricane Idalia: Get Prepared Now!

Hurricane Idalia: Get Prepared Now! 

Beginning Wednesday, South Carolina will be impacted by Hurricane Idalia. There could be 4 to 8 inches of rain or more, isolated tornados, and flooding. Wind gusts up to 50+ miles per hour are possible in certain areas, and power outages are possible!   

Now is the time to make sure you are prepared: 

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. 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. 
• 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. 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. 

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 tornado? Here's how you stay safe:  

• Check out this easy read tornado safety fact sheet from the National Weather Service 
• 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 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! 

Deep Dive Sources:  

• Emergency Preparedness Workbook for People with Disabilities  
• SCEMD, Family Emergency Kit  
• Red Cross, Survival Kit Supplies 
• CDC Emergency Prep 

School and State Office Closings:

• State Office Closings 
• School Closings 

August is National Immunization Awareness Month!

National Immunization Awareness Month is recognized in August each year. For centuries, immunizations have kept us healthier by helping our immune systems be ready to fight off infections. America's first president, George Washington, had his troops vaccinated against the smallpox infection in the mid-1700s. The polio vaccine, invented in 1955, revolutionized the world by protecting most of the population from a dangerous and sometimes deadly illness. Today, immunizations are just as necessary. Viruses change over time, so the vaccines that protect us from disease must also be updated. This year, we see this with the new COVID variant, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and Influenza (flu). National Immunization Awareness Month is a great time to protect the health of you and your loved ones by getting up to date on your vaccinations.

Fall Vaccines

Protect yourself and your community by getting your updated flu and COVID-19 vaccines. The flu vaccine is updated every year. Like last year, the COVID-19 vaccines will be updated to better protect you from the current COVID-19 variants circulating.

Influenza Vaccine

The flu vaccine for the 2023-2024 flu season should be available for consumers by the end of August. Larger pharmacies, such as CVS, are already scheduling vaccination appointments. If you have a regular pharmacy that you go to, check with them to see when you can plan your shot. If you would instead get your flu shot from your doctor, call their office, and get your vaccination scheduled. 

Most experts recommend getting your flu shot in September or October if the flu season starts early. Getting your shot early in the flu season will keep your protection strong from December through February, when the flu circulates heavily (Source 1).

The flu shot is usually free to people with health insurance without a co-pay. If you do not have health insurance, ask your pharmacy provider if they have a low-to-no-cost option.

COVID-19 Vaccine

It is still essential to stay up to date with your COVID-19 vaccine and boosters to remain protected from the Coronavirus. This year, there will be another update to the COVID-19 vaccine. The updated vaccine will be monovalent, made up of one strain of the Coronavirus. This version will target the XBB strain of the Omicron variant. The vaccine will target this variant because it is the most common strain making people sick right now.

In a Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health podcast, Dr. Andrew Pekosz, a molecular microbiology and immunology professor, explained what is so important about this Fall's COVID booster. "When I, as a virologist, look at the data, if you haven't received a COVID vaccine in six months or a year, this is a good vaccine to take because it's very different from the variants that you've been immunized against before." (Source 2).

The updated vaccine is predicted to be available in September. We await word from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on who should receive the updated vaccine & when. 

Have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine?

Check out the South Carolina Disability Vaccine Access Network's Frequently asked questions or call our hotline at 1-800-787-6046.

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References: 

1. Desmon, S (2023, July 31). "Preventing Another "Tripledemic" with Vaccines for Flu, COVID, and RSV." 
2. Johns Hopkins. Bloomberg School of Public Health. Retrieved August 3, 2023, from https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2023/looking-ahead-at-covid-flu-and-rsv-vaccines-for-fall-2023
3. National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (2023, July 6). "National Immunization Awareness Month. (NIAM)" Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved August 4, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niam/index.html 

08-31-23 Webinar: Home Access

Join us for a webinar on 

Thursday, August 31st!

What You Need to Know 

About Home Access

Type: Live Webinar

Date: August 31, 2023

Time: 10 - 11 a.m.

Location: Webinar

Cost: Free. 

(Registration is required.)

REGISTER NOW!

About the Program

• Description: This webinar will address products to make the home safe and improve daily living for individuals living with a disability.

• Target Audience: Anyone living with a disability, their family members and/or service providers and personal care assistants.

• Participants will learn: Participants will learn about the latest in ramps, shower products and stairlifts

Presenters:

• Marty Douglas, MobilityWorks
• Amanda Bauer, National Ramps
• Israel Gamburd, SolutionBased

Where there’s a will, there’s a way!

 

Did you know that August is National Make-A-Will Month? As the old saying goes, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” and by creating your will this month, you are creating a way to protect your loved ones while supporting the future of the Autism Society of America.

With the help of our partner, FreeWill, you can create a will completely for free and online. Thousands of people are writing their wills this month to:

• Dictate your vision for the future and your assets
• Show your loved ones just how much you care about them
• Create a lasting, generational impact on the work of the Autism Society

Create My Will

The Autism Society is a national organization with a local focus, so when you create your legacy with the Autism Society, you are impacting the people in your backyard, changing lives close to home, for generations to come.

Using this service, you will get lifetime access to make changes and updates to your plans at no cost. Take advantage of Make-A-Will Month and create your will and legacy today.

Make your money work for you!

Manage your money to reach success for your future goals. 

Register for this free training!  

Online: September 18 from 3 pm to 4 pm 

In Person: September 19 from 3 pm to 4:30 pm

at Columbia and Greenville Offices 

Registration will close the day before the training. 

For questions, contact info@able-sc.org. 

Register Here!

August 2023 Leadership in IDD

Perspectives 

Commentary from the Field 

AAIDD International Interest Network’s Plans For 2023-2024

Hatice Uyanik, MA, Co-Chair, AAIDD International Interest Network

Alice Bacherini, MA, Co-Chair, AAIDD International Interest Network

The goal of the AAIDD International Interest Network (IN) is to expand the outreach and dissemination of AAIDD’s work to international communities. To fulfil this charge, its co-chairs carry out activities including preparing posters for conferences, hosting member meetings, and engaging in online/social media outreach. As current co-chairs of the International IN, we follow the steps of previous chairs, relying on their experiences to guide our path and building new activities to further and enhance diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice outcomes for everyone. 

The International IN has planned some exciting activities for the upcoming year! We will increase our understanding of different IDD systems worldwide by completing the following activities:

• Conduct a survey to determine this year’s topic for the IN’s group project. A presentation proposal about the project will  be submitted for the 2024 AAIDD Annual Meeting.
• Co-host a webinar series with the SECP IN on emergency preparation and risk assessment before, during, and after emergencies for people with IDD.
• Propose a special issue of a peer-reviewed journal for the international disability community.

More information will be announced as these activities progress. Please contact one of the current co-chairs (hatice.uy@gmail.com, alice.bacherini@unipg.it)  with your comments, suggestions, or inquiries, and stay tuned to the AAIDD website, subscribe to AAIDD newsletters, and follow us and AAIDD on social media mediums! 

Notables

Recent awards, accolades, appointments, and other honors

Kim Fisher, PhD, FAAIDD, Promoted to Associate Professor at Illinois State University

Craig Escudé, MD, Drops New Podcast Titled IDD Health Matters. Dr. Craig Escudé speaks with a wide range of leaders, self-advocates, agency directors, clinicians, administrators, and others from across the globe involved in designing and facilitating service delivery to people with IDD.

Michael Bloom, MA, MS, FAAIDD, Mentioned in Article "Building an Inclusive Work Culture Can Help BH Agencies in Retention"  Published in Mental Health Weekly.

Guy Caruso, PhD, FAAIDD, Among Authors of Chapters in New Book, Wolf Wolfensberger - The Influence of the Person and his Ideas Today | A Festchrift 

Dan Zhang, PhD, FAAIDD, Promoted to Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs at Texas  A&M University 

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AAIDD is looking to feature notables and perspective pieces from our members in the field! Send us your commentary to be featured in a future Leadership in IDD Newsletter.

Click here to submit your work to be featured. 

Not yet a member? Join AAIDD online! 

SmartDrive Safety in the Spotlight

 August 15, 2023

PRODUCT SAFETY

Controller Recall Puts SmartDrive Safety in the Spotlight 

At a June event, United Spinal Association’s CEO was pushed off of a stage, most likely by a faulty controller for his SmartDrive power-assist device. The dramatic mishap, combined with Permobil’s recent recall of the SmartDrive's watch-style Bluetooth controllers, led us to broader questions about the safety of the popular SmartDrive system. We dig into the details of the controller recall, talk to users about their experiences and issues with the device, and explore the possible benefits of wired control options. 

Video content: C6 quad Bob Ness shares his experience with the SmartDrive. He says the pros outweigh the cons for him, but he advises learning to use the device safely and offers several tips.

TRAVEL NEWS

United Airlines Settles Lawsuit After Wheelchair User Sustains Brain Injury While Deplaning 

Nathaniel “NJ” Foster, a 21-year-old college student and vent-dependent quad, was deplaning in an aisle chair when he sustained a catastrophic brain injury that left him in a persistent vegetative state. Foster’s family claimed that United Airlines negligence was to blame and sued the airline for liability. After one day of testimony in the jury trial, the airline and family came to a settlement agreement. John Morris reports on this latest air travel tragedy. 

Amtrak's New Train Designs May Exceed Access Requirements 

In a refreshing counterpoint to the airlines’ indifference over accessibility and disabled travelers, Amtrak is seeking approval from the Federal Railroad Administration to make their new intercity trains even more accessible than current regulations mandate. To help with the process, the rail provider is asking for public comments on the benefits of accessible train travel. Read more on Amtrak’s proposal to go beyond the letter of the law, and learn where to leave a comment.  

Click here to read more of this issue!

AUCD Weekly: August 15, 2023

August 16, 2023

The AUCD Weekly will be taking a summer break next week, August 23. 

The newsletter will resume on August 30. 

Announcements

AUCD Welcomes Rodney Samaco, PhD as Chief Strategy and Business Development Officer

• John Tschida, the Executive Director of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities, announced today that Rodney Samaco, PhD has been hired as AUCD’s Chief Strategy and Business Development Officer (CSBDO). Dr. Samaco will serve in this key leadership role to develop new business models, procure resources, spearhead research initiatives and uncover new opportunities as part of AUCD’s Strategic Plan.

2023-2024 Emerging Leaders Opportunities Application Deadline Extended!

Deadline: August 18, 2023

• AUCD is accepting applications from current trainees for (3) AUCD Emerging Leaders Interns and (5) Council Trainee Representatives. Applications for the 2023-2024 academic year are now open and close on Friday, August 18th! Please contact Mollie Blafer, mblafer@aucd.org, for any questions.

Funding

Foundation for Prader-Willi Research - Research Applications

Deadline: September 8, 2023

Award Ceiling: $150,000

• The Foundation for Prader-Willi Research addresses the many issues related to Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), including childhood obesity, developmental delay, psychiatric disorders, and autism spectrum disorders. Funding priorities identified by the foundation include genotype to phenotype: understanding PWS genetics/how the loss of PWS-critical region genes leads to the phenotype; neurobiology of hunger/feeding behavior in PWS; neurobiology of cognitive deficits, maladaptive behavior, and mental illness in PWS; clinical care research: evaluation of existing drugs and interventions to improve health and quality of life in PWS; therapeutics development for PWS-genetic therapies; novel pharmaceuticals; and drug repurposing for PWS.

Special Olympics - Rosemary Collaboratory - USA: Leveraging Research and Advocacy to Make Health Systems More Inclusive of People with Intellectual Disabilities

Deadline: October 29, 2023

Award Ceiling: TBD

• Through this Request for Proposal (RFP), Special Olympics Inc. (SOI) will identify consultants to assess a health system1 in their state using a framework and tool that will be provided by SOI and develop an advocacy plan for achieving a change in a health system2 in their state that stands to improve health access or outcomes for people with intellectual disabilities (ID).

Resources

Cognitive Function in Down Syndrome-associated Alzheimer's Focus of Grant

• Nearly every person with Down syndrome eventually develops Alzheimer's disease. Yet, people with the syndrome routinely are excluded from Alzheimer's clinical trials, with the help of an $11 million grant from the National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Associate Professor of Neurology Jason Hassenstab, Ph.D., from Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis IDDRC, is looking to address this. 

National Institute of Mental Health: Digital Toolkit for Back to School

• Returning to school can be exciting and challenging for children and teens. During August, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) will highlight resources on stress and anxiety, strategies for coping, and guidance about when to seek help from a health care provider. Share these resources to help parents, teachers, caregivers, and students navigate this stressful time and focus on overall mental well-being.

Click here to read more of this issue!

Weekly news items may be submitted for consideration 

via the AUCD Promotion Request Form. 

Submissions are due on Monday each week. 

Tickets on Sale Now! FundAble: Cultivating Inclusion

In case you missed it ...

Tickets are on sale for FundAble, 

Cultivating Inclusion!

Able SC’s annual fundraising & awards event returns on Friday, November 3rd. This year's theme: FundAble, Cultivating Inclusion, will celebrate how you, our supporters, are a part of "planting the seeds for our shared community."

We may even have an announcement about the future of Able SC...

Don't miss it, secure your tickets today!

Get Your Tickets Now!

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Quick Details

Friday, November 3, 2023

6 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Central Energy, 2030 Gregg St., Columbia, SC

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What can you expect?

Delicious Gourmet Bites

Open Bar

FundAble Awards Show

Live Entertainment

Raffles, Chances to Win

A chance to support Able SC

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Become a FundAble Sponsor!

We have a variety of sponsorship opportunities available, including the chance to sponsor tables! Learn more about the benefits of becoming a sponsor of FundAble.

Contact Able SC's Director of Development, Kim Martinez-Ward, at kward@able-sc.org for more information on sponsorship. Ready to commit? You can make your sponsor payment online at the ticketing link.

Sponsor the Event

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Why awards and fundraising?

In order to continue systems change and advancement of equity, access, and independence for all individuals with disabilities in South Carolina, we need your partnership now more than ever! For every ticket you purchase and dollar you donate, you are supporting Able South Carolina at a time when our services are critical. We hope you will join us not only to celebrate but support.

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A note on the 2023 event artwork:

As if peering through a keyhole, the foreground is surrounded by a dark teal with silhouettes of plants and ferns surrounding the central image. In the center is a small clearing within a forest of illustrated trees, moss, and bushes in varying shades of green, and three small white and red dotted toadstool mushrooms, a large organic shape in light green contains the text, 'FundAble, South Carolina, Planting the seeds for our shared community.' The text is dark green. The 'Fund' of fundable is framed with vines and leaves. The 'Able' of fundable mimics the Able South Carolina logo. Light green-yellow dots that appear to be emitting light fill the frame in a firefly glow effect.

According to the artist, the fireflies represent local connections as well as individuals, all synchronizing and coming together for a cause. You are a part of that synchronizing. By supporting Able South Carolina, you are coming together with us to support our mission, vision, and values. We can't wait for you to join us this fall.