Welcome to Capitol Connections

 

Capitol Connections Newsletter

In this issue of Capitol Connection, the Autism Society’s Policy Newsletter, take a look at the new title accompanying the Autism Society’s new brand launch! Also, in this edition is news on employment legislation, caregiving, education, and civil rights. Please visit the Autism Society’s Action Center for action steps to help us educate Members of Congress about the needs of people with autism.

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Autism Society of America

6110 Executive Boulevard Suite 305

Rockville, MD 20852

 1 (800) 328-8476

Let's Talk Training!

 

Upcoming Family Connection Trainings

Our Seat at the Table: A Parent Leadership Training

Make an impact as an EQUAL member of any team or group. Learn how to use your voice and your journey as a parent to make a difference and advocate for children. Our Parent Leadership Training is a two session, interactive, evidence-based curriculum for anyone who is currently serving, or wants to serve, on a decision-making group. This can include parents, students, educators, administrators, and community members. 

APPROVED for 4 hours of FOSTER PARENT CREDIT

certificate provided upon completion

Speakers: Sally Baker and Melissa Sanders

Session 1: Thursday, December 2, 2021

Session 2: Thursday, December 9, 2021

Zoom Meetings: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Register now!

*****

The Basics of the Individualized Education Program (IEP)

This training explains the basics of developing a well-written IEP. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that students who are eligible and need special education services have a written statement called the IEP. The session will enable participants to:

• Understand the purpose of the IEP,
• Identify the required components to design and develop the IEP,
• Identify quality indicators of a well-written IEP
• Understand the documentation to measure the success of the IEP.

Speaker: Dr. Susan Thomas

Thursday, December 2, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM -- Register now!

Tuesday, December 7, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM -- Register now!

*****

Overview of the Employability Credential 

(SC High School Credential)

This session for parents and families of students with disabilities will include an overview of the requirements to earning the Employability Credential known as the South Carolina High School Credential. In addition, this session will include information as to how a student can be considered “Career Ready” for employment.

This workshop is in partnership with Office of Special Education Services

Speakers: Kim A. Watkins and Chris Napier, 

Office of Special Education Services

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Zoom Meeting: 10:00 – 11:15 AM -- Register now!

*****

Fomentando Esperanza

Un espacio dedicado a familias Latinas con niños con necesidades de salud especiales. Donde se ofrecen recursos, informacion, capacitacion, y apoyo mutuo.

A space dedicated to the Latino Families of children with special needs, where resources, information, training and mutual support is offered.

Facilitador: Jenny Nuvan

Thursday, Dec 16, 2021 @ 7:00 PM EST

LOCATION: Unase a la reaunion virtual por Zoom

Hora: 7:00 pm a 8:30 pm EST

Registración: Para registrarse puede contactar a Jenny Nuvan al 803-995-9124 or al correo electrónico: jnuvan@familyconnectionsc.org o en la linea de Family Connection en Español al 1888-808-7465

*****

Watch select trainings on demand!

The latest topic added: 

Understanding the Laws that Protect Students with Disabilities 

by Dr. Susan Thomas

What Questions Do You Have About Getting a Communication Device?

We are reaching out to parents of children who are nonverbal. If you are a professional, please pass this email along to the parents of children who are nonverbal. It doesn’t matter if the child already has a communication device or not.

We would like to create a brochure that answers parents’ questions about how to get a communication device for their nonverbal child and make these available state-wide.

If you completed the survey, thank you!

 

Please forward this information to another parent.

Parents’ Survey

For more information contact: 

Sade Moody

SC State Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Student

Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) Trainee

Sade.moody@uscmed.sc.edu

or

 

Carol Page, PhD, CCC-SLP, ATP

Program Manager

SC Assistive Technology Program

USC School of Medicine, Center for Disability Resources

803-935-5301

800-915-4522 toll free

This is Our Shot! November Newsletter

This month’s newsletter will focus on a member of the Black, indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC) community with a disability who has chosen to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.  We highlight these stories in hopes they’ll help others who are considering the shot to make informed and confident decisions.

Jonathan Brown is a member of the BIPOC community with a disability, caused by a stroke. Because of this medical history, Brown was hesitant to receive his COVID-19 vaccine, but he decided to talk with his doctor to learn more.

“She insisted I get it,” Brown said.

Ultimately, Brown did get his shot, knowing he wanted to protect members of his family and community.  He especially wanted to protect his mom, who he attempted to convince to get a vaccine.

Brown’s mom received a mandate from her employer that she’d need to either get a vaccine or risk losing her job.

“She’s worked her job for forty years,” Brown explained.  “It makes her smile, and I love to see her smile, so I tried to tell her to get it.”

Ultimately, Brown’s mom chose not to get the vaccine, leaving her job behind.  However, Brown isn’t done with trying to convince her yet.

“What do you have to lose?” Brown said when asked what he would say to others who were hesitant about getting the vaccine.  “You either get the shot, or you get COVID.”

If you’re considering the COVID-19 vaccine but are feeling hesitant, reach out to your doctor or another medical professional you trust to find out which shot is best for you.

Learn More about your risk of getting sick from COVID-19 and how the vaccine can help protect you, as a member of the BIPOC with disabilities community.

South Carolina Vaccine Access Hotline

If you have questions or need assistance with resources such as transportation or finding a vaccine site, the South Carolina Vaccine Access Hotline, run by the staff of Able South Carolina and Disability Rights South Carolina, can help.

Give us a call at (800) 787-6046.  Things we can do to help:

• Address any concerns you may have about getting the vaccine     
• Find a trusted medical provider
• Assist with vaccine appointment scheduling
• Navigate transportation to get your vaccine
• Offer resources and guidance on transportation to and from vaccine
• Answer some of the most common disability-related questions related to the COVID-19 vaccine
• Provide information about accessible vaccine sites based on crowdsourced data
• Address other disability-related barriers about the vaccine you may be experiencing           

Disclaimer: The staff of the Disability Vaccine Access Hotline are not licensed, medical providers.  They are unable to offer medical advice about the best vaccine for you or predict how the vaccine may affect you or your family

Haga clic aquí para leer en español.

Help Your Child Learn to Communicate!

 For more information email Katie Wolfe

at katiewolfe@sc.edu or call 803-777-8260.  

Culturally Tailoring Parent Mediated Interventions Webinar

FPG Distinguished Speaker Series

Culturally Tailoring Parent Mediated Interventions:

An Iterative Process

Description: UNC's Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute is pleased to welcome Sandy Magaña, PhD, MSW, as the second speaker in our 2021-2022 distinguished speaker series, Examining Equity and Diversity in the Field of Developmental Disabilities.

In this talk, Professor Magaña will discuss the need for culturally tailored parent mediated interventions for parents of children with ASD and the process of cultural adaptation. She will use examples from her own research in which a parent educational intervention was developed for Latino families of children with ASD and later adapted for African American, Chinese American, and low-resource communities.

Learning Objectives

• Attendees will be able to explain the importance of cultural adaptation.
• Attendees will be able to identify at least 3 key components important for cultural adaptation.
• Attendees will be able to apply at least one strategy for working with diverse populations in their own practice.

Time: Nov 17, 2021 03:30 PM in Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Register Here! 

Speaker

Sandy Magaña, PhD, MSW @Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities 

in the Steve Hicks School of Social Work

Master of Social Work from California State University, San Bernardino and a PhD from the Heller Graduate School of Social Policy at Brandeis University. She completed her post-doctoral training from the NICHD funded Post-Doctoral Program in Developmental Disabilities Research at the Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison. She was a faculty member in the UW-Madison School of Social Work for 12 years and later served as a Professor at the Department of Disability and Human Development at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her current research includes investigating racial and ethnic disparities among children with autism and developmental disabilities and developing culturally relevant interventions to address these disparities.

New Look, Exceptional Support - Reintroducing the Autism Society

 

The Autism Society is proud to introduce 

our new brand!

For far too long, individuals living on the Autism spectrum have been categorized, labeled and placed into diagnostic boxes. But life experiences are far more complex, and the Autism Society embraces the infinite ways in which people live their lives. In service of those unique experiences, the Autism Society has undergone a major rebranding effort.  

We are proud and excited to advance our mission to create connections, empowering everyone in the Autism community with the resources needed to live fully. Our vision is to create a world where everyone in the Autism community is connected to the support they need, when they need it. We do this while embodying our values of Dignity, Equity, Inclusion, Diversity, and Integrity. 

More than a visual change, this brand was developed with over 150 members in the Autism community, making it a reflection of our community. Every element was designed to create a beautiful, functional space to increase access to resources and information. 

The new brand means that we can do more to serve our community without visual, auditory or other sensory barriers, and provide more visibility for the diversity of experiences across the spectrum. 

Ultimately, the Autism Society’s brand is intended to foster connections within the Autism community. Connections to resources, information, services, opportunities, and of course, to each other. Whether you are a parent looking for a support group to build social connections for your child, or an Autistic self-advocate looking for ways to impact policy in your community, the Autism Society knows that The Connection is You™. 

If you are curious about this work, please check out our blog post and FAQ's for more information.

Learn More About Our New Brand

Handling Health- Online Consumer Training

Developing a healthy lifestyle is hard. Where do you even start? We can help! Register for a free online training on Monday, November 15 from 3:00-4:00 PM and learn all about:

• Understanding the types of health
• How to keep healthy habits - such as exercise and eating right
• How to communicate your health needs to others
• How to make health a part of your lifestyle 
• and more!

Registration will close on Sunday, November 14.

For questions, contact Dori at dtempio@able-sc.org.

Register Here!

Cheers to All Caregivers! 🙌

 

November is National Family Caregivers Month

This November, we recognize National Family Caregivers Month, providing an opportunity to celebrate the incredible selfless, challenging, compassionate work from caregivers within the Autism Community. While we champion caregivers every day, this month we highlight their impact and supports needed to strengthen our community. The Autism Society will also continue to emphasize COVID-19 safety, vaccination education, and ways to stay healthy this flu season.

Did you know: Caring for a loved one can strain even the most resilient people. If you're a caregiver, take steps to preserve your own health and well-being. A few ways to reduce caregivers stress include accepting help, setting realistic goals, and joining a caregivers support group.

ACCESS NOVEMBER TOOLKIT

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 November theme:

• Autism Society of Greater New Orleans hosts a monthly "Caregivers of Low Support Needs Children and Individuals" group.
• Autism Society Texas hosts a monthly "Evolution Support Group" for parents and caregivers of middle and high school-aged tweens & teens on the spectrum.

Visit our Website

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. 

New training added for November!

 

New Training Offered! 

We have added a new training to our November calendar. Two options are available — choose the one that works best for your schedule! 

Evaluation and Eligibility under IDEA 

Evaluation is one of the first steps in the Special Education process. In this interactive virtual training, the process and requirements for evaluation and eligibility as defined in IDEA will be discussed. South Carolina regulations for determining eligibility will also be covered. Participants will also learn the definition of consent, parent, and prior written notice. 

Speaker: Susan Beck 

Tuesday, November 16, 2021 

Zoom meeting: 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. 

REGISTER HERE!

Link will be provided  

Thursday, November 18, 2021 

Zoom meeting: 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 

REGISTER HERE!

Link will be provided 

The SC Department on Aging 

will be hosting a Virtual Caregiver Panel 

in honor of National Caregiver Month! 

Do you need help... 

• Taking a break from caregiving? 
• Finding a support group? 
• Finding free legal services? 
• Finding placement for your loved ones? 

The South Carolina Department of Aging wants to help!  

Date: November 18, 2021, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 

Panelists: Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, and presentations from Sheriff Leon Lott, The Alzheimer’s Association, SC Respite Coalition, SC Thrive, and many more. 

REGISTER HERE!

Final Application Deadline Extension for Vaccine Access Funding for Eligible Centers for Independent Living

 

Final Application Deadline Extension for Vaccine Access Funding for Eligible Centers for Independent Living 

November 1, 2021- Kimberly Tissot of Able South Carolina and Richard Petty of ILRU in Houston announced today the Disability Vaccine Access Opportunities Center (DVAO Center) is extending the application deadline to November 19 at 12:00 Noon Eastern Time for applications for grant-based funding to support vaccination access for people with disabilities across the nation. Centers for independent living (CILs) that were not funded through the CARES Act and that were not previously recipients of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funding are eligible to submit applications. This group of CILs includes centers funded through Part B of Title VII of the Rehabilitation Act (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) and/or CILs funded with state and local funding. Awards for up to $50,000 through the vaccine access opportunity program for individual CILs are anticipated. 

Interested eligible CILs are encouraged to apply for funding by completing an online application by 12:00 pm (Noon) EDT on November 19, 2021, via the online application. 

This funding is being made available to improve access to COVID-19 vaccines for people with disabilities by leveraging the support of a select group of centers for independent living. Examples of how CILs have supported vaccine uptake include the following: providing peer counseling about the benefits and importance of having vaccinations; assisting individuals to find an accessible location where they may secure vaccinations; holding vaccine events such as drive-up, in-vehicle vaccinations; working with local health departments to arrange in-home vaccinations for those unable to travel safely and providing education to local health departments and other agencies to improve awareness and affect meaningful change within those agencies to improve vaccine access for people with disabilities.  

Funded centers will be provided with technical assistance, training, and additional resources from the DVAO Center to support their vaccine efforts and projects for this grant. These resources include a monthly webinar with presentations from CDC Foundation and disability advocacy panelists, access to an online communication platform tool for participating centers, and free technical assistance to complete project needs. The Disability Vaccine Opportunity Access Center is a national center that will further vaccination access for people with disabilities. The prime recipient of the grant for this project is Able South Carolina, which as a center for independent living is a consumer-directed organization. ILRU, an organization managed and operated by people with disabilities, is the principal partner and contractor. The DVAO Center will support local disability-run centers for independent living to assist people with disabilities to have full access to the vaccines that fight COVID-19. Funding for this effort is provided by the CDC Foundation of Atlanta, GA. 

See the Request for Application 

The Disability Vaccine Access Opportunities Center is operated with grant funding from the CDC Foundation and awarded to Able SC, which will collaborate with ILRU. Funding for this effort is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award with 100 percent funded by CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government. 

ABOUT ABLE SOUTH CAROLINA: Able SC is a change agent committed to fostering an equitable society that empowers individuals with disabilities to live fully engaged and self-directed lives. Able SC is an organization led by individuals with disabilities that challenges stereotypes and promotes disability rights and justice. To learn more about Able SC’s programs and services, visit www.able-sc.org. 

ABOUT INDEPENDENT LIVING RESEARCH UTILIZATION (ILRU): ILRU at TIRR Memorial Hermann, founded in 1977, has a long history of providing research, education, and consultation in the areas of independent living, home and community-based services, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. ILRU is operated by community living and disability law experts with disabilities. To learn more about ILRU, visit www.ilru.org 

Visit Able SC's Website

Free Webinar: Blind Spot Sensors for Wheelchairs

Blind Spot Sensors for Wheelchairs

Target Audience: OT's, ATP's, PT's, Family & Professional Caregivers, Wheelchair Users

Date: November 11, 2021

Time: 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. ET

Cost: Free!

Register Now!

Webinar Description: For wheelchair users who struggle to maneuver safely or just need more spatial awareness, Braze Mobility has created the world's first blind spot sensors that can be added to any wheelchair and transform it into a 'smart' wheelchair. Our system automatically detects obstacles and provides feedback to the user through intuitive lights, sounds, and vibrations.

Join the webinar and chat with Dr. Pooja Viswanthan, who has incorporated over a decade of smart wheelchair research to bring you and your clients the world's first blind spot sensors for wheelchairs.

Participants will learn:

• At least 3 benefits of blind spot sensors and scenarios where they are used
• At least 3 types of user feedback that blind spot sensors can provide
• At least 3 advantages of blind spot sensors over semi-autonomous wheelchairs

Speaker:

Dr. Pooja Viswanathan has a passion for improving accessibility and independence for people with physical disabilities. She has completed doctoral and post-doctoral research in robotics and assistive technologies and has been working with smart wheelchair technology for over a decade.

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.

Celebrating 75 Years of United Spinal

United Spinal's 75th Anniversary 

Gala and Community Event

 

Our November 10th 75th Anniversary Virtual Gala is rapidly approaching and we would love to see you there! All are welcome to register for the event—which is free—and be our guest, as we celebrate Building an Inclusive World! Please continue to spread the word among your friends, family and networks. Click here to register (which includes a variety of options to donate to help support 75 more years of United Spinal!):

For additional information on United Spinal’s 75th Anniversary Gala or if you have questions, please contact: Shannon Aquino, Vice President of Development at: saquino@unitedspinal.org 

Celebrating 75 Years of United Spinal Association

The October issue of New Mobility Magazine celebrates 75 years of United Spinal Association, devoting a section to highlight the four key elements that shaped our organization into the premier nonprofit for the SCI/D community. Filled with stories, posts and infographics on 75 years of accomplishments and service, there's a lot to be proud of. Check out the issue here.

People with Disabilities Make the American Workforce Stronger

"As I celebrate my first anniversary as United Spinal Association President/CEO, I want to take a moment to reflect on first principles for Disability Employment Awareness Month, and think about the journey that brought me here. Since my injury in 2010, I have been posing questions to Corporate America around the advancement and inclusion of people with disabilities at work and seeking solutions that the disability community can put into practice together with supportive peers and leaders in the corporate world." - Vincenzo Piscopo, United Spinal president & CEO. Read Vincenzo's full message.

Click here to read more of the 

United Spinal October 2021 Newsletter.

Free Webinars!

This list of free webinars is compiled from around the Web 

by the Accessible Technology Coalition. 

Follow the ATC Facebook page for late additions.

The SC Assistive Technology Program offers free webinars, too!

K-12 AT Webinars

Making Inclusion Work with UDL: A Guide for Related Service Providers from DJI

November 4, 2021 at 10am Pacific, 1pm Eastern

Accessibility in Science and Math from AEM Cafe

November 4, 2021 at 1pm Pacific, 4pm Eastern

Reading Tools for Chrome from PACER

November 9, 2021 at 12pm Pacific, 3pm Eastern

iPad apps for learners with complex needs from CALLScotland

November 10, 2021 at 9am Pacific, 12pm Eastern (30 min.)

Driving Engagement through UDL: Top Strategies from Paula Kluth’s Playbook from DJI

November 10, 2021 at 10am Pacific, 1pm Eastern

Using Switches to Access Academics Math/Science/Literacy from SETC

November 15, 2021 at 4pm Pacific, 7pm Eastern

Self-Determination & AT: Getting Students Ready for Postsecondary Settings from Infinitec

November 16, 2021 at 1:30pm Pacific, 4:30pm Eastern

Tools for Students Part 2: Plan, Write, and Complete School Projects from PACER

November 17, 2021 at 1pm Pacific, 4pm Eastern

Making Math Digital from SETC

November 17, 2021 at 3:30pm Pacific, 6:30pm Eastern

Adults or General

Accessibility Insights with Ted Drake of Intuit from AbilityNet

November 9, 2021 at  5am Pacific (oof) 8am Eastern

The Business Case for Accessibility and HR’s Role from TPGi, LLC

November 9, 2021 at 9am Pacific, 12pm Eastern

Wired Wednesday: AT Bits & Bytes with TFL and WATAP

November 10, 2021 at 11am Pacific, 2pm Eastern

Equipment and Assistive Technology that Helps Caregivers from the ALS Assn

November 15, 2021 at 11am Pacific, 2pm Eastern 

AAC Webinars

Google Action Blocks to support communication and physical impairments from CALLScotland

November 3, 2021 at 9am Pacific, 12pm Eastern (30 min.)

Building Capacity for AAC Implementation in a Large School District from SETC

November 4, 2021 at 3:30pm Pacific, 6:30pm Eastern

Voice and message banking from CALLScotland

November 24, 2021 at 9am Pacific, 12pm Eastern (30 min.)

Free training: Signing with Children Aged Birth to 3 and Beyond

Signing with Children 

Aged Birth to 3 and Beyond

Type: In-Person Training

Date: November 4, 2021

Time: 10 - 11:30 a.m.

Location: 8301 Farrow Road, Poplar Bldg., Columbia, SC 29203

Cost: FREE!

Participants must register to attend. 

REGISTER NOW!

This is a fun, interactive workshop. It covers 30+ single ASL signs, the manual alphabet, and numbers 1-10 as well as natural ways to incorporate signs at home and in therapy sessions.

Presenter: Jill Eversmann, MS, CCC-SLP, is a lecturer and clinical educator in the Speech-Language Pathology program at Columbia College, in Columbia, SC. She has over 30 years of experience as a pediatric SLP. She is a national presenter with Motivations, Inc. and a Signing Time Academy Instructor. She presents workshops and webinars for parents and professionals around the country. Jill is a graduate of James Madison University, VA (BS) and Towson University, MD (MS). She is ASHA certified and licensed in SC.

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.