ABLE SC, October Youth Newsletter

 

October Youth Newsletter National Disability Employment Awareness Month is here! October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. I spoke to Able South Carolina’s Director of Employment Programs, Marly Saade. She answered some common questions regarding the employment of people with disabilities. The exchange is below.  Grace: What percentage of people with disabilities are employed and how does that compare to people without disabilities? Marly: “In 2022, the employment gap between those with disabilities compared to those without was 37.2% - since then, the dial has moved in the right direction, but not enough!  40.3% of people with disabilities in South Carolina are employed, while 77.5% of people without disabilities in South Carolina are employed.” Grace: Able South Carolina was instrumental in ending the practice of subminimum wage in South Carolina. How has the end of the subminimum wage impacted the employment landscape in SC? Marly: “For one thing, it is now against the law to pay anyone, with or without a disability, anything less than the $7.50 Federal Minimum Wage. For people with disabilities, this has opened new employment opportunities in integrated competitive employment.  People with disabilities work alongside those without disabilities doing real work for real pay. We are shifting away from sheltered environments and forced social interactions, to community settings where they have more control of their daily living activities. This cannot be said enough – They are doing real work for real pay!” Grace: What are some of the reasons why employers are reluctant to hire people with disabilities and what can be done about them? Marly: “[One reason is] attitudinal barriers related to discomfort and fear of saying the wrong thing. This tends to lead to avoidance behaviors. When someone with a disability applies for a position, and then someone is afraid of engaging them because of said disability – that is called discrimination. There are resources such as Able Access and Hire Me SC available to help employers navigate that attitudinal fear. [There are also misconceptions regarding the cost of] Reasonable Accommodations: Reasonable Accommodations, according to JAN.org, are NOT as costly as employers initially fear. When they allow themselves to go through the process. They realize that most accommodations cost no more than an interactive discussion between the employer and employee. Planning for how you will provide accommodations, how you will evaluate the effectiveness of the accommodations, and having a pool of resources for AT devices will make the process much easier when someone with a disability does come looking to work for you.” Grace: Are there any other misconceptions about people with disabilities and employment that affect hiring practices? Marly: “So many! But just to mention one or two things:  First, there are concerns about productivity and the time it takes to accomplish a task. However, 87 % of employers rate people with disabilities as average or above average in productivity, quality, and safety on the job.    That the community is unsafe for people with disabilities. Well, if that is true, it is because of the attitudinal and environmental barriers that still exist.” Grace: Some people who don’t support the end of subminimum wage say that their loved one is incapable of participating in integrated competitive employment. What would you say to those people? Marly: “I would ask that they not impose limitations that only exist because of that nonexclusive mindset. There are employers out there who understand their responsibilities, that offer the right accommodation and support, and that value the community enough to meet its needs. Supported Employment is entirely based on the buy-in of people without disabilities and how willing they are to make space for people who don’t speak, look, think, or act like them. How willing are you to allow people to exist in the spaces that our laws state is for everyone! Supported employment is about inclusion and making space for everyone to find employment, maintain said employment, and hopefully strive for more. Supported employment means providing people with disabilities with job accommodations or modifications and sometimes that means having a job coach with you on the job, talking you through your work tasks.” Grace: For our final question… Some people have disabilities that impact their ability to learn social skills and do things like read body language. How can those people be supported in learning “soft skills”? Marly: “Tap into your community resources. Able SC, Able Access and Hire Me SC, are people with disabilities leading the charge to help people with disabilities. They offer Independent Living Skills Training to the community, free of charge. They also have Fee for Services to help employers learn the skills needed to be inclusive to any potential employees.” Grace: Thank you for your time, Marly. I will link the organizations you mentioned below for youth to use as a resource.  Resources: Job Accommodation Network Website Link Able South Carolina Website Link Able Access Accessibility Consultation Link Hire Me SC Website Link Youth Spotlight: Dajha Pridgen This week’s spotlight is Dajha Pridgen, age 24.   Dajha started out as a consumer at Able SC. She worked with one of Able’s Youth Independent Living Specialists for two years, getting closer to her goals with each session. Meeting her goals filled Dajha with a renewed sense of confidence, and she decided that she wanted to gain leadership skills alongside her independent living skills. She applied to the SC Youth Leadership Forum and was accepted as a delegate in 2023. Being around other young people who “didn’t let their disabilities stop them” helped Dajha accept herself as a person with a disability. She came back to YLF as a peer staff in 2024 and enjoyed it just as much the second time around.  Dajha has been working for Able SC as an AmeriCorps member. AmeriCorps is a federal program that empowers young people to serve their communities; it is often referred to as “the domestic Peace Corps”. As an AmeriCorps member, Dajha shadows our Director of Community Access, Dori Tempio, and attends meetings and learns administrative skills. She also helps to run the Equip program, working directly with youth with disabilities. As a woman with Autism and anxiety, Dajha brings lived experience to her role.  Dajha enjoys “writing and hanging out with [her] pets” in her spare time. She hopes to become a writer someday and is bringing her love of writing to the Equip program. Dajha has been working hard to bring back Equip’s Creative Writing Club! More information about the project can be found in the “Events” section of this newsletter.    Able SC Youth Events & Programs Monthly Equip Hangouts The Equip Hangouts occur 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 youth with disabilities ages 13-28 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 registering, email equip@able-sc.org or call us at 864.235.1421. Registration is required. To register, follow the link below. Equip Registration Link Meeting dates: November 7 (Virtual) November 21 (In-person) Creative Writing Club Equip Specialists Abigail and Dejha are bringing back the Creative Writing Club! One of our most popular Discord events, the Creative Writing Club allows Discord members to write stories together, socialize with each other, and share ideas and creativity.  If you are already a member of the Able SC Youth Discord server, there is nothing you need to worry about. The entire server will be reminded of the event before it happens. If you’re not a member of our server, a link to join will be provided below! The Able SC Youth Discord server is a fun way for Equip participants to support one another, engage in activities together, and learn about upcoming events.   Don’t miss out! Event Details Date: October 18 Time: 6:00 PM to 7:00 Location: Online Cost: Free Link to join the Able SC Youth Discord VR and Programming Lessons with SC CATER Continue through October Learn to program video games! Starting classes to be certified in Unity Programming. Attend multiple classes to complete your certification starting on August 30th. This month’s class will be on October 26. Registration is required to attend. To register, follow the link below. Registration for Unity Programming Certification Classes   Youth Resources & Updates University of South Carolina Seeking Deaf and Hard of Hearing Young Adults for Healthcare Study The University of South Carolina is doing a research study on healthcare for deaf and hard of hearing adults, specifically the transition from pediatric to adult care. In order to join the study, participants must be a member of one of the following groups: A young adult or adolescent (ages 18-40) who is culturally Deaf, deaf, or hard of hearing A parent of a young adult or adolescent who is culturally Deaf, deaf, or hard of hearing  A professional who works with young adults or adolescents who are culturally Deaf, deaf, or hard of hearing  For more information about the study, please scan the QR code in the image above or email STRICK47@mailbox.sc.edu.    Learn More about the Study Disability & Health Equity Movie Screening Was A Success Back in September, Able SC had a movie screening of the film “Fire Through Dry Grass” at the Nickelodeon Theatre in Columbia. “Fire Through Dry Grass” told the story of a group of young Black men surviving the COVID lockdown. But these young men have a unique set of challenges: they are gun violence survivors living in a nursing home.  They document their struggles by attaching GoPro cameras to their wheelchairs, providing a human face to the people who were left behind in the government’s efforts to handle the pandemic. They endured many hardships such as being forced to share rooms with COVID-positive patients in a time before there were vaccines or effective treatments.  There were representatives from Able SC holding a question and answer panel after the screening, along with one of the protagonists of the movie, Jay. More than fifty people were present and the questions ignited an intensely passionate discussion about how disabled people are viewed by society, racial injustice, and a lack of health equity.    Ebony Deloach, Able South Carolina’s Disability Health Equity Coordinator and one of the panelists, called the film “relevant, real, and raw” and said that she “could feel the frustration through the screen”. Although it is a tale of disabled lives being forgotten and devalued, “Fire Through Dry Grass” also showcases the resilience and strength of the disability community. That resilience and strength is what motivates the employees of Able SC and the local disability community to continue to show up and do the work necessary for disabled people everywhere to not only survive, but thrive. Seeking SC Employability Credential Success Stories Did you receive a South Carolina Employability Credential? Do you feel successful and supported in your career goals now that you’ve graduated high school? Share your story to help others! Scan the QR code or visit the link provided to be contacted in order to have your success story featured on the Employability Credential website. If you have any questions, please email Jewel Canty at jewelcanty@gmail.com for more details. Complete the Google Form Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities (PAIDD) Advisory Council Seeking New Members Disability Rights South Carolina (DRSC) is seeking new members for its Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities (PAIDD) Advisory Council.  DRSC is an organization that protects and promotes the rights of people with disabilities, and its Board Members set annual goals based on the advice and experience of its council members. Council members are expected to attend meetings, discuss the needs of people with developmental disabilities, and learn to advocate for their own needs. Council members must be a member of one of the following groups: people with developmental disabilities family members of people with developmental disabilities professionals who work with people with developmental disabilities At least 60% of members of the council must be people with developmental disabilities. People with developmental disabilities and family members of people with developmental disabilities are especially encouraged to apply. Council members should reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of the state. Council members are expected to attend four meetings a year and the meetings last for two hours, and council meetings are held at the DRSC Columbia office. This is an unpaid volunteer position, but members will get mileage reimbursement, as well as reimbursement for childcare or adult daycare for their family member with a disability. If a member is unable to travel, they can attend via phone or video conference. Reasonable accommodations, such as large print or the use of an interpreter, will be provided. By applying for the PAIDD Council, you can advance the rights and support the needs of people with disabilities throughout the lifespan and be a leader in your community! To learn more and apply for the position, please contact the DRSC office at 803-782-0639 or email Sherry Pressley at pressley@disabilityrightssc.org. Below is a direct link to the application. Be sure to make a copy of the application document in order to ensure you are able to edit it. PAIDD Council Application Maine Government Being Sued by the DOJ for Violating the Americans with Disabilities Act and Olmstead Law  More than 25 years after the Olmstead Act was passed to affirm the right of people with disabilities to live in their communities, the Department of Justice is suing the state of Maine for “unnecessarily segregating children with behavioral health disabilities in hospitals, residential facilities and a state-operated juvenile detention facility.” The Olmstead Decision refers to a Supreme Court ruling that prohibits people with disabilities from being institutionalized when a less restrictive environment is available. It states that people with disabilities have the right to live in their communities with appropriate supports and services. But what happens when these supports are not available? Many children with behavioral health needs are being left in emergency rooms and are forced to stay in the hospital due to a lack of placements available. Abby Bedard has been a patient at Redington-Fairview General Hospital for over 220 days. Abby has cerebral palsy and severe behavioral health needs but because she needs psychiatric and physical support, there are no placements that can meet all of her needs. Some children end up in the criminal justice system, and correctional facilities, such as the Long Creek Youth Development Center are used to fill in the gaps of care. 85% of the youth at the Center have at least three mental health diagnoses. The crimes that result in them ending up at the Center are usually a manifestation of their disabilities, left untreated. The state of Maine has known about this crisis for at least ten years and nothing has been done. Instead of taking responsibility for its failures, the government has decided to continue with the litigation. South Carolina may soon face a similar situation, as we also do not have an Olmstead Plan. 25 years after the fact, people with disabilities are still being denied the community based care they need to thrive. To read more about this issue, follow the link below. Department of Justice Sues Maine over Treatment of Children with Behavioral Disabilities Article Link Read the Article Events Calendar Household Safety Consumer Webinar Join the Public Health team at Able SC to learn how people with disabilities can make their homes safer. We will cover important safety tips, ways to make your home safer to move around in, and what to do in emergencies. By the end of the training, you'll know how to keep your home safe, be prepared for emergencies, and have tools and resources to make daily living easier and safer. Date: October 29 Time: 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM Location: Online  Cost: Free To learn more about the event and to register, please visit the link below. Household Safety Consumer Training Link   Celebrating Thirty Years of Able SC at Fundable You’re Invited to FundAble! This year’s theme is “Just Imagine”! Support Able South Carolina and our vision of a South Carolina that promotes equity and access for individuals with disabilities. This year’s Able SC’s annual fundraising & awards event will celebrate our 30th Anniversary and share our vision for the future.  Dress to impress in cocktail attire for an elegant evening consisting of heavy hors d’oeuvres, an open bar, a live music performance, and more; all in support of our disability community. An unforgettable experience for a worthy cause. Come and enjoy heavy hors d'oeuvres and an open bar, awards show, and live entertainment - all while having a fun evening with dedicated individuals who work to equip people with disabilities, educate our communities, and advocate for access, equity, and inclusion! Friday, November 15, 2024 6:00 PM EDT - 10:00 PM EDT Central Energy 2030 Gregg Street Columbia, SC 29201 Valet Parking Available Dress: Cocktail Attire Support Able Activities: Elegant and Fun Raffle Baskets, Mystery Wine Wall Raffle basket themes include All Around Columbia, Charleston Experience, Around SC, Bourbon, Bubbles, Balloons, Cozy at Home with Able SC, and Disability Pride Fan! Come mix, mingle, dance, and celebrate Able SC!  To buy tickets and reserve your spot, click the link below.  Fundable Tickets Link Sponsor of the Month Gregory Electric Gregory Electric has been instrumental to the infrastructure of the southeastern region of the US. They have over sixty years of experience in a variety of industries including: ●    Electrical engineering  ●    High voltage power  ●    HVAC ●    Mechanical engineering  ●    Solar power  ●    Telecommunications  ●    Water features and utilities  ●    Technology  Gregory Electric has supported Able SC’s Youth Programs through a recent donation, demonstrating their dedication to community involvement and fostering future leaders. Able SC Youth Team Wishlist Support Disabled Youth! Check out our Amazon Youth Team Wishlist to support our youth programs including Equip, SC Youth Leadership Forum, and others. Wishlist Able SC Youth Services The transition to adulthood for youth with disabilities can be complicated. As an organization staffed and board-directed by a majority of people with disabilities ourselves, we understand the needs of youth, their families, and the professionals supporting them in ways that other agencies may not. Able SC Youth Programs subscribe donate our work Able South Carolina 720 Gracern Road Suite 106 | Columbia, South Carolina 29210 803.779.5121 | advocacy@able-sc.org Follow Us Having trouble viewing this email? View it in your web browser Unsubscribe or Manage Your Preferences