NEWS

Family Connection of South Carolina Welcomes Ashley Abbott to Board of Directors

(Columbia, SC)—Family Connection of South Carolina is pleased to welcome Ashley Abbott to their board of directors. Family Connection provides resources and services to South Carolina families who have a child with a disability or chronic health condition. Ashley Ellison Abbott is a mother of four girls, a wife of 22 years, and a teacher by heart. Her husband Brandon is a self-made entrepreneur who retired two years ago after Ashley became very ill. After overcoming this life-threatening illness, Ashley has devoted her life to serving others and creating spaces of empowerment and inclusion. Drawing on her family’s business experience, Ashley and Brandon purchased Bitty & Beau’s Coffee and later Shiloh Abbott Ranch to create opportunities for others. Shiloh Abbott Ranch empowers individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through life skills training, micro-business development, and sustainable housing. Inspired by Genesis 49:10, the Abbotts believe each person is a unique creation

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SCDHHS Coronavirus Resources and Updates

The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) is providing important resources and updates to ensure Healthy Connections Medicaid members continue to have access to care during the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). These updates include temporary policy changes allowing Healthy Connections Medicaid members to access many health care services from home as well as additional resources to answer questions you may have during the current outbreak of COVID-19. Nurse Phone Line Now Available 24/7 for Healthy Connections Medicaid Members Healthy Connections Medicaid members who are not enrolled in a managed care organization (MCO) are now able to speak with a nurse by phone for non-emergency health care-related questions. This resource is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is free to Healthy Connections Medicaid members who are not enrolled in an MCO. If you’re enrolled in an MCO, you currently have access to

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Young Adult Leaders

Family Connection of South Carolina is looking for Young Adult Leaders willing to provide leadership, guidance and support in creating and participating in a variety of projects and community initiatives. The Young Adult Advisory Council (YAAC) is a diverse group of individuals with disabilities. The YAAC is committed to advocacy and educating other individuals, families, government agencies and healthcare professionals on issues that affect young adults with disabilities. The YAAC will be comprised of young adult leaders from across the state of South Carolina. Member Requirements: To participate on a speakers bureau on behalf of the organization To provide input in the planning process for 2 regional showings of ‘Intelligent Lives’ Be on a panel for Hopes and Dreams Conference in February, 2020 To participate in the development of an Outreach Plan for youth and young adults Ambassadors would meet 1x a month through June of 2020 (in person or

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Exceptional SC, 2019-2020 Student Scholarship Application Open

Our portal for the 2019-2020 school year is now open. The legislature granted us $12 million in scholarship funds for this year, and we are working to make sure those funds are raised quickly. Scholarship applications are open until Tuesday, April 30, 2019 at 5 pm. To apply, please visit our website and follow the link from there to TADS. If you applied last year, use the same email address and password. This will allow the form to autofill your contact information and help us track scholarship consistency. Please remember: If you applied before today’s opening, you will need to log in and re-submit your information in order to be considered. To apply, you will need basic household contact information, the eligible school to which you plan to enroll your child, and a copy of your child’s eligibility paperwork. All applicants must use the one of our two eligibility forms

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SCVR Summer Camp Series

SCVR’s Comprehensive Evaluation Centers are hosting a Summer Camp Series for students with barriers to education or employment. Enjoy fun-filled activities at NO COST: † Escape rooms, scavenger hunts, ropes courses and other games and challenges Career exploration in forensic science, sports, law enforcement, manufacturing, and customer service College and university tours and information Take advantage of awesome services: † Physical, occupational and aquatic therapy Job readiness training Work simulations Mock interviews Upstate session dates: June 10 – 14 • July 8 – 12 • August 5 – 9 Statewide session dates: June 10 – 21 • June 24 – July 5 • July 8 – 19 • July 22 – August 2 Learn More

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Autism Family Support Center

Are you the parent or caregiver of an individual with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who exhibits challenging behavior or skill deficits? Would you like to receive individualized training to address these concerns? A highly-qualified team of Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs®) from the University of South Carolina is offering intensive, individualized training to caregivers of individuals who have been diagnosed with ASD. All ages are welcome! Training will be focused on addressing challenging behaviors (Track 1) or teaching functional daily living skills (Track 2). In both tracks, caregivers will be actively involved in learning new strategies for supporting the individual with ASD. Sessions will occur weekly for 1-2 hours, for 5-7 weeks, at DDSN – Midlands Center in Columbia, SC. We will be accepting applications from January 1st -31st. Families accepted for participation will be contacted during the month of January 2019. Additional slots may come open. To Qualify, You

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Dental Survey

Junior Dental Students at the MUSC James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine under the supervision of Dr. Ziegler and Dr. Pilcher, are conducting a survey of individuals with Down Syndrome to determine the incidence of bruxism (tooth grinding) in this patient population. It has previously been determined through the literature that these individuals do exhibit tooth grinding more than those without Down Syndrome. They are researching if there are any specific triggers that enhance the incidence of tooth grinding, such as time of day, age of the individual, stress, certain activities, and the use of certain medications. It is our hope that the quality of dental care for the patient can be enhanced through this effort. This anonymous survey is for the purposes of a research study and should take approximately 5-10 minutes to complete. Your participation is voluntary and you are welcome to stop the survey at any

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South Carolina High School Credential

[siteorigin_widget class=”SiteOrigin_Widget_Video_Widget”][/siteorigin_widget] The purpose of the SC High School Credential is to provide equitable job-readiness opportunities for these students throughout the state, ensure they have evidence of employability skills, and honor the work they have undertaken in our public schools. Learn more [siteorigin_widget class=”SiteOrigin_Widget_Image_Widget”][/siteorigin_widget] [siteorigin_widget class=”SiteOrigin_Widget_Image_Widget”][/siteorigin_widget]

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