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National Survey of Parents and Caregivers with Physical and Vision Disabilities Attention all parents and caregivers with visual or physical disabilities! Through the Looking Glass is conducting a survey to learn about current strategies and supports you use and need! Parents or caregivers with a physical disability, including chronic health problems or a vision disability, and one or more children under six years old are invited to participate. |
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CNN: What I've learned being reliant on a caregiver Alice Wong founded the Disability Visibility Project and is the author of “Year of the Tiger: An Activist’s Life.”
“EPI reports that home care and domestic workers are three times as likely to be living in poverty compared to other workers. The data reflects our society’s hypocrisy about care.”
People with disabilities know that care and domestic work is permanently linked to their livelihood and well-being. Unfortunately, our society and nation have continuously ignored this reality, leading to poor care or forced institutionalization.
There is good news; some lawmakers are trying to do something about it. Learn more in this opinion piece by disabled activist Alice Wong. Wong stresses, “In order for disabled and older people to not just survive but thrive, home care workers must be a national priority, and have security and safety in their profession.” |
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Equip Summer Series The Equip Summer Series is a multi-day self-advocacy, disability pride, and skill-building opportunity for young adults with disabilities ages 13-28. Spread over two weeks, Summer Series meets in person in Greenville and Columbia simultaneously to build skills that assist young adult leaders with increasing their independence! Why Attend? Empower Yourself, Learn Self-Advocacy Skills, Build on Communication Skills, Set Short-Term and Long-Term Goals, Explore Independent Living Skills, and Promote Activism in the Community. Did we mention that it is TOTALLY FREE?!
Summer Series costs you nothing and lunch will be provided each week. Join us by completing the 2023 Equip Summer Series Registration Form! When: June 13,15, 20, and 22 Who is Eligible? Young adults ages 13-28 with ANY type of disability. |
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Equip Hangouts First and Third Thursday of every month from 6:00 - 7:00 PM. Equip Leaders and Mentors help empower their peers to take charge of their lives, find their unique voice to self-advocate, and engage with their community of peers more fully. Our Equip Hangouts meet on the first and third Thursdays of every month from 6-7 PM. The meeting on the first Thursday is held virtually, and the meeting on the third Thursday is in person at the Greenville and Columbia Able SC offices. If you have questions about Equip Hangouts, please email mhanna@able-sc.org or hroberts@able-sc.org. Upcoming Equip Hangouts: Thursday, May 4, 6-7 PM, Virtual Thursday, May 18, 6-7 PM, In Person |
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Equip Social Skills Gaming Group |
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Equip’s social skills gaming group is back! Join us at Able SC's Greenville and Columbia offices to play games and grow your social skills. There are still several meetings left for you to participate in! The group's next meetings are on April 24, May 1, and May 8, 2023, from 4-5:30 pm. If you have any questions, contact Holden Roberts or Emily Walsh at hroberts@able-sc.org and ewalsh@able-sc.org. |
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What Have We Been Up To? In March, members of our Equip team led training on non-traditional resumes for educators at Boiling Springs Freshman Academy. The training informed educators about non-traditional resumes and how to support their students in a pilot program. The pilot program will consist of at least five Boiling Springs Freshman Academy students creating non-traditional resumes to help them stand out in the job market.
Thanks to our funder, South Carolina Developmental Disabilities Council, for making this possible! Some of our Equip Leaders visited The South Carolina Center for Assistive Technology and Educational Research (SC-CATER) and Counseling and Rehabilitation Programs Virtual Reality Lab. They had an opportunity to test out new computers, robots, and tech that were fun to use and completely accessible.
SC CATER is looking for volunteers with and without disabilities to try their new technology on Sundays from 1-4. Check out this link to their website for more information!
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Advocacy Day for Access & Independence April 25, 2023 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
SC Statehouse & Livestream Advocacy Day for Access & Independence is the only event in South Carolina that's breaking down barriers for ALL South Carolinians with disabilities. Since its inaugural gathering in May 2014, support has grown to 40 organizations statewide all unified in an effort to ensure people with disabilities have equal access and opportunity. People with disabilities face unnecessary and discriminatory barriers to transportation, employment, and public access. Advocacy Day for Access and Independence will shine a light on these barriers in hopes of improving the lives of all South Carolinians. This year's event is planned with hybrid options, where you can participate in-person or online. Participate with us at the Statehouse, or anywhere in the world via our livestream online! Please register to receive notifications about the event and a link to join the Livestream on the day of the event. Please note, when completing the registration, to move to the next page you will need to select "summary". Official Livestream- Follow this link to our YouTube Channel. On the day of the event, from 10 am to 12pm, our Livestream will appear at the top of the channel page! |
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WCNC Charlotte: “Carolina families hopeful for change after Supreme Court rules in favor of deaf student” Millions of children have disabilities, but parents say schools often aren't equipped to serve them properly. They're hoping a recent Supreme Court ruling in favor of a deaf Michigan student will positively impact the Carolinas. Able South Carolina and Disability Rights North Carolina are addressing the importance of equitable education. Kimberly Tissot, President and Chief Executive Officer of Able South Carolina said "None of these federal pieces of legislation are new. Schools have had decades of time to plan… but they often fail… There needs to be reform." |
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The South Carolina Youth Leadership Forum July 23-26, 2023 Applications will close on April 30th! The South Carolina Youth Leadership Forum is a summer experience where you can become a leader for disability rights — all while having fun. Applications for the 2023 Youth Leadership Forum are now being accepted! The event will take place from July 23-26 at Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina. Successful applicants will spend four days and three nights learning about advocacy and leadership in a fun environment while meeting other youth with disabilities from across the state. Are you eligible to apply? All SCYLF applicants must:
- Be between the ages of 15-23
- Have a disability
- Live in South Carolina
- Have shown leadership experience or potential at home, in school, or the community
To find out more information about the event or to submit an application, please visit: https://www.scylf.org/ Paper applications are available upon request. Please note spaces for the event are limited. Applying does not guarantee a spot at the event. Once the application process closes, all applicants will be contacted by a YLF staff member who will explain the next steps of the process. |
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Partner and National Events |
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The Transition Alliance of South Carolina: Improving Transition Practices And Outcomes For Youth With Disabilities All webinars are scheduled from 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm. This 4-part series targets the needs of teachers/practitioners. Each session will include a presentation and a time for discussion and questions. Register now for the final session!
- April 27, 2023- Transition to Promote Graduation with a High School Diploma
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Federation of Families of SC: 4th Annual Columbia Wave Fest Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 10:00am – 1:00pm.
Drew Wellness Center, 2101 Walker Solomon Way Did you know there is an 80% success rate for treatment of mental health challenges in children and youth? Catch the Wave on Saturday, April 29, 2023, and help us continue to increase awareness around the importance of treatment for children and youth’s mental health conditions. The Columbia Wave Fest is an opportunity to educate the community on the resources available for children, youth and families impacted by emotional and behavioral health challenges. This one-day event is modeled after the 8 Dimensions of Wellness: Emotional, Environmental, Financial, Intellectual, Occupational, Physical, Social, and Spiritual. Vendors will be offering on-site services for participants to include financial advice, haircuts, a gym holding exercise classes or instruction, health screenings and much more. There will also be live entertainment, an awareness rally, food trucks and a kid’s zone. Led by the Federation of Families of SC, this celebratory event is the kick-off initiative for Children’s Mental Health Month for May 2023. We serve as Messengers of Hope by informing everyone that recovery is possible. We believe that every individual’s wellness is vital to overall health and success, regardless of age. The Columbia Wave Fest is FREE, but registration is highly encouraged! |
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Able South Carolina
720 Gracern Road Suite 106 | Columbia, South Carolina 29210
803.779.5121 | advocacy@able-sc.org |
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