Advocacy Day for Access & Independence to be held at SC State House April 25 to celebrate disability and further disability rights
April 23, 2018
On April 25, disability advocates from around the state will rally at the State House to unlock the barriers of independence for people with disabilities. The rally will include several with disabilities and their political allies. The event will also allow advocates to speak with their legislators regarding Independent Living in South Carolina. The disability community is ready to see increased access to Public Access, Transportation, Employment, and Housing.
Confirmed speakers include SC Treasurer Curtis Loftis, SC Secretary of Education Molly Spearman, and Rep. James Smith. The disability community is ready to see increased access to Public Access, Transportation, Employment, and Housing as explored in the attached handout. Of interest to the group is a Statewide Employment First policy that would direct state agencies that work with the disability community to consider competitive, inclusive employment as the first and preferred outcome.
Advocacy Day for Access & Independence was created as part of the State Plan on Independent Living with support of 24 organizations statewide in an effort to unlock the barriers that prevent people with disabilities from having equal access and opportunity. State agencies in South Carolina lack Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinators to address ADA complaints causing increased intervention by federal agencies like the Department of Justice. Policies regarding people with disabilities across Our State encourage dependence on state programs and the government instead of promoting independence and inclusion. South Carolinians with disabilities are often discriminated against in education, employment, voting, parenting, and daily life. Advocacy Day for Access and Independence will shine a light on this in hopes of improving the lives of all South Carolinians.
Attached are the issue areas in full and suggestions of how to move South Carolina forward.
“We Want Access! We Want Independence! We Want Equality!” Search #BarrierFreeSC on facebook for updates.
Breakfast will run from 8:00am to 10:00am, and the rally will begin at 10:00 am and will end around 11:40 pm. Interested participants may register online at http://www.unlockingbarriers-sc.org or by calling: (800) 681-6805.
