HIRE ME SC, Newsletter

 

Hire Me SC Quarterly Newsletter

Hire Me SC People with disabilities can work, want to work, and should be afforded every opportunity to work. Hire Me SC is a campaign that promotes a culture of inclusion across the state of South Carolina, one in which employment for every individual, disability or not, is the norm rather than the exception. View our website

With your help, we can change the culture of disability employment in South Carolina. SC Employment Equality Project Are you a minority person with paralysis on SSA benefits and is interested in working, but wants more information? The SC Employment Equality Project can help! Funding through the Reeves Foundation is available to provide benefits counseling services!  Many individuals fear working because of what might happen to their cash or health benefits. Able SC assists individuals in understanding the changes to benefits by providing accurate and timely information.    This is done through:   Verifying current benefits Discussing the impact of employment and available work incentives Providing a comprehensive written outline of the available options to support your ability to make an informed decision.   Who can we serve under the SC Employment Equality Project?  Residents of South Carolina with disabilities who are:  Entitled to SSA Benefits Working or seeking employment Between the ages 14 to full retirement age   Black Indigenous and other People of Color (BIPOC)  Have a disability under the umbrella of paralysis such as:  Spinal cord injury Traumatic brain injury Stroke Cerebral palsy Multiple sclerosis ALS, etc.  How do I get started?   You can get started by calling 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-833-2967 for TTY, or email: wipa@able-sc.org.   Able SC Employment Programs Upcoming Events & Workshops Employing with Intention Workshops  South Carolina Employers: Are you an HR professional interested in supporting minorities with disabilities?  Have you begun implementing inclusive business practices but are overwhelmed?  If so, join us for this free workshop!  Workshop Objectives: The training aims to educate employers about the intersection of race and disability within the workforce. Participants will understand how intersectionality affects the experiences of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color employees with disabilities and learn how to create and implement inclusive workplace policies and practices. Join one of the virtual workshops below to learn how to support your multi-marginalized employees.  Wednesday, January 22, 2025, from 10:00-11:00 am  Tuesday, February 25, 2025, from 1:00-2:00 pm Thursday, March 27, 2025, from 3:00-4:00 pm SC Disability Employment Coalition Update During the Quarterly meeting on December 12, Marly Saade and Michael Hanna with Able South Carolina presented Nontraditional Resumes: Train the Trainer. They introduced them, explained their benefits, and provided examples to the 25 community partners.  A Nontraditional resume uniquely showcases a job seeker’s skills, talents, and interests. Examples include a presentation, video trailer, poster, website, and more! Nontraditional resumes can be an excellent resource for individuals with or without disabilities who may prefer to highlight skills and experiences in action on their resume.  Through the PACE Grant, Able SC developed a pilot project working with Spartanburg students to develop Nontraditional Resumes. View the PowerPoint below to learn more about developing Nontraditional resumes and their benefits! Coalition Webpage PowerPoint Presentation

Disability Benefits & Employment Workshop Highlights of 2024 Able SC's WIPA Project hosted six benefits workshops in 2024, and 133 people attended to learn more about how working can impact benefits. Three workshops were virtual, and three were in-person, with two specifically geared toward those affected by subminimum wage.  Able SC’s Work Incentives Planning and Assistance Program hosted presentations about the myths of working while receiving SSI and SSDI. Disability Rights SC presented its services and gave information on preventing and appealing overpayments. In addition, representatives from state agencies shared information on the employment services they provide. In the two workshops geared toward those with subminimum wage employment history, leaders from Thrive Upstate and Lauren’s County Disability and Special Needs Board spoke about their organizations’ experiences in phasing out subminimum wage.  We received great feedback from those who attended the workshops. An individual with a visual disability shared that it was a “Wonderful presentation, [and] very informative.” We thank the many partner organizations that participated in these workshops. In addition to the many state agencies that participated in the resource fairs, thank you to Disability Rights SC for funding these workshops and to SC Works Trident, SC Works Midlands, and Thrive Upstate for hosting our in-person workshops.  We look forward to offering more workshops in 2025, so stay tuned for that announcement! 2025 Assistive Technology Expo  Join the South Carolina Assistive Technology Program within the University of South Carolina School of Medicine's Center for Disability Resources on March 25, 2025, for a full day of exhibits and workshops showcasing assistive technology for people with a wide range of disabilities.   Date: March 25, 2025  Time: 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Target Audience: People with disabilities, their families, seniors, educators, veterans, and healthcare professionals.  Cost: Free  Place: Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, 1101 Lincoln Street, Columbia, SC 29201  Register for the AT Expo Hire Me SC is here for you - we have resources for everyone:

Job Seekers- You have skills and talents. Employment is possible, and we have the resources you need to get there. Employers- You will benefit from hiring individuals with disabilities. We can show you how your company can thrive. Service Providers- You can empower disabled people to reach their goals. We can show you the skills you need to make it happen. You can empower your loved one to meet their employment goals. We can help you be an educated advocate.

I'm a job seeker I'm an employer I'm a provider I'm family

Employment Programs Able SC Employment Programs We offer a variety of employment programs and initiatives to help people with disabilities achieve their employment goals. Our Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA team works with people who receive social security benefits to help them understand how working may impact their benefits and what work incentives may be available to them.  Our employment services include: Self-esteem/confidence building to prepare for employment Access to benefits counseling Career options counseling Job search skills (resumes, interviews) Workplace skill-building (communicating effectively, workplace etiquette, professional relationships, etc.) Job performance support Troubleshooting Workplace Issues (including disclosure, accommodations, and advocacy) Peer Support Other employment programs include Hire Me SC, Ticket to Work, SNAP2Work, and SC Disability Employment Coalition.

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Hire Me SC 720 Gracern Road Suite 106 | Columbia, South Carolina 29210 803.779.5121 | hiremesc@able-sc.org Follow Us Having trouble viewing this email? View it in your web browser

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