Advocacy Day for Access & Independence to be held on April 26, 2017

On April 26, 2017 disability advocates from around the state will rally at the State House to unlock the barriers to independence for people with disabilities. It is important for disability advocates to come together to support disability rights. The rally will include several speakers from the disability community and allies working in public policy. The event will also allow advocates to speak with their legislators regarding Independent Living in South Carolina.

Advocacy Day for Access & Independence was first created as an initiative in the State Plan for Independent Living in 2014, and its inaugural gathering attracted over 300 South Carolina residents last May. Since then, support has grown to 25 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, healthcare, and housing. Advocacy Day for Access and Independence will shine a light on these barriers in hopes of improving the lives of all South Carolinians. For more information about Advocacy Day for Access and Independence 2017, visit the following website: http://unlockingbarriers-sc.org

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!”

The event will begin at 10:30 am and will end around 12:30 pm. Interested participants may register online at www.able-sc.org, or by calling: (800) 681-6805.

Event Planner, Able South Carolina’s Director of Advocacy & Community Access, Robbie Kopp is available for interviews and further comment leading up to the event.

 

ABOUT ABLE SOUTH CAROLINA

Able SC is a Center for Independent Living (CIL), an organization not about “helping” people with disabilities, but built on the central concept of self-empowerment. It’s a consumer-controlled community-based, cross-disability nonprofit that provides an array of independent living services in 23 counties in South Carolina. To learn more about Able SC’s programs and services please visit www.able-sc.org. Able is only one organization of 25 organizations demanding equality for people with disabilities.

 

 

Advocacy Day for Access and Independence Issue Areas

General Information

Individuals with disabilities are South Carolina’s largest minority group. It is time for us to raise awareness of disability rights and access in the Palmetto State. Creating communities where individuals with disabilities can access the same opportunities, services, and supports and those without disabilities will support self-reliance, financial independence, and community engagement.  Access and Independence should have the support of both Republicans and Democrats, as equality and self-sufficiency benefit the community as a whole.

Public Access

Barriers: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has mandated the accessibility of all services provided to the public. Despite this mandate, the disability community encounters barriers that prevent them from access at every turn.

-The United States Access Board updated their ADA Standards for Accessible Design in 2010. These standards are only enforceable federally and are not part of local code review, resulting in inaccessible, newly-constructed public buildings at risk of litigation.

-In South Carolina, many state agencies do not have an ADA Coordinator or have one who lacks training, resulting in inaccessible programs, activities, and services.

Unlocking the Barrier:

• The General Assembly must push comprehensive building codes that include accessibility.
• The General Assembly must conduct self-review of state agencies’ ADA Coordinators, examine qualifications, and develop a corrective action plan.

Transportation

Barriers: Transportation is the key to independence and community participation. People with disabilities are twice as likely to have inadequate transportation, making it difficult to take advantage of economic and recreational opportunities afforded to the community.

Unlocking the Barrier:

• Investments in infrastructure must embrace Complete Street standards that meet the needs of pedestrians and riders of public transit.

-There are 27 Public Transit Authorities across South Carolina, but people with disabilities are often unaware of these local resources.

• The General Assembly must instruct the SC Department of Transportation (SCDOT) to lead a campaign highlighting existing public transportation options.

Employment

Barriers: Despite South Carolina’s unemployment rate below 4.5%, over 68% of working-age residents with disabilities do not participate in the labor market.

-The State of South Carolina makes no attempt to promote inclusive employment in its over 92,000 positions.

-Over 9,000 South Carolinians with disabilities are limited to sheltered workshop settings, where they may make less than a dollar per hour.

-Too often, professionals make assumptions about an individual’s work capacity, building a pipeline to sheltered workshops, underemployment and unemployment.

Unlocking the Barrier:

• South Carolina State Government must lead the employment of people with disabilities by example.
• SC must remove any and all basis for subminimum wage.
• All agencies serving people with disabilities with public funds should focus on competitive, inclusive employment as the first and preferred outcome (Employment First).

Housing

Barriers:  Across the state, there is a scarcity of housing across socio-economic levels, complicating stable living conditions. Additional barriers limit access to housing and, as a result, people with disabilities make up 47.8% of the homeless population.

-Many rental properties do not accept housing vouchers, a practice that could result in disability discrimination.

-When homeowners or their family members acquire disabilities, the high costs of home modification have the power to derail the American Dream.

Unlocking the Barrier:

• South Carolina must incentivize acceptance of Housing Choice Vouchers.
• A tax incentive for home modifications can lessen the financial burden of ownership for people with disabilities.