BIASC Introduces 2019 Panel for Food for Thought

Announcing Our 2019 Panel!

Special Guest Panelists

• Dr. Ashley Bryant Harbin - PhD, CBIS, Lake Psychological Services

• Dr. Thomas Seastrunk - TBI Survivor

• John Kasik - Associate Athletic Director, Director of Sports Medicine, University of South Carolina Athletics

• Dr. George Wham - EdD, ATC/SCAT, Head Athletic Trainer, Pelion High School

 With special guest, South Carolina Lt. Governor Pamela Evette

Buy your tickets today!!

Join us for a wonderful evening filled with fantastic food, special guests and meaningful conversation - all for a great cause!

Host Committee  

• Mayor Stephen K. Benjamin - City of Columbia

• Representative Chip Huggins - Lexington County

• Representative Peter McCoy - City of Charleston

• Ashley Bryant Harbin - PhD, CBIS, Lake Psychological Services

• Larry Lucas - Larry Lucas Agency with State Farm Insurance

• Dr. Thomas Seastrunk - TBI Survivor

Event Details:

The Food for Thought, benefitting the Brain Injury Association of SC, will be on
Thursday, May 2, 2019 from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. at the South Carolina State Museum in Columbia.

Tickets for each guest are $50

Each ticket provides access to the reception held in the mezzanine of the museum, local food tastings, as well as beer & wine pairings.

Get your tickets here!

This event is the premier fundraising event in the Midlands hosted by the BIASC. Proceeds from the event will go directly to the BIASC to ensure that they continue to provide statewide resources and support to individuals with brain injuries and their families, educate the public on the risks and impact of brain injuries, and advocate for legislation to improve community based services in the state of South Carolina.

Free AAC training with ASHA CEUs

AllAccess: 

Exploring the Possibilities of 

Alternative Access and AAC

Date: May 15th, 2019
Time: 8:30 am – 11:30 am
Cost: FREE
Location: Med Park 2 Conference Room, 2 Medical Park Rd, Columbia, SC 29203 (Directions)
Limit: 60
ASHA CEUs:  .3 ASHA CEUs

REGISTER NOW!

There are many individuals who can access augmentative alternative communication (AAC) with the touch of a finger. However, there are also a significant number of people with more complex physical disabilities that require an alternative to touching a screen.

This three-hour class will give participants an overview of access method options in AAC. Using case studies, the following access methods will be reviewed: touch, NuPoint (cursor is controlled by head movement), NuEye (cursor is controlled by eye gaze), and one/two switch scanning. Through demonstration, videos, and audience participation attendees will learn about vocabulary, hardware, and software considerations when setting up an alternative access method for an individual.

This class in intended for professionals, parents, or individuals who use AAC who want to learn more about access method options in AAC.

You do not need to bring an AAC device to this training as equipment will be provided.

Training Objectives

 
Following the training, participants will be able to:

• Briefly describe each access method.

• Name two software customizations that can be applied when using NuPoint or NuEye.

• Name two software customizations that can be applied when using one or two switch scanning.

Presenter: Dawn J. Sowers, M.A.,CCC-SLP, has been a speech-language pathologist for over 20 years. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Florida and a Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.  Her passion is for AAC implementation across the lifespan in a variety of populations.  Dawn has had a variety of clinical experiences including in the classroom, hospital and outpatient services.  Much of that experience was with multi-disciplinary teams; co-evaluating and treating individuals. She has a special interest in working with individuals with communication and motor impairment and solving difficult access issues. Dawn works closely with teams and families to insure successful use of the device across environments.  When not working, Dawn enjoys her family, being outdoors and spending time volunteering with mission efforts.

Trainings at Family Connection

WORKSHOP TITLE:  How To Engage Latino Families in Their Community
SPEAKER: Jenny Nuvan and Mike Young
DATE: Wednesday,  May 1, 2019
LOCATION:   Beaufort County DSN 100 Clear Water Way Beaufort SC 29906
TIME: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
REGISTRATION INFO:  
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-to-engage-latino-families-in-their-community-tickets-60539329765

WORKSHOP TITLE:  How To Engage Latino Families in Their Community
SPEAKER: Jenny Nuvan and Mike Young
DATE: Thursday,  May 9, 2019
LOCATION:   John's Island Regional Library 3531 Maybank Hwy, Johns Island,
SC 29455
TIME: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
REGISTRATION INFO:  
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-to-engage-latino-families-in-their-community-tickets-60625844533

WORKSHOP TITLE:  How To Engage Latino Families in Their Community
SPEAKER: Annia Knight and Mike Young
DATE: Monday,  May 13, 2019
LOCATION:   Family Connection of SC 1800 Saint Julian Place Suite 104
Columbia SC 29204
TIME: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
REGISTRATION INFO:  
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-to-engage-latino-families-in-their-community-tickets-60625437315

WORKSHOP TITLE:  How To Engage Latino Families in Their Community
SPEAKER: Annia Knight and Mike Young
DATE: Monday, May 20, 2019
LOCATION:   Thrive Upstate 1700 Ridge Road Greenville, SC 29607
TIME: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
REGISTRATION INFO:  
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-to-engage-latino-families-in-their-community-tickets-60539681818

Format:
Mike Young presentation - 30 - 45 minutes
Annia Knight / Jenny Nuvan presentation - 30 - 45 minutes
Q & A - 15 - 30 minutes

For more information, contact:

Suzanne Wingard
Director of Training
Family Connection of SC
p. (803) 451-6193

Celebrating Abilities Annual Gala!

P&A’s fundraiser, Celebrating Abilities, hosts over 200 supporters across the state who come together for a night filled with silent and live auctions, heavy hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine, and an award ceremony.

Friday, May 3, 2019

6-9 p.m.

Nelson Mullins

The Meridian Building, 17th Floor

1320 Main Street, Columbia, SC

 Click here for more information and to purchase tickets. 

Deadline is Tuesday for Presentations at NADD's upcoming conferences!

Deadline is Tuesday 

for Presentations at 

NADD's upcoming conferences!

Share Your Knowledge and Expertise with the NADD Community

 

Do you want to share information with the NADD community? Do you have expertise that should be shared?

We would love it if you submitted a proposal for the conference committee to review.

Primary presenters receive a $100 discount on the conference registration fee. Secondary presenters will be responsible for full registration fees.

 

Presentation Proposal Checklist

 

Carefully review the Presentation Proposal Checklist before starting the abstract submission process. These guidelines will help you prepare all the information you need to gather before submitting.
 

Presentation Proposal Checklist for NADD 36th Annual Conference
 

Presentation Proposal Checklist for 17th NADD State of Ohio IDD/MI Conference

Conference Information

 

36th Annual NADD Conference and Exhibit Show
 

October 23 – 25, 2019
Astor Crowne Plaza Hotel – New Orleans French Quarter
739 Canal Street at Bourbon Street

 

Parading Through Life: Celebrating Reliance, Joy and Wellness...Letting the Good Times Roll in New Orleans.
 

For information, click here.
 

To submit a Presentation Proposal for the 36th Annual NADD Conference and Exhibit Show, click here.

17th Annual NADD State of Ohio IDD/MI Conference
 

September 23 – 24, 2019
Columbus Mariott Northwest
Columbus, Ohio
 

Mental Health Aspects: Treatment and Support
 

For information, click here.
 

To submit a Presentation Proposal for the 17th Annual NADD State of Ohio IDD/MI Conference, click here.

Webinar this Wednesday: When Autism and Down Syndrome Co-occur

Please join the Autism Society of America and the National Down Syndrome Society in a joint webinar featuring the Autism Society's chair, Joe Joyce.

Title: When Autism and Down Syndrome Co-Occur

What does the science say?  What are the benefits of knowing?  Will this impact services for my child?  Join us as we discuss these issues during a webinar presented with our friends from the National Down Syndrome Congress.

When: Wednesday, April 24th at 1 PM Eastern

How to Register:  
https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/130417870316986124

SC Transition Conference

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

Free AAC Assessment workshop with ASHA CEUs

Conducting an AAC Assessment

Date: May 1, 2019
Time: 9:00 am – 11:45 am (check-in begins at 8:45 am)
Cost: FREE
Location: 2 Medical Park Road, Palmetto Health Richland, Columbia, SC 29203 (Directions)
Limit: 60 (9 seats left!)
ASHA CEUs: .25 (Introductory level, Professional Area)
Questions: Contact Courtney Grant; courtney.grant@tobiidynavox.com , 803-822-9751

REGISTER NOW

Individuals who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) are all unique. They have individualized sensory, motor, cognitive, and language needs as well as individual strengths. It can be difficult to adequately determine the needs and areas of strength when conducting an AAC assessment. In most cases, standardized evaluation tools are not appropriate for the AAC assessment. This presentation provides an overview to conducting an AAC evaluation. It highlights consistent aspects to help make the process more approachable, while still accommodating the uniqueness of the individuals being evaluated.

Learning Objectives: Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Provide two external/environmental considerations that can improve access during AAC assessment

• Provide two device modifications that can improve communication success during AAC assessment

• Identify two resources/strategies to prevent device abandonment

Presenter: Patrick Brune, MS, CCC-SLP

LOOK! 2019 Sponsorship Opportunities Available

LOOK! 2019

The third annual opening night of LOOK! will be on May 17, 2019, at EdVenture Children’s Museum Columbia from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The photography exhibit will be unveiled during the event and will showcase the beauty and strength of children and youth living with a disability in our communities.

The evening’s events will include accessible family-friendly activities for children to explore throughout the museum entrance.

Tickets for the event are $25.00 per person or $45.00 a couple and are currently on sale until May 8, 2019. To purchase your tickets, click the link below!

Purchase Tickets Here

Thank you to our Life Changer Sponsor, Groucho's Deli!

Family Connection of South Carolina would like to thank our Life Changer sponsor for our LOOK! event, Groucho's Deli! We are excited to have Groucho's join Family Connection for their second year as a sponsor of the LOOK! event.

Thank you, Groucho's!

Sponsorship Opportunities Available!

There are a still several sponsorship opportunities available.

With more than 300 attendees, each year, LOOK! brings together families, advocates, business allies, legislators, and local elected officials to celebrate these amazing individuals while also raising funds to support education, programs, and other opportunities to help children and youth achieve their full potential.

Family Connection would love your organization’s support through one of the various different sponsorship opportunities available. An array of benefits are included with sponsorship, depending on the level of commitment, such as:

• Logo recognition displayed throughout the event
• Newsletter promotion
• Event tickets
• Recognition on social media.

For more information on sponsoring the LOOK! event click here.

Save the Date: The BIASC Introduces the Food for Thought!

What is Food for Thought?

This year the Brain Injury Association of South Carolina (BIASC) is introducing what will undoubtedly be a thought provoking culinary centric evening to raise money and awareness for brain injury prevention, research, education, and advocacy.

The Food for Thought tasting event will showcase some of the most notable culinary influencers in the Midlands. Attendees will enjoy an evening of food, beer, and wine pairings to support the statewide mission of the BIASC.

The focus of the conversation throughout this evening reception will be about concussion awareness and the importance of rehabilitation following a traumatic brain injury. To help convey this message special guests will include former college athletes from across the state of South Carolina, as well as legislators who supported the SC Student Athlete Concussion Law in 2013 and Lt. Governor Pamela Evette.

Please come out and join us for a wonderful evening filled with fantastic food, special guests and meaningful conversation - all for a great cause!

Event Details

The Food for Thought, benefitting the Brain Injury Association of SC, will be on Thursday, May 2, 2019 from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. at the South Carolina State Museum in Columbia.

Tickets for each guest are $50

Each ticket provides access to the reception held in the mezzanine of the museum, tastings from local culinary chefs, as well as beer & wine pairings.

Get your tickets here!

This event is the premier fundraising event in the Midlands hosted by the BIASC. Proceeds from the event will go directly to the BIASC to ensure that they continue to provide statewide resources and support to individuals with brain injuries and their families, educate the public on the risks and impact of brain injuries, and advocate for legislation to improve community based services in the state of South Carolina.

For those of you who do not live in the Midlands, but are receiving this eBlast, please feel free to share this with friends and family and help us get the word out for this engaging evening and great mission!

Want to get more involved? Become a sponsor or make a donation!

We would love to partner with you on this event that benefits so many in the Midlands of South Carolina!

For inquiries regarding sponsorship opportunities, please email Allison Hall Drew at allison@startflourishing.com.

Free Communication Workshop with ASHA CEUs

Communicating Beyond Requesting

Date: May 2, 2019
Time: 9:00 am – 3:15 pm (check-in starts at 8:45)
Cost: FREE
Location: 2 Medical Park Road, Palmetto Health Richland, Columbia, SC 29203 (Directions)
Limit: 60 (15 seats remaining)
ASHA CEUs: .5 (Introductory level, Professional Area)
Questions: Contact Courtney Grant, courtney.grant@tobiidynavox.com , 803-822-9751

REGISTER NOW

Where do you typically start when introducing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)? If you are like most people, you probably start with activities that involve an individual requesting a motivating object or action. But what happens next? What happens when we run out of things to request? In this session, we will help you develop specific strategies to go beyond requesting – into the world of asking questions, making comments, protesting, expressing opinions, and other important communicative functions. We will use lecture, discussion, video examples, and small-group activities to explore the power of various communicative functions, vocabulary selection, teaching strategies, and specific ways to facilitate communication beyond requesting.

Learning Objectives: Upon completion, participants will be able to:

• Name two communicative functions beyond requesting and describe their communication benefits
• Identify two communication tools that support interactions beyond requesting
• List two partner communication strategies that will facilitate communication beyond requesting

Presenter: Patrick Brune, MS, CCC-SLP

Advocacy Training for Youth

CONTACT: 

Freda S. King
Program Coordinator
Brain Injury Association of South Carolina 121 Executive Center Dr. Suite 135
Columbia, SC 29210
803.731.9823
1.877.TBI.FACT (in SC)
coordinator@biaofsc.com