Category: News

• News

To Our Consumers:

The South Carolina Commission for the Blind (SCCB) is conducting a comprehensive statewide needs assessment of the employment needs of individuals who are blind or have a visual impairment in South Carolina. We are asking you to complete a short survey so that we can include the knowledge and experience of the individuals that we serve. The results of this survey will be used to improve programs and services and meet the changing needs of persons who are blind or have a visual impairment.

Please take this opportunity to complete the survey and share your thoughts and experiences with us. Please complete the survey by January 23, 2023. The Survey link is below:

Individual Consumer Survey

Your responses will be anonymous and you will not be asked for your name anywhere in the survey.

Thank you.

• News

To Our Business Partners:

The South Carolina Commission for the Blind (SCCB) is conducting a comprehensive statewide needs assessment of the employment needs of individuals who are blind or have a visual impairment in South Carolina. As part of this assessment, we are surveying businesses to determine their needs related to recruiting, hiring, accommodating, and retaining employees who are blind or have a visual impairment.  

Please take this opportunity to complete the survey and share your thoughts and experiences with us. Please complete the survey by January 23, 2023. The survey link is below:

Business Partner Survey

Your responses will be anonymous and you will not be asked for your name anywhere in the survey.

Thank you.

• News

To Our Community Partners:

The South Carolina Commission for the Blind (SCCB) is conducting a comprehensive statewide needs assessment of the employment needs of individuals who are blind or have a visual impairment in South Carolina. As part of this assessment, we are surveying our community partners to incorporate their knowledge and experience.

Please take this opportunity to complete the survey and share your thoughts and experiences with us. Please complete the survey by January 23, 2023. The survey link is below:

Community Partner Survey

Your responses will be anonymous and you will not be asked for your name anywhere in the survey.

Thank you.

• News

Anastasia DeGuzman, Braille Instructor, and Derrick Strick, Training and Employment Instructor, (pictured above, left to right) were selected to present at the Dare to be Remarkable virtual conference that was held on December 15-17, 2020.

During their presentation, titled “Blindness, Literacy and Employment in the 21st Century,” they discussed the causes of blindness and provided breakdowns by age and employment status followed by a brief review of Braille research, literacy outcomes and the limited implementation of technology and instruction in relation to employment outcomes. Next, they gave an overview of the necessary instructional skills, technological skills and specialized equipment available to provide high-quality distance learning in Braille. Finally, they presented the components of a Proposed distance-learning Braille instruction Framework using the 4 Pillars of Andragogy and Structured Discovery Methodology. They also gave a demonstration of how instructors could remotely interact with consumers when teaching Braille online.

Dare to Be Remarkable is a three-day national training conference for education and rehabilitation professionals who work with blind and low vision transition-aged students or adults.

• News

Four consumers who completed the BRIDGE pre-apprenticeship training program were recently recognized in an online graduation ceremony hosted by the SCCB Training and Employment division.

Jessica Bynum, Janice Crosby, Courtney Rone, and Ryan Szymanski shared with attendees how the BRIDGE program had made a difference in their lives.

“I really appreciated learning the different approaches to customer service,” says Ryan. “It’s important to be professional and find the best solution to a customer’s issue, and to show you are a good representative for the company that hired you. The skills and confidence I gained through this program will help me become a great employee.”

BRIDGE (Building Readiness for Individualized Development of Gainful Employment) is a pre-apprenticeship training program that provides a career path for consumers into employer-based apprenticeships or direct placement. The 6- to 8-week training incorporates work readiness development, job shadowing, and a Job Club experience to provide consumers with skillsets that meet specific needs of industries and align with the consumer’s vocational goals.

The consumers received 72 hours of job readiness training, 60 hours of customer service training, and 120 hours of other job related education.

Earlier this year, BRIDGE was invited to be a pilot program with Apprenticeship Carolina, which will allow graduates to compete for apprenticeship opportunities in the Customer Service field. Graduates will also be considered as candidates for BlueCross BlueShield’s Customer Service Associate Apprenticeship program or a direct hire.

In addition to the certificate for completing the BRIDGE program, each consumer received a credential from the National Retail Federation (NRF) Foundation recognizing them as a Customer Service and Sales Certified Specialist. They also completed training accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training which prepared them to work in a variety of call center environments.

“This program has given me a lot of self-confidence,” says Janice. Although she had been in customer service previously, she said she’s learned how to be a much better representative now. “Thank you to everybody.”

Jessica agrees. “I really appreciated the whole experience. I learned a lot from the training. I know what to expect from [customers] and how to respond to them.”

Janice is currently in the application process with BlueCross BlueShield. In February, Jessica will begin employment with Conduent, a company which provides call center and other support services for businesses and industry.

Community and business partners who were in attendance included Gayel Wigfall, Diversity and Inclusion Consultant at BlueCross BlueShield; Tammie Anderson, Diamond Coaching Institute; Karen Crider, Palmetto ABLE; Raven Freeman, SC Works Midlands; Dr. Leigh Hicks, Footsteps 2 Success, Inc.; Olivia Heath, Apprenticeship Carolina; and Monika Lamb and Chinesa Brown, CP Johnson Enterprise.

• News

The Commission for the Blind was invited, along with the general Vocational Rehabilitation Department, to participate in a National Showcase hosted by the U.S. Department of Education and Mark Schultz, Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) Commissioner and acting Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.

Commissioner Darline Graham provided an overview of the agency, followed by Kisa Grate, Director of Training and Employment, who spoke about the BRIDGE pre-apprenticeship training program. During her presentation, a video featuring Kristen Pratt from Apprenticeship Carolina was shown in which she shared how the BRIDGE program was benefiting consumers and businesses in South Carolina.

Next, Rhonda Thompson, Director of Older Blind, Children’s Services, Prevention of Blindness Services and Low Vision Clinic Services, discussed the challenges and successes of the Virtual Senior Camps offered for older citizens with visual impairments. Activities included a special music presentation, discussion of topics related to adjustment, shared stories of interest, plans to establish a book club, and a game night.

Finally, Zunaira Wasif, Director of Vocational Rehabilitation Consumer Services, spoke about the unique challenges faced by individuals who are blind or visually impaired, especially this year with the COVID pandemic. She shared how the agency has addressed these challenges through virtual workshops that covered topics as diverse as cooking and home management, how to travel safely in areas where there are no sidewalks, employment preparation, and using accessibility features of voting machines.

This was a great opportunity for the agency to share valuable information and best practices. There were more than 100 attendees from around the state and the nation.

• News

Governor Henry McMaster signed a proclamation at the State House on October 15, declaring that White Cane Day. Among those in attendance were SCCB Commissioner Darline Graham, and Ed Bible, Treasurer for the Foundation for the SC Commission for the Blind.

The mission of White Cane Day is to educate the world about blindness and how the blind and visually impaired can live and work independently while giving back to their communities, to celebrate the abilities and successes achieved by blind people in a sighted world and to honor the many contributions being made by the blind and visually impaired.

The white cane is an essential tool that gives blind and visually impaired individuals the ability to achieve a full and independent life. It allows them to move freely and safely from place to place—whether it’s at work, at school, or around their neighborhoods.

In 1964, Congress declared October 15 as White Cane Safety Day. While the white cane does keep blind people safe (because drivers and other pedestrians can easily see it), it is also a tool that blind people use to explore and navigate our environment. For this reason, the emphasis of White Cane Safety Day has shifted over time away from safety, and toward independence and equality. To emphasize the shift in focus from safety to independence, and to continue to use the white cane as a symbol, the National Federation of the Blind has chosen to refer to this day as White Cane Awareness Day.

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Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.

Lou Holtz

• News

This year marks the 75th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), which is observed annually in October. NDEAM raises awareness about disability employment issues and celebrates the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities.

This year’s theme is theme “Increasing Access and Opportunity.” As the nation continues to be effected by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is vital to increase the participation of workers with disabilities in the nation’s workforce. “Ensuring that America’s workplaces continue to include and accommodate people with disabilities will be an important part of our economic rebound,” says U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia. “Looking ahead, the Department will remain focused on the policies that led to a strong economy and record-low unemployment rates for persons with disabilities prior to the pandemic. A vigorous economic rebound and job growth will, alongside the Americans with Disabilities Act, increase access and opportunity for Americans with disabilities.”

NDEAM’s true spirit lies in the many observances held at the grassroots level across the nation every year. Employers of all sizes and in all industries participate in NDEAM.

“People with disabilities are experienced problem solvers with a proven ability to adapt,” says Office of Disability Employment Policy Deputy Assistant Secretary, Jennifer Sheehy. “Now more than ever, flexibility is important for both workers and employers. National Disability Employment Awareness Month celebrates the ingenuity people with disabilities bring to America’s workplaces.”

NDEAM celebrates America’s workers with disabilities and reminds employers of the importance of inclusive hiring practices. NDEAM began in 1945, when Congress declared the first week in October “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week.” The word “physically” was deleted in 1962 to include individuals with all types of disabilities. In 1988, Congress expanded the week to a month and changed the name NDEAM. Since 2001, NDEAM has been administered by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP).

Find out more about NDEAM and its 75th Anniversary.

Read the Presidential Proclamation.

Read the Multi-Agency Task Force on Increasing Employment Opportunities for Americans with Disabilities NDEAM Statement.

• News

Voting in the upcoming election

During a recent virtual workshop presented by the Ellen Beach Mack Rehabilitation Center (EBMRC), consumers learned about the voting process, the unique challenges presented by the pandemic, and the different accessibility options available to voters.

John Michael Catalano and Hampton Miller, from the South Carolina Election Commission, discussed the process for voting by mail and utilizing absentee ballots. They reminded attendees that, due to a recent court decision, absentee ballots must have both the voter’s signature and a witness’s signature for the vote to be counted.

Next, they talked about the process for in-person voting and the accessibility options available to all voters. All voting machines in each polling location have accessibility features, and all poll workers have been trained in how to use those features.

Catalano and Miller informed consumers that they can bring someone with them to the precinct to help them use the accessibility options when casting their vote. They also talked about how individuals can request help from a poll worker and what to expect.

Miller and Catalano stressed that if a person needs assistance from a poll worker, they have to ask for help. The poll workers will not assume a person needs assistance even if that person has a visible disability.

They also stressed that all ballots are anonymous, and using accessibility features does not change this. The only information recorded about each voter is whether they actually cast a ballot.

Anyone who has questions about the voting process or how to use the accessibility features of the voting machines can visit the SC Election Commission, or contact John Catalano at jcatalano@elections.sc.gov.

Talking Book Services

Kristin White, Director of South Carolina Talking Book Services, spoke about how they had resumed services to individuals in June, and the various ways that talking books, large print titles, Braille books, or descriptive videos could be ordered by phone, mail, fax, email or online catalog.

Talking Book Services is a free braille and talking book library service for people with temporary or permanent low vision, blindness, or a physical disability that prevents them from reading or holding the printed page.

To qualify for Talking Book Services, a person must have some type of disability which has been verified by a certifying authority, which includes–but is not limited to–medical doctors, optometrists, and rehabilitation counselors. Complete eligibility information and how to apply is available on the Talking Book Services website.

White also said that librarians at every public library around the state can certify a person qualifies for Talking Book Services if they have a visible disability.

Other Workshops

Other business presenters at workshops have included Crystal Brunson, Rehabilitation Counseling Specialist at Sothern Illinois Carbondale, and Jessica Smith, a Certified Yoga Instructor and member of Yoga Alliance. As part of a series on career exploration, former consumers who are competitively employed talked about the services and training they received from SCCB, their career interests, and how they achieved employment.

Future workshops

Upcoming workshops at the EBMRC will include a virtual cooking lesson. Participants will receive a list of ingredients and will be able to prepare a simple dish by following along with instructor Robin Glenn. EBMRC Workshops are held each week, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 10 am.

• News

This year marks the 75th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), which is observed annually in October. NDEAM raises awareness about disability employment issues and celebrates the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities.

This year’s theme is “Increasing Access and Opportunity.” As the nation continues to be effected by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is vital to increase the participation of workers with disabilities in the nation’s workforce.

“Ensuring that America’s workplaces continue to include and accommodate people with disabilities will be an important part of our economic rebound,” says U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia. “Looking ahead, the Department will remain focused on the policies that led to a strong economy and record-low unemployment rates for persons with disabilities prior to the pandemic. A vigorous economic rebound and job growth will, alongside the Americans with Disabilities Act, increase access and opportunity for Americans with disabilities.”

NDEAM’s true spirit lies in the many observances held at the grassroots level across the nation every year. Employers of all sizes and in all industries participate in NDEAM.

“People with disabilities are experienced problem solvers with a proven ability to adapt,” says Office of Disability Employment Policy Deputy Assistant Secretary, Jennifer Sheehy. “Now more than ever, flexibility is important for both workers and employers. National Disability Employment Awareness Month celebrates the ingenuity people with disabilities bring to America’s workplaces.”

NDEAM celebrates America’s workers with disabilities and reminds employers of the importance of inclusive hiring practices. NDEAM began in 1945, when Congress declared the first week in October “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week.” The word “physically” was deleted in 1962 to include individuals with all types of disabilities. In 1988, Congress expanded the week to a month and changed the name to NDEAM. Since 2001, NDEAM has been administered by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP).

Find out more about NDEAM

Read the Presidential Proclaimation

Read the Multi-Agency Task Force on Increasing Employment Opportunities for Americans with Disabilities NDEAM Statement