Happy 4 year anniversary to the Persons with Disabilities Right to Parent Act!

 

Did you know that four years ago today, South Carolina passed 

the SC Persons with Disabilities Right to Parent Act? 

This means that no parent in South Carolina can be denied the right to parent based on their disability. 

We know that it can be hard to understand your rights and keep up with new laws, which is why we've created easy-to-read factsheets for you! 

By making this information more understandable and accessible, we hope that more parents with disabilities and professionals will be aware of these rights and help prevent discrimination. If you are a parent and you have a disability or health condition, these resources are for you. If you are a practicing lawyer, these resources are for you. If you are a child welfare provider, these resources are for you. Just click the links below! 

• Factsheet for Parents: Your Rights as a Parent with a Disability
• Factsheet for Lawyers: Representing Parents with Disabilities
• Factsheet for DSS/Child Welfare Providers: Parents with Disabilities and their Rights

Able South Carolina

803.779.5121 | advocacy@able-sc.org 

New Advancements in Non-Joystick Controls for Power Wheelchairs

Date: Thursday, May 20th, 2021

Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. EST

Cost: Free

Speaker: Stephan Lautzenhiser

Target Audience: ATP’s, Clinic Directors, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, also any rehab professional involved with complex power wheelchairs and alternative control systems.

Register Now!

Magitek will present the latest advancement in its proven tilt sensor technology by demonstrating our new wireless system, Universal Sensor Array (USA). Our completely redesigned, low profile USA for knee/body member inputs allows easy, natural control. It is designed primarily for ALS clients and has a multitude of applications. This knee and/or lower extremity system is designed to provide virtually unlimited choices when easily connected to a matrix of available switch inputs.

Participants will learn: 

• Benefits and applications of tilt sensor technology. Although primarily used as a human interface head control, it has been successfully adapted wherever a predictable x-y planar movement is presented. This is known commercially as the iZIP.
• Applications for the iZIP II, which provides rehab specialists choices for switch placement not available on any other non-joystick controls.
• Application of the Universal Sensor Array (USA) for controlling a power chair using just the knee(s) or lower extremity as a means of directional input signals.

Stephan Lautzenhiser became Co-Founding Member of Magitek, LLC following an early career in industrial engineering, specializing in PLC machine controls. Stephan joined his father in Ontario, Canada designing and manufacturing lightweight power wheelchairs. The initial designs focused on geriatric use which was quickly followed by one of the first lightweight, folding power wheelchairs specifically for pediatric applications. Truly innovative and commercially known as the Starlight Series.

In 1999, Stephan helped start up Magitek, formed for the purpose of designing innovative, non-joystick controls for power wheelchairs. The tilt sensor design was awarded Best New Product at Medtrade 2000 in Orlando, FL, out of over 200 entrants. He has presented at many conferences, in services and trade shows for nearly 20 years. Stephan has been extensively involved with client evaluations and assisting prescribing clinicians.

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, please contact the SC Assistive Technology Program at janet.lambert@uscmed.sc.edu or by calling 803-935-5263.

Here’s what people with disabilities want you to know

How can you empower people with disabilities 

in their employment journey? 

As a service provider, you play a crucial role in the job search process for people with disabilities. But, how often do you ask the consumer you’re working with how smoothly the process is going for them? We talked to people with disabilities to get their feedback on what they think you should know as you assist them in their employment journey. Here’s what they had to say. 

"Your investment in me makes my life better and helps me experience the benefits of work just like anyone else.”  

– Karl 

“I’m not neurotypical and may not pick up on certain social cues. But [seeing this as a weakness] would be a mistake because my disability allows me to catch things others might miss."  

– Asha 

“An individual is more than their disability. Service providers, and the general public, must value everyone equally and realize that each person can make a positive impact on society." 

– Alex 

To find more resources for service providers, head to our website. 

Service Provider Resources

About Hire Me SC 

People with disabilities can work, want to work, and should be afforded every opportunity to work. Powered by Able South Carolina and SCDEC, 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. 

Learn more at https://www.hiremesc.org/. 

Hire Me SC

720 Gracern Road Suite 106

Columbia, South Carolina 29210

803.779.5121 | hiremesc@able-sc.org 

Free pediatric equipment

Pediatric equipment available 

for FREE!

Items are linked to more information, if available.

To make an appointment to pick up an item 

contact Alli Upchurch at

alli.upchurch@uscmed.sc.edu or 803-935-5273.

Don’t see what you’re looking for? 

Check the AT Exchange. 

*****

Bath seat

Size medium

For child 40 -54 inches tall, up to 130 pounds

Kaye walker

13.5 inch width between handles

Weight limit 60 pounds

Adaptive Stroller

Seat width 7 inches

Seat depth 8 inches

Giraffe stander

Size 1

Pediatric wheelchair

Seat width 12 inches

Seat depth 11 inches

Rifton supine stander

Size small

For children 30 to 50 inches tall

Maximum weight 100 pounds

Hopes and Dreams Conference 2021: Register Now!

Register today for this year's 

Hopes and Dreams Conference! 

Don't miss our expert guest speakers, session hosts and exhibitors!

Monday, May 24 ♦  Lunes, 24 de mayo 

10:00 - 11:30 am: Early Childhood 

The impact of the Routines-Based Interview 

A dive into the Routines-Based Interview. Learn a brief history, structure of the session, and how the practice has improved Early Intervention services for families. 

2:00 - 3:30 pm: Child and Youth  

Advocacy in Motion 

State Child Advocate and Department of Children’s Advocacy Director Amanda Whittle shares the agency’s efforts to build traction, momentum and sustainability for a vision of reform to improve outcomes for children. 

6:00 - 7:30 pm: Parent  

SKIN DEEP? The Impact of Scars 

Participants will be introduced to the formation of scars as well as how scars can impact both physical and psychological wellbeing. 

6:00 - 7:30 pm: Español 

Medicaid 101: Entendiendo TEFRA 

Este taller provee un vistazo general acerca de Medicaid y la eligibilidad para TEFRA. 

Tuesday, May 25 ♦ Martes, 25 de mayo 

10:00 - 11:30 am: Early Childhood  

Reflective Supervision Basics 

Learn the components of reflective supervision and how it connects to your work as an early childhood professional. Participate in a live reflective supervision “fishbowl” and discussion. 

2:00 - 3:30 pm: Child and Youth 

Homelessness and the Child, the Family and the Community 

Homelessness as defined by  the McKinney-Vento Act and requirements of the law. Session also looks at how homelessness and living affects a student's developing brain. 

6:00 - 7:30 pm: Parent 

Guardianships and Alternatives to Guardianships 

Overview with examples of current SC law regarding guardianships and  common alternatives to guardianships with Q & A with Kirby Mitchell, the medical legal partnership (MLP)’s Legal Director. 

6:00 - 7:30 pm: Español 

Introducción a los Programas de Servicios de Exención del Hogar y de la Comunidad de Medicaid (HCBS, por sus siglas en inglés) 

Este taller proveerá una mirada rápida a las exenciones (waivers) de Medicaid. 

Wednesday, May 26 ♦ Miércoles, 26 de mayo 

10:00 - 11:30 am: Early Childhood 

Learn the Ropes: Children’s Language, Speech, and Literacy 

This presentation will inform early childcare providers of features and characteristics that represent typical milestones for speech, language, and literacy development among young children. 

2:00 - 3:30 pm: Child and Youth  

Stinky armpits, hair, and periods: tackling puberty with your daughter with special needs 

Participants will become: 

• familiar with stages of puberty
• equipped with strategies to navigate challenges of puberty in girls with special needs
• familiar with available resources 

6:00 - 7:30 pm: Parent  

Family Connection 101 

This informational session is an overview and description of resources and services Family Connection of SC provides for children and youth with disabilities and special healthcare needs in South Carolina.  

6:00 - 7:30 pm: Español 

Manejando Comportamientos Difíciles en Niños Pequeños 

Este taller incluirá un breve antecedente de los niños diagnosticados con el trastorno espectro autista y otros desordenes neurológicos en niños en edad preescolar y el comportamiento disruptivo. 

Thursday, May 27 ♦ Jueves, 27 de mayo 

10:00 - 11:30 am: Early Childhood 

Early Experiences Matter: Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health 

Infant and early childhood mental health is a rapidly expanding field. This presentation provides an  overview of infant mental health and concepts behind how experiences impact a child even before they are born. 

2:00 - 3:30 pm: Child and Youth 

Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect 

This training is designed for mandated reporters of child abuse and neglect, and professionals who have frequent contact with children, who play a key role in protecting children by identifying possible maltreatment and reporting it to the agencies responsible for investigation and intervention. 

6:00 - 7:30 pm: Parent 

Five fun, powerful ways  to give children a great start in life. 

80% of a child’s brain growth happens in the first three years of life.  From birth, young brains develop like muscles, getting bigger and stronger the more you interact with them. The Palmetto Basics are 5 fun, simple, powerful ways to help young brains grow! 

6:00 - 7:30 pm: Español 

Herramienta de Viaje: El Poder de la Organización 

Los padres aprenderán como manejar la abrumadora cantidad de documentos creada por los servicios médicos y educacionales. Esta herramienta organizacional facilita la comunicación entre padres y profesionales para alcanzar los mejores resultados médicos y educacionales de los niños con necesidades de salud especiales o discapacidades. 

Exhibitors from organizations across the state will host interactive sessions to present new information and answer questions and concerns. Exhibitors: deadline to register is May 14th--register now! 

Attendees Register Here!

More Conference Schedule Details

Usted puede registrarse en este enlace:   

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2021-hopes-and-dreams-conference-tickets-149973323247 

Si necesita ayuda para registrarse en español, 

por favor contacte a Annia Knight  

(803) 995 1568 o aknight@familyconnectionsc.org  

Covid-19 Resources for People with Disabilities

Covid-19 and Covid-19 Vaccine Resources 

for People with Disabilities

• Check out the COVID-19 vaccine resources from the Center for Dignity in Healthcare for People with Disabilities.
• New and updated CDC COVID-19 American Sign Language (ASL) videos have posted to CDC's #COVID-19 ASL playlist. 
• Plain Language COVID-19 Resources from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network in English and Spanish.
• FAQ and Answers to Tough Questions about COVID-19 and Public Health from the Public Health Communications Collaborative.

Where can you get a vaccine?

• Visit vaccines.gov (English) or vacunas.gov (Spanish) to search and find a vaccine near you.
• Text GETVAX (438829) for English or VACUNA (822862) for Spanish to receive three vaccine sites on your phone within seconds.
• Call the National COVID-19 Vaccination Assistance Hotline at 1-800-232-0233 for those who prefer to get information via phone call. The call center can assist in 150+ languages and features a TTY line (1-888-720-7489).

Free Webinar: Using AT to help with Blindness

Utilizing Assistive Technology Unites 

the Blind Community of SC

Date: Thursday, May 13, 2021

Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Cost: Free

Speaker: Jennifer Bazer

Register Now! 

The National Federation of the Blind of SC is the oldest and largest organization of the blind, which coordinates many programs, services, and resources to defend the rights of the blind, provide information and support to blind children and adults, and builds a community that creates a future full of opportunities.  This webinar will demonstrate how The National Federation of the Blind of SC (NFBofSC), utilizes assistive technology to build membership, network, overcome barriers and socialize.

Participants will learn:

• About the programs and services provided by the NFBofSC
• How assistive technology can be used to network, connect, and grow as an organization
• How the pandemic has augmented the need for the NFBofSC to utilize assistive technology to overcome barriers experienced by the blind community

Jennifer Bazer has a BS degree in psychology from Winthrop University and has an MSW degree from USC Columbia.  Jennifer has held many positions over the last 20 years assisting people who are blind.

In 2014, Jennifer was instrumental in the passage of the Blind Persons Right to Parent Act, speaking to the House of Representatives and Senate Committee about the capabilities of blind parents and bringing her young children to illustrate her independence as a blind mother.

Jennifer was elected President of the National Federation of the Blind of SC in August 2020.  She is currently the Director of Successful Transitions, a program under the National Federation of the Blind of SC which provides pre-employment transition services to youth with disabilities ages 13 to 21.

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, please contact the SC Assistive Technology Program at janet.lambert@uscmed.sc.edu or by calling 803-935-5263.

Researchers study sex-specific gene mutation linked to autism

May 6 2021

Reviewed by Emily Henderson, B.Sc.

After reviewing a database of gene mutations in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a team of Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) researchers decided to study a specific gene mutation that likely caused ASD in a girl.

They demonstrated that the mutation was damaging to the gene, and that female, but not male, mice lacking a working copy of the gene also showed ASD-associated symptoms. Better understanding the interplay between genetics and sex in ASD could set the stage for developing sex-specific treatments for autism.

The MUSC team was led by Christopher Cowan, Ph.D., the William E. Murray SmartState Endowed Chair in Neuroscience and chair of the Department of Neuroscience, and Ahlem Assali, Ph.D., research assistant professor in the same department. Their findings are published in Nature Neuropsychopharmacology.

One in 54 children is diagnosed with an ASD. Of the children with ASD, four boys are diagnosed for every girl. Individuals with ASD typically have deficits in communication and social interaction and exhibit restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, activities, or interests.

Many people with ASD also present with associated symptoms, such as hyperactivity, attention deficits, epilepsy and intellectual abilities that can range from severely disabled to gifted.

Cowan and Assali investigated the effect of a mutation in the gene, EPHB2, detected in a female patient with autism. EPHB2 is important for forming connections, or synapses, in the brain. The patient had a version of EPHB2 that caused the protein to be cut short.

"It's as if a sentence had a period in the middle instead of the end."

Christopher Cowan, Ph.D., 

William E. Murray SmartState Endowed Chair, Neuroscience

Click here to read more. 

Source:

Medical University of South Carolina

Journal reference:

Assali, A., et al. (2021) Sex-dependent role for EPHB2 in brain development and autism-associated behavior. Neuropsychopharmacology. doi.org/10.1038/s41386-021-00986-8.

AAC Device for the Summer

SCATP has a TobiiDynavox Indi (10”) 

with the Snap Core First app . 

Do you know of a nonverbal student who would want to borrow 

this device for the summer and beyond?

Contact Carol Page at carol.page@uscmed.sc.edu 

or 803-935-5301 to start your long-term loan 

of this communication device. 

There is no charge for this loan.

 

Learn about your rights as a person with a disability - FREE Online Training

 

Most of us know about the landmark law that is the 

Americans with Disabilities Act, but do you know what's in it? 

What about the Fair Housing Act? 

Or the Rehabilitation Act? 

All these laws protect your rights as a person with a disability. 

Knowing your rights helps you to empower 

yourselves and others, and our movements! 

Join us online on Monday, May 10, 2021, from 3-4 PM to learn about: 

• the history of the Disability Rights Movement, 
• laws that protect your rights as a person with a disability, and 
• how to use this knowledge to empower yourself and others! 

Register here!

Registration will close on Sunday, May 9.

We will email you the Zoom link and materials 

on the morning of May 10. 

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

FCC Broadband Benefit Program

The Emergency Broadband Benefit to be offered soon through the FCC will provide a discount of up to $50 per month toward broadband service for eligible families and households who are struggling to stay connected during the COVID19 pandemic. 

Eligible households can also receive a discount of up to $100 for the purchase of a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers.

Applications can be submitted beginning on May 12th. Households can apply in three ways:

• Contact your preferred participating broadband provider directly to learn about their application process.   
• Go to GetEmergencyBroadband.org to apply online and to find participating providers near you 
• Call 833-511-0311 for a mail-in application, and return it along with proof of eligibility to: Emergency Broadband Support Center, P.O. Box 7081, London, KY 40742

To learn more about the program and see if you qualify, 

visit FCC - Broadband Benefit.

 

Introduction to Serving Veterans Needing Augmentative Communication

REGISTER NOW 

for Thursday's class!

Date: Thursday, May 6, 2021 

Time: 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. 

Cost: FREE

Speaker:  Kenneth P Whitley

Target Audience: SLP’s and OT’s serving veterans, veterans and their families, others interested in AAC for adults.

Veterans needing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) are as varied as the general population plus having been exposed to environments and experiences most others have not.  Higher instances of ALS, PLS, Multiple Systems Atrophy, Parkinson’s Disease, stroke, cancer, etc. are present.  This presentation will be an introduction to serving veterans in need of augmentative communication technology.

Participants will learn: 

• Conditions, needs, and interests exhibited by veterans in need of AAC.
• AAC system considerations for veterans
• The process for serving veterans in need of AAC
• There will be a question-and-answer session at the end of the webinar. 

Ken Whitley is co-founder and President of AT4Vets (established 2020) and Key Technologies, Inc. (established 1986).  He is a Speech-Language Pathologist and consultant in assistive technology and rehab/special needs materials and has extensive experience in serving both adults and children with disabilities. Mr. Whitley has worked in both the public schools and a residential facility for persons with developmental disabilities. He has provided over 336 workshops and presentations on the use of assistive technology covering AAC, computer access, environmental control, and mounting systems. For the last decade, his focus has been on serving veterans and VAMCs with assistive technology needs.

Open Forum: SCATP's Q & A

Join us for a Q and A Session

SC Assistive Technology Program’s 

Open Forum is a great way to discuss using products, 

learning about new products, asking questions, etc. 

in an informal atmosphere. 

We look forward to talking with you! 

Date: Tuesday, May 4th, 2021

Time: 2:00 PM ET

Cost: Free!

Zoom Link:

 https://zoom.us/j/92103276080?

pwd=ZHJ1bi80c0hyUkw3a3hDTkd0WGlOZz09