Join us for a two-part webinar series on AAC

 

SCATP is celebrating May is Better Speech and Hearing month by offering a 2-part webinar series:

Register today to gain the tools and confidence to support your child’s communication journey:

The ABC's of AAC part 1-Tuesday  May 12^th 10 AM 

The ABC's of AAC part 2-Friday May 22^nd 10 AM

Webinar 2-part Series Description:

After receiving an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) device, many parents ask the same question: “We have the device—now what?” If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Learning how to effectively use and model AAC in everyday life is a key step in supporting your child’s communication success.

We invite you to join our two-part webinar series designed specifically for parents and caregivers navigating this next stage. This series focuses on practical, easy-to-implement strategies that you can begin using right away—at home, at school, and in your community.

In addition to hands-on guidance, you’ll be introduced to a valuable AAC training tool developed by Allie Taylor, a former South Carolina LEND trainee, with mentorship from Rachell Johnson through the South Carolina Assistive Technology Program. This resource was created to help families better understand and confidently use AAC in daily life.

Who Should Attend:
Parents and caregivers of AAC users, family members, speech-language pathologists, and other professionals supporting AAC users.

Presenter:
Rachell Johnson, MCD, CCC-SLP, ATP
Program Manager, South Carolina Assistive Technology Program (SCATP) and South Carolina LEND Faculty Member

Rachell brings over 20 years of experience in speech-language pathology and over 15 years in assistive technology. She is certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and RESNA as an Assistive Technology Professional (ATP). She has authored multiple journal publications and presents at national conferences on assistive technology.

New Mobility: How to Find a Good Doctor

 

NEW MOBILITY HEALTH & WELLNESS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH KALOGON — SEATING THAT WORKS AS HARD AS YOU DO —

THIS MONTH: HOW TO FIND A GOOD DOCTOR Illustration by Mark Weber I’ve been through a lot of doctors over my 26 years as a wheelchair user. Some I remember fondly, like my first physiatrist who, with a wink and a nod, granted 18-year-old, newly-injured me a medical marijuana permit to manage my spasms. Some less so, like a college-era urologist who almost talked me into a suprapubic catheter surgery I didn’t need. One of the main lessons I've learned is that a doctor's level of knowledge about spinal cord injury doesn’t always correlate with the quality of care they provide. One doctor had decades of experience working at a big-name, SCI model system rehab center. She told me I had too little function to be fully independent. So, I found another doctor. My current primary care physician didn’t have much SCI experience when I started seeing her. But I’ve held onto her for 18 years, through three clinic changes and more insurance providers than I can count. Looking through the New Mobility archives, polling our social media audience and reading Tim Gilmer’s new story, “When Wound Care Fails: Why Disabled Patients Need Doctors Who Listen,” confirmed what my own lived experience suggested. Yes, there are a lot of doctors out there who just don’t get it. But, even in this era of profit-maximization and shrinking appointment times, it’s still possible to find doctors who can offer the care and understanding we deserve.   SPONSORED CONTENT Does your seating system really support you? Kalogon's reimbursable seating system combines Orbiter Med, a custom wheelchair cushion, with Bondar, a 3D-printed adjustable back support. Together, they support posture, stability, and skin integrity. For more info, call 321.465.4504. FIRST THINGS FIRST Think of your primary care provider as the point guard of your medical team. The team’s goal is to maximize your health and wellness. The point guard — for some with SCI this is a traditional PCP, while for others it’s a physiatrist — doesn’t do everything. Instead, they serve as the primary point of contact — the person who brings the ball up the court every possession. Their job is to understand you and your needs and to pass the ball to others when they have a more suitable skill set. There are a couple of important factors to consider when looking for a primary care doctor. Kim Anderson-Erisman is a C5 quad and professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Case Western Reserve University. In Bob Vogel’s “How to Find, Train and Work with a Primary Care Physician,” she explains her criteria for finding a PCP are that they need to be good communicators and eager to learn about her disability. “I’ve had quite a few primary care physicians and found that most are open to learning about SCI. I know my body and my disability, so I help them learn, and we have developed good doctor/patient relationships,” she says. “On the other hand, I’ve fired PCPs who haven’t been interested in learning and found another PCP who is.” Anderson-Erisman’s last point is critical. Be willing to fire a bad doctor. If you take an appointment with someone who seems more likely to talk over you than listen to your needs, don’t be afraid to keep looking.   Illustration by Mat Barton Other wheelchair users often cite willingness to learn as a primary indicator of a good doctor. That is certainly the case in my experience. I’ll add a willingness to listen and take a patient seriously as other good indicators. No disability is the same, and we know our secondary complications better than anyone. The best doctors are willing to listen, ask questions, and then use their experience, knowledge and resources to find solutions. Other tips: Call ahead to ask if the offices are accessible and if they have accessible diagnostic equipment like exam tables and scales. Ask about their connection to a hospital network and their referral network. Remember the point guard analogy — a PCP is only as good as their teammates. Consider how responsive they are. UTIs, wounds and other complications pop up suddenly, and quickly accessing anti-biotics, wound care or other treatments can keep an issue from escalating. Be your own advocate. John Beer’s article, “How to Get the Most Out of Your Medical Checkup” gives a good overview of the tests and preventative care you may need to fight for. Shannon Kelly, a manual wheelchair user in Chicago, has found that a paid concierge service ($100-200 a month) has been well worth the money because it's meant more time with her doctor and less waiting for appointments and tests. Read her and other United Spinal members' tips for finding a good doctor. PUTTING THE SPECIAL IN SPECIALIST With your point guard primary care doc running the show, you should be able to weather the majority of health ups and downs, but you also need good specialists to be able to step in and handle more complicated situations. If good communication skills and general knowledge are the hallmarks of a good PCP, deep subject mastery and problem-solving skills are what you should be looking for in a specialist. If you end up with a world-class communicator who travels across the country for a house call like Tim Gilmer, consider yourself lucky, but generally expect to sacrifice a little bedside manner for expertise. Figuring out which specialists really know their stuff can be difficult, so it pays to do your research, ask around and eventually, trust your gut. Bob Vogel wrote about how doing just this paid off for Brook McCall when she found herself dealing with a syrinx that threatened her health and mobility. She met with multiple specialists where she lived, but didn’t feel confident in their diagnoses. So she sought out a nationally-renowned expert who eventually operated on her. Her advice? “Do not settle.” Make sure you are comfortable with your treatment plan. New Mobility Editor-in-Chief Ian Ruder took McCall’s advice to heart when he was battling a mysterious urinary infection. He ended up cycling through multiple urologists and an infectious disease expert before returning to his original urologist and applying all the lessons his search had taught him. His experience is more evidence that while refusing to settle can result in more costs and more hassles, it is worth the extra effort because, in the end, you only have one body.

Brain Injury Association of SC: May is Stroke Awareness Month!

May is National Stroke  Awareness Month A stroke is, at its core, a sudden brain injury. It occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted or reduced, depriving brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients. This makes stroke one of the leading causes of acquired brain injury in adults. When you spot a stroke warning sign, be fast. Recognizing the stroke warning signs and calling 911 immediately may make the difference between a strong recovery or long-term disability; survival or death. Learn More Trauma Survivors Day Celebration On Trauma Survivors Day, we recognize the strength, courage, and resiliency of trauma survivors during their healing journey. Join us for a dessert reception to celebrate and reunite with trauma survivors, their families and Prisma Health trauma team members. Prisma Health Children’s Hospital–Midlands May 20 • 6–8 p.m. RSVP by May 15. A Full-Circle Moment in Brain    Injury Research What does it mean to turn lived experience into lasting impact? In this powerful story, BIASC board member Dede Norungolo shares her experience of joining the Late Effects in Traumatic Brain Injury (LETBI) study at Mount Sinai. She reflects on healing, purpose, and the opportunity to contribute to research that could shape the future of brain injury care, including the deeply meaningful decision to consider brain donation. Read the full story and learn how to get involved. Bassmaster Run to the Weigh in 5K What started as one stroke became a movement to raise awareness and help survivors find their comeback.  Dreher Island State Park Prosperity, SC May 9 • 10 a.m. Learn more and register now! Age Ready: Protecting Your Money Online and In-Person Attend online or in-person.  Learn how to manage your money safely in today’s world—whether you use the bank, phone, or computer. We’ll cover how to spot scams, keep accounts secure, and use new banking tools with confidence. You’ll gain tips to stay in control of your finances and avoid fraud. Saturday, May 16 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. Learn More! A Farewell from Jordyn, BIASC Intern From support groups to Advocacy Day at the Statehouse, our intern shares a heartfelt reflection on a year of connection, growth, and impact with BIASC. Read the full story. For those recovering from a brain injury, nurses are often true lifelines. This National Nurses Day, take a moment to reflect on the nurses who have supported you. Whether through a simple thank-you note, a shared story of their impact, or a kind word, your gratitude means the world to them. Make Your Voice Heard! Advocate for your community by making sure you’re registered to vote in this year’s South Carolina elections. Registration is quick and can be completed online, by mail, or in person. With primaries beginning in June, now is the time to act.  Learn more about your local elections and register now!

BIASC Quick Links BI Survivor Resources Support Groups – Virtual and In-Person SC State Museum Accessibility Mornings 2026 Online BI Survivor Series Keep up with all the happenings on our calendar of events.

Community Sponsors enable BIASC to provide vital services and programs to individuals navigating life after brain injury. Find out how your organization can get involved.

South Carolina Partners in Policy Making

 

Session Dates are now set!     Download Document

South Carolina Developmental Disabilities Council | 1205 Pendleton Street Suite 372 | Columbia, SC 29201 US

Announcing a New Writing Cohort

 

Do you have students who struggle to write at any level?

• Difficulty generating ideas
• Organizing thoughts
•  Using correct grammar and spelling
• Expressing Ideas Clearly
• Physical motor barriers

Clicker is an educational tool designed to support writing for students who need extra help. Clicker provides features such as word prediction, text-to-speech, and visual and auditory support to help users build sentences and improve literacy skills.

Investing in educational technology is a significant commitment. To support this process, the SC Assistive Technology Program (SCATP), in partnership with Crick Software, is offering SC school districts the opportunity to join the SC Clicker Pilot Cohort for the 2026–2027 school year.

During the Pilot Cohort, you and your colleagues will:

· Implement Clicker in your school district at no cost.

· Receive assistance from SCATP and Crick Software staff to successfully implement Clicker in your district.

· Participate in a group of SC school districts that will share ideas, insights, and resources.

Being part of this cohort will allow you to observe student patterns, outcomes, and success. To learn more about the Free SC Clicker Pilot Cohort, please attend one of the 30-minute informational sessions on May 6th at 12:00 PM or at 3:00 PM.  Please invite a member of your IT team to attend this meeting with you.

Important Links:

• Click here to register for May 6th at 12:00 PM
• Click here to register for May 6th at 3:00 PM

Should you have any questions about the Clicker Pilot Cohort, please contact Kyle Odierno at kyle.odierno@cricksoft.com. If you have any questions about the Informational Webinar, please contact SCATP at scatpinfo@uscmed.sc.edu or call (803) 935- 5263.