Save the Date! Fundable: Fueling our Future

You’re Invited, please Save the Date! 

This year’s Fundable —Able SC’s annual fundraising gala—will be both a live event and virtual to provide guests the opportunity to attend Fundable on site or from the comfort of their own home. With public health and your health in mind we are moving our event to the spring of 2022! 

Come celebrate Able South Carolina’s Fueling our Future over heavy hors d'oeuvres, an open bar, silent auction, music, and live entertainment - all while having a fun evening with dedicated individuals who work to change perceptions and create greater access and opportunities for independence through empowering South Carolinians with disabilities and promoting community inclusion. 

WHEN: Friday, March 18, 2022 / 6 PM - 9:30 PM 

WHERE: Central Energy, 2030 Gregg Street Columbia, SC & Online! 

Quick Details 

• Friday, March 18, 2022 
• 6 p.m - 9:30 p.m. 
• Where? YOU decide: In person AND online! 
• Central Energy, Bullstreet District 

Join Able SC for a night of music, food, and dancing as you help us fuel our future! 

Why save this date? 

COVID-19 has shown us, in order to continue seeing systems change and independence for all individuals with disabilities in South Carolina, we need your partnership now more than ever as we move toward a South Carolina that promotes equity and access for individuals with disabilities. For every ticket you purchase and dollar you donate, you are supporting Able South Carolina at a time when our services are more critical than ever. We hope you will join us not only to celebrate, but support. So please, save this date.

Important Buddy Walk Announcement

We have made the decision to present Buddy Walk as a virtual celebration again this year. With COVID-19 numbers still high, we feel we need to remain cautious, and keep everyone's safety a priority. 

This decision does not change the need for fundraising and raising awareness! We support the vision of the National Down Syndrome Society to help create a world in which all people with Down syndrome have the opportunity to enhance their quality of life, realize their life aspirations, and become valued members of welcoming communities.  

Funds raised through Buddy Walk also help families across South Carolina who have a child with a disability or chronic health condition connect to resources and services they need to help their children thrive. 

If you haven't already joined Buddy Walk,

register TODAY! 

Register by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, October 1st 

to be eligible to receive a gift card 

from DiPrato's or Hudson's Smokehouse! 

This year's virtual event will have new surprises! We will be sending you: 

• Fundraising ideas as we officially kick off October and Down Syndrome Awareness Month this Friday! 
• Social media challenges and gift giveaways. 
• Details on where to join our virtual presentation on October 24th at 2:00 p.m. 
• Opportunities for photo sharing and prizes. More details to come! 

You can register for Buddy Walk 2021 as an individual or you can start or join a team. 

If you need assistance with registration view our video tutorial or call 803-995-1413. 

Sponsorship opportunities are still available! 

Thank you to our event sponsors: 

Announcing SHRM Credit and Official Agenda!

The 2021 Employer Summit has been approved for 4 hours of Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) credit! Check out the agenda on our website to learn more about what we'll be covering, and register by October 11 to join us online on Wednesday, October 13! Be a part of South Carolina's Recovery: Powered by Inclusion. 

Event Tickets: $50

10% Discount available for employers who register 5 or more staff

email hiremesc@able-sc.org for more information 

Get tickets to the Employer Summit!

Join us for the 2021 Employer Summit, a conference for business managers, executives, and HR professionals looking to hire and retain a workforce inclusive of people with disabilities. 

We know that right now, many of you are focusing on rebuilding: your business, your workforce, your budget, your ways of working. This year's Employer Summit will show you how including individuals with disabilities will strengthen your workforce as you rebuild. 

The agenda includes: 

• Breakout sessions on mental health and working with legal departments 
• Time to learn about vendors' employment services and support 
• A panel made up of employees with disabilities and employers 
• "Reality Check: Confronting Our Role in Leveling the Playing Field" Keynote from Ashley Oolman, inclusion consultant at Allied Folk 

As South Carolina begins to rebuild its workforce and economy, 

let's make sure we lead with inclusion!

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Presented By 

Thanks to our sponsors! 

Interested in sponsoring the Employer Summit?

Email Wendi Spratt at wspratt@able-sc.org 

to learn more about our sponsorship opportunities. 

New Leadership Series!

 https://bit.ly/leader_skills 

 

Do you know someone with paralysis 

who can benefit from a wheelchair loan? 

The South Carolina Assistive Technology Program (SCATP) is accepting loan applications for three power wheelchairs and three manual wheelchairs. The wheelchairs are available for up to a six-week loan to individuals with paralysis.  SCATP’s “Mobility Independence Project” is funded by the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. 

There is no fee to borrow one of the wheelchairs. For more information about the “Mobility Independence Project” and to learn how to complete the application and schedule delivery of a wheelchair,  please contact us at 803-935-5263 or carol.page@uscmed.sc.edu or tammy.wallace@uscmed.sc.edu . 

Disability Employment Awareness Month Proclamation for 2021

 

SCATP has a new website!

The SC Assistive Technology Program 

has a new website.  

Check it out at 

www.sc.edu/medicine/scatp.  

Assistive technology (AT) can be a powerful tool in an individual’s life. AT  can be a device, software, apps, even adapted toys. The SC Assistive Technology Program (SCATP) staff work with you to identify AT that could help you at home, school and at work.  

Having access to assistive technology has the potential to greatly improve or increase an individual’s functional capabilities, and SCATP staff are here to help you find the assistive technology that best meets your needs.  There are many free and low-cost items available that can make a big difference!

SCATP has a demonstration center in Columbia, SC where we provide free demonstrations, offering hands-on trials with the most comprehensive inventory of AT items in the state. At the end of the demonstration, we can offer a free, short-term device loan. The loan allows an individual to try the assistive technology to make sure it is a good fit before a decision is made to purchase.

SCATP also has a reuse service. We accept donations of new and gently used medical equipment and distribute it to those in need for free.

To find out more about our services call us at 803-935-5263 or visit our new website at www.sc.edu/medicine/scatp.

Register Now for Buddy Walk 2021!

We are excited to announce registration for 

Buddy Walk 2021 is now open! 

We have the athletic fields at Saluda Shoals Park reserved for Buddy Walk 2021 on Sunday, October 24th at 2:00 p.m. We continue to monitor COVID-19 updates and we will put safety protocols in place for this family-friendly outdoor event. More details on event logistics will follow, but register now to get your team, and your fundraising started! 

If you need assistance with registration, have questions or ideas to share, or if you'd like to join our volunteer planning committee, please email Jacki Garbinsky or call 803-995-1413. 

Register Now for Buddy Walk!

Sponsorship opportunities are still available! 

Vendor information coming soon! 

Thank you to our event sponsors:

2021 Family Connection Partner:

AAIDD FYI - September 2021

Announcements 

• Nominations for 2022 Awards and Fellows Now Open! 
• Deadline: October 27, 2021

AAIDD Webinars 

Supporting Adults with IDD to Safely Engage in Online Social Relationships

September 29, 2021 3:00 pm ET

Presented by: Mary Jo Krile, PhD, University of Kentucky

Social media, dating app, and internet use can be beneficial for connecting with others. It can also be risky. In this webinar, you will learn strategies and resources to assist adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD) in safely navigating these platforms to create and maintain meaningful relationships.

The Intersection of Faith and Transition Planning

Oct 6, 2021 3:00 pm ET

Presented by: Sehrish Shikarpurya

Minortitized families highly value faith-based support. However, there is often a conflict between their faith-oriented values and those of the school systems, particularly within transition planning. This webinar will explore strategies to develop meaningful collaboration between minoritized families, faith-based support systems, educators, and transition leaders to better support families during the transition planning process. We will also offer templates and resources for incorporating faith-based goals for self-determination and employment in IEP and person-centered planning.

AAIDD Virtual Professional Development Opportunities-AAIDD Member Exclusives

Upcoming Mentorship in a Minute

Disability Professionals with Disabilities – A Call to Action!

September 22, 2021 3:00 pm EST

Host: Elizabeth Perkins, PhD, FAAIDD, University of South Florida

A discussion surrounding the potential pitfalls and advantages we can utilize to advance quality of life, rights, and policies that impact people with IDD. 

Join AAIDD today to register! 

Job Opportunities 

Faculty Chair in Early Intervention, Associate or Full Professor, University of Oregon

Eugene, OR

Chief Operating Officer, National Association of School Psychologists, National Association of School Psychologists

Bethesda, MD

Executive Director, Pope’s Place

Centralia, WA

Executive Director/CEO, The Adaptive Learning Center

Concord, CA

Apply to these great openings and 

other positions on the AAIDD Career Center. 

 

Free Webinar: Mind Mapping + Neurodiversity = Successful Student!

Mind Mapping + Neurodiversity = Successful Student!

Target Audience: Students and adults with learning differences. 

Date:  Sept. 23rd, 2021 

Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. ET

Register Now!

Description: MindView solves the anxiety students face with writer's block, outlining documents and time management. MindView is an all-inclusive software that assists students with learning differences, such as dyslexia, autism, ADHD etc.  MindView is integrated with other assistive tools such as Dragon, Jaws, ZoomText, TextHelp, etc. 

MindView is ideal for: 

• Supporting students with learning difficulties organize their ideas 
• Generating academic papers with citations and references 
• Helping students to plan their work visually 
• Removing the anxiety associated with writing assignments 
• Gain organization & time management skills 

Participants will:

• have a firm understanding of the Mind Mapping Theory.
• learn the benefits of Mind Mapping for students with learning disabilities.

Speaker: Brandon Conrad, Product Manager at MatchWare Inc., is considered to be an expert in mind mapping software.  His specialty is bridging the gap between mind mapping technology and children’s learning behaviors.  Over the past 10 years, Brandon has been a key player in the development of assistive features as they relate to mind mapping software.  Prior to MatchWare, Brandon worked with children diagnosed with Autism, ADHD, Asperger’s, and other behavioral disorders. Utilizing the techniques of Applied Behavior Analysis, he focused on shaping children’s behavior to “mainstream” them into the traditional classroom and become independent in their residential setting. With degrees in economics and psychology, Brandon brings a unique skill set to mind mapping and assistive technology tools.

Over the past 10 years, he has presented the topic of mind mapping at numerous ATIA, PMI Global Congress, Project World, and Project Challenge conferences.  It has been the constant input from participants that has helped to evolve and fine-tune the learning objectives for this topic.

Accommodations:

CART captioning is provided for all SCATP webinars. If you need an additional accommodation to participate in this webinar, please contact the SC Assistive Technology Program at least one week prior to the webinar via e-mail at janet.lambert@uscmed.sc.edu or by calling 803-935-5263.

All SC Assistive Technology Program’s webinars are recorded and archived. If you cannot attend the live session, please go to our training page 24 hours after the webinar and register for the video link and transcript.

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the SC Assistive Technology Program at janet.lambert@uscmed.sc.edu or by calling 803-935-5263.

Cosmetic Hacks, Wheelchair Products, and Blogs

September 16, 2021

PRO TIPS

Disabled Women Share Their Cosmetic Hacks

When Esme Mazzeo researched how cosmetics companies are making their products more accessible, she was largely disappointed. But she did find a community of women who’ve developed their own hacks to apply their own makeup independently and beautifully. Click the link to read their stories and tips, and how Mazzeo found one brand — Guide Beauty — that is taking inclusion seriously.

Dating with a Disability and Accepting Care

When it comes to disability and relationships, most people think of accepting care in terms of functional help, whether it’s getting dressed or going to the bathroom. In her latest Own It column, Regan Linton argues that care is something we all deserve, regardless of disability. “Every person out there is porous and vulnerable, with injuries, insecurities, feelings and lots of baggage. Everyone has flesh, blood and spirit that need to be tended,” she writes. “Frankly, on every dating app profile page, there should be a little flashing GIF that says, “Note: This human requires care.” 

PARALYMPICS

Athlete Blogs: A Jammed Chain and Paddling Toward Paris

The Paralympics finished last week, and the world’s best adaptive athletes managed to put on an amazing show despite the all-consuming weirdness of competing in the middle of a pandemic. To help keep you fueled until the next Games (Beijing 2022!), check out our final athlete blogs: Handcyclist Alicia Dana recounts how a rogue chain jammed her gold medal dreams, and paracanoeist Susan Seipel details how a silver medal followed by a roller-coaster final race has her dreaming of Paris 2024. 

PRODUCTS

Pride's New Group 2 Power Chair Features Quicker Charging, Longer Range Lithium Batteries

Pride Mobility released a new wheelchair series, the Jazzy Evo 613, for power wheelchair users who don’t require complex seating and positioning. It boasts a host of new features including an option for a lithium-ion battery pack, 13-inch mid-drive wheels and three inches of ground clearance. Check out the full details here. 

VIRTUAL CELEBRATION

Register Now for United Spinal Association's 75th Anniversary Gala

What do Tony award winners Lin-Manuel Miranda and Ali Stroker, PBS correspondent Amna Nawaz, and congressman Steve Bartlett have in common? They’re all part of United Spinal’s blowout 75th Anniversary Gala, Building an Inclusive World. The virtual celebration is November 10 and registration is free! Please spread the word and invite your family, friends and network. Click the link to register. 

Click here to read more! 

Make an Impact During National Suicide Prevention Month

September is National Suicide Prevention Month

Our September Toolkit focuses on adulthood transitions, housing, long-term care support, and National Suicide Prevention Month; additionally, we'll continue emphasizing COVID-19 and how to safely transition to in-person situations; additionally, we'll continue emphasizing COVID-19 vaccination information and general support. Our policy resources include information regarding the Better Care Better Jobs Act, the Residential Systems Project, and more.  

Did you know: Suicide risk is 3 times higher for individuals with autism? Parents and loved ones can play an important role in recognizing warning signs of suicide. Look for clues like lack of social interactions, appetite, low energy, and changes in typical sleep patterns. 

ACCESS OUR SEPTEMBER TOOLKIT

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National Suicide Prevention Month

Adult Transitions

Housing and Long Term Care

COVID-19 and Vaccine Support

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The Autism Society network is comprised of 73 affiliates across the country. Highlighted below are just some of the events and programs offered related to our September theme:

• Autism Society Florida is offering a PEERS Young Adult learning program. Young adults are taught important skills and are given the opportunity to practice these skills. 
• Autism Society of Indiana created "The New Normal" guide to successfully transition parents and students back to in-person situations.  

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Visit our Website | Donate 

Our Promise During COVID-19: The Autism Society of America promises to remain committed to improving the lives of all affected by autism across the spectrum and throughout the lifespan, and will focus on providing information, resources, and advocacy efforts to address these urgent needs.  

Don't miss the Assistive Technology Leadership Conference for K-12!

2021 Assistive Technology 

Leadership Conference

Date: October 8, 2021

Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Cost: FREE 

REGISTER NOW!

The Assistive Technology Leadership Conference is designed to provide resources, networking and support to SC school district assistive technology leaders and teams and other state agencies. Join us for a morning filled with opportunities to collaborate, share, and expand your knowledge of assistive technology best practices for Assistive Technology Implementation. Participants will receive information to assist with leading the way to excellence in Assistive Technology Services.

• Meet AT Team members from other school districts
• Learn about AT implementation
• AT Team Shareout
• Tell us how we can support you in the coming year!

Conference Facilitators:

Madalina Tudora is a RESNA certified Assistive Technology Professional and experienced educator, currently serving as an Assistive Technology Specialist for the SC Department of Education. She supports local school districts and state agencies in building capacity for assistive technology by providing guidance, resources, and training for local assistive technology teams in SC.

Carol A. Page, PhD, CCC-SLP, ATP is the Program Manager of the South Carolina Assistive Technology Program (SCATP) at the USC School of Medicine, a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Center for Disability Resources, Department of Pediatrics. She received her PhD degree in speech-language pathology from the University of South Carolina and her assistive technology professional certification from RESNA. Carol provides trainings at a local to international level on assistive technology for persons with disabilities of all ages, their caregivers and professionals who serve them.

Accommodations:

CART captioning is provided for all SCATP webinars. If you need an additional accommodation to participate in this webinar, please contact the SC Assistive Technology Program at least one week prior to the webinar via e-mail at janet.lambert@uscmed.sc.edu or by calling 803-935-5263.

Two Free Webinars You Won't Want to Miss!

Teaching Students with Complex Barriers Readtopia: A Path to Believe in Better

Target Audience: Special Education Educators

Date: September 15, 2021

Time: 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Register Now!

With the right teaching resources we can Believe in Better! We have to…and we’re doing everything possible to make things better for you and your students with complex needs. In this session, we show you how by diving into Readtopia®—a comprehensive set of instructional resources designed specifically for upper elementary, middle, and high school students with complex barriers.

Participants will learn:

• Differentiate across your entire range of student needs with leveled materials
• Improve engagement and behavior with video, graphic novels, informational texts, hands-on activities, and more.
• Connect literacy with content area learning (ELA/Reading, Math, Social Studies, Science, Functional Life Skills)
• Believe in Better and reconnect with the joy of teaching (our most important job)!

Speaker: Kimberly Jackson-Betke is a Curriculum Specialist at Don Johnston Incorporated. Her expertise in education trends, funding and statewide initiatives provides curriculum resources to key administrators, principals, district directors and teachers for students with complex needs, with an emphasis on organizational culture. Kimberly helps educators integrate and deliver classroom and virtual solutions to improve reading and writing performance for struggling students and students with disabilities.

Accommodations: CART captioning is provided for all SCATP webinars. If you need an additional accommodation to participate in this webinar, please contact the SC Assistive Technology Program at least one week prior to the webinar via e-mail at janet.lambert@uscmed.sc.edu or by calling 803-935-5263.

All SC Assistive Technology Program’s webinars are recorded and archived. If you cannot attend the live session, please go to our training page 24 hours after the webinar and register for the video link and transcript.

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the SC Assistive Technology Program at janet.lambert@uscmed.sc.edu or by calling 803-935-5263.

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Wheel Pads, ADUs, and Universally Accessible Home Attachments

Date: September 16th, 2021

Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. ET

Cost: Free 

(Participants must register to receive the Zoom confirmation email)

Register Now!

Participants will learn about Wheel Pad’s mission to create more universally accessible housing. Wheel Pads are for those who desire choices when faced with injury, disability, or chronic health complications. With a Wheel Pad, you have the choice to remain at home to heal and live. Wheel Pads offer tiny home-style accommodations with true universal accessibility, ready to adapt to your home and property, and to any lifestyle change.

Speaker: RJ Adler, Business Development Director, Wheel Pad

Accommodations: CART captioning is provided for all SCATP webinars. If you need an additional accommodation to participate in this webinar, please contact the SC Assistive Technology Program at least one week prior to the webinar via e-mail at janet.lambert@uscmed.sc.edu or by calling 803-935-5263.

All SC Assistive Technology Program’s webinars are recorded and archived. If you cannot attend the live session, please go to our training page 24 hours after the webinar and register for the video link and transcript.

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the SC Assistive Technology Program at janet.lambert@uscmed.sc.edu or by calling 803-935-5263.

BIASC: Same Web Address, Brand New Website Look!

Brain Injury Association of South Carolina is so excited to share with you that we have updated our website! It is the same URL (www.biaofsc.com) with a whole new look. We are so excited about it and think it will be a much cleaner and user-friendly experience. We have reorganized some of the information and updated our visuals to make navigating our website, resources, and programs much easier.

We encourage you to check out the new website and pass this information on to your family, friends, colleagues, and community members. The information we have to share is important and helpful for survivors of brain injury and their support systems. You can check out our new website by visiting Brain Injury Association of SC website here or by utilizing the QR code below:

One of the features we are most excited about with this new website is our accessibility widget through UserWay. This accessibility widget can be found at the bottom right of the website on any page that you click on, and allows for people with various disabilities (such as visual disabilities, color  blindness, astigmatism, dyslexia, etc.) to access the essential and important brain health information found on our site. Some of the accessibility features are described below.

The Userway accessibility widget includes a variety of features that can be present for anyone, but are more likely to be present in someone who has experienced a TBI or mTBI (concussion). Some of those features include, but are not limited to:

• Keyboard navigation 
• Read page = the page will be read aloud by the widget, which is great for users with dyslexia, learning disabilities, visual disabilities, or who have difficulty with looking at screens for long periods of time 
• Contrast = this will change the contrast colors of the web page, background, font color, etc. to make it easier to read the information on the website, which is great for users who are colorblind, have astigmatism, etc. 
• Highlight Links = this makes it easier to find where clickable links on each page are 
• Bigger Text = this allows users to change the size of the text on the page to assist with seeing the information easier, which can assist users who are legally blind or who need larger font size 
• Text Spacing = this feature allows for different variations of spacing between words. This can be really helpful for users with dyslexia, learning disabilities, or visual disabilities. 
• Pause animations = any videos that auto-play or moving text/images can be paused so that they can be viewed on the user's timeframe 
• Legible fonts = this feature allows for the user to change fonts that are easier to see. Depending on the disability, fonts that are closer to cursive can be more difficult to read. 
• Cursor 
• Page Structure = this can help restructure the page to make it easier to navigate and follow 
• Move/Hide = gives the user the ability to move and hide some features of the page 

Thank you so much for your support of the 

Brain Injury Association of South Carolina's mission!