NEWS

Family Connection South Carolina to Host 2026 Hopes & Dreams Conference March 25th 

Annual conference highlights resources for families and professionals caring for individuals who have a disability  Family Connection of South Carolina will be hosting its annual Hopes and Dreams Conference on Wednesday, March 25th at the R2i2 Conference Center in Columbia. This event brings together professionals and families who care for children and young adults who have a disability as well as self-advocates for a day of learning and collaboration.   Keynote Presenters include:  Dr. Meghan Burke, is a professor of special education at Peabody College at Vanderbilt University. Her research interests include family-professional partnerships, families of individuals with disabilities, and disability policy. Her research examines how families advocate for services for their family members with disabilities. She also conducts research examining how siblings of individuals with disabilities transition to caregiving roles.   Dr. Burke has developed and tested several advocacy programs, including the Volunteer Advocacy Project (VAP) to educate and empower parents of individuals with disabilities to access services, not only for their own offspring but also for other families and for systemic change. To date, the

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Resources for South Carolina Educators, Parents and Students

Columbia, S.C. – As teachers, parents and students adjust to a new and unprecedented way of learning and living, the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) is dedicated to delivering support as we all navigate and learn together. This week, the South Carolina Department of Education launched SCRemoteLearning.com, a website offering digital teaching and learning resources for teachers, parents and students during the current COVID-19 pandemic. “I know that remote learning can be challenging for everyone,” said State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman. “We are committed to supporting both our teachers, who are working hard to make it possible for our students to learn at home, and parents and students, who are doing a great job of adjusting to these changes.” The information included on SCRemoteLearning.com was both developed internally and vetted from outside sources for use by school districts as instructional resources. The website offers support for remote learners that can be used by

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Child Abuse Prevention Month

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. In 2020 this takes on heightened meaning in the midst of our current uncertainty. Throughout the month we will post messages to help keep families strong and children safe amid these physically isolated times. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! One way to help? Take the Pledge for Prevention! I pledge to be a good neighbor and help keep families strong and children safe. I will reach out to a family in my neighborhood, support a local family organization or know about family resources in my community.

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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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