Palmetto Partnerships

Under the Palms Event 2025
2025-05-01 18:30 - 22:00 UTC | Florence Country Club, 450 Country Club Blvd, Florence, SC, United States

April Accessibility Morning at the SC State Museum
2025-04-12 08:45 - 11:00 | SC
we’d like to invite you to join us, and Peter Rabbit, at our April 12 Accessibility morning event. If you do plan to attend this event, please let us know and check out the information below to find out more about the event and what we ask of you as a Community Resource Partner. As always, we’d appreciate it if you would share this event with others, and let us know if there is anyone else we could be inviting to it!

Accessibility Morning Information:
This inclusive program provides free access for families of children, teens, young adults, and adults who would benefit from a quieter, more sensory-friendly and disability adapted experience at the museum where they can explore at their own pace and enjoy the special activities.

ASL Interpretation will be provided by the SC School for the Deaf and Blind as noted in the schedule below. The museum also has several other accessibility tools available – just ask an educator at the Welcome Table upon your arrival!

This event is free, and guests are encouraged to pre-register as the FREE 9:45am show tickets can only be reserved on-site on the day of the event. There is no age limit, and you do not have to attend the activities. Guests are welcome to simply come and enjoy the museum.

Accessibility Morning Schedule:

8:45am Program Partners Arrive

9-10am Community Resource Partners present (1st Floor – Carolina Gallery)

Please note: You’re welcome to stay until 11am but we only advertise that you’ll be there until 10am, so no pressure!

9-11am Sensory Room available (2nd Floor – Huger St. Room)

9:45am Sensory Friendly 4D theater –Turtle Odyssey

*ASL interpreter present

10:30 am Meet-and-greet with Peter Rabbit (1st floor NASA Gallery)

*ASL interpreter present

11am Official event is over, but guests are welcome to stay all day 🙂

How can YOU get involved?

Share the event! The biggest help is just getting the word out.

Event Registration Page: Accessibility Morning – Peter Rabbit | South Carolina State Museum

Facebook Event: Accessibility Morning – Peter Rabbit | Facebook

Be a presenting partner! We’d love to have you here sharing the amazing things your organization is doing! There is no fee to do so. We want this to be free to everyone and simply to be a good resource fair for our guests. It doesn’t matter if you can only make it once a year or you come every month – just let us know when you’d like to reserve a table. We’d love to have you!

Don’t have staff but have stuff? We do have a small table where we are able to place materials. Just bring by whatever you’d like us to put out and we’ll be happy to share it!

We are so grateful for your support!

2025 ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY EXPO
2025-03-25 08:30 - 15:30 | Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, 1101 Lincoln Street, Columbia, SC, 29201, United States
WHO
This event is free and open to the public. Our target audience includes those with disabilities, their families, seniors, educators, veterans and health care professionals.
WHAT
Join us for a full day of exhibits and workshops showcasing assistive technology for people with a wide range of disabilities.
WHEN
March 25, 2025
Exhibits open at 8:30 a.m. and close at 3:30 p.m. Information and continuing education sessions begin at 9:30 a.m. These one-hour sessions cover a wide range of topics with time in between to allow you to visit our sponsors and exhibitors throughout the day.
The full session schedule will be available on Jan. 1 on our Expo web page (scan the QR code above to access the page).
WHERE
Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center
1101 Lincoln St., Columbia, SC 29201

ABOUT
Explore the exhibit hall for demonstrations and information about the latest products and services. Attend workshops which address pressing disability issues. Free continuing education credits are available for these disciplines: counselors, long term care/ residential care, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, social work, speech language pathologists, BabyNet providers, educators. CEU’s are provided by Mid-Carolina AHEC, ASHA, BabyNet and the SC Department of Education.

MORE INFORMATION
If you need an accommodation to participate, please contact us at least one week prior to the Expo: Email: janet.lambert@uscmed.sc.edu
Phone: 803-935-5263

Disability Celebration Day
2025-03-08 09:00 - 15:00 | South Carolina State Museum, 520 Gervais Street, Columbia, SC, 29201, United States
We are very excited about our upcoming March 8, 2025, Disability Celebration Day, and we’d love to have you there as well. This free event includes a silent disco, an Astronomy Touch Zone, Hands-on-History Stations, Zot Art Creation, and much more. To find out more about this event, check out the following link: Disability Celebration Day | South Carolina State Museum.

Support Parent Training
2025-02-22 09:00 - 13:00 | SC
This evidence-based training will give you the skills to help educate, inspire, and empower parents and their children to live rich, fulfilling lives. As a volunteer of Family Connection, a Support Parent provides emotional support and information to families of individuals with disabilities or other special needs. Support Parents connect with other families by phone and provide a safe listening environment and information and resources for these families. Attendees who complete the training will receive a certificate and additional opportunities for skill development and volunteer time during their year commitment with Family Connection.

Register here!

SC Medicaid Waivers: A Guide for Parents
2025-02-19 12:00 - 13:00 | SC
South Carolina offers eight Medicaid waivers for specific populations, including children and young adults with disabilities and special health care needs, to receive specialized services beyond general Medicaid coverage. This session will cover resources and services Family Connection of SC provides to families of children with disabilities, including helping parents understand process of applying for waivers.

Register here!

The Early Childhood Journey
2025-02-12 12:00 - 13:00 | SC
Join Family Connection for a virtual session where we will be talking all things early childhood! We’ll cover common questions about child development, early intervention services through IDEA Part C/BabyNet, preparing to transition to services for school-aged children (IDEA Part B), and resources available to South Carolina’s families. Information covered during this session is designed for parents and cargivers of children ages birth to 5 but is open to anyone wanting to learn more!

Register here!

Helping Your Child Reach Their Potential
2025-02-11 18:30 - 19:30 | SC
We are back for another parent session to help your child succeed at school and beyond. Come ready to learn the six tips to being an effective teacher at home, using positive parenting principles to help build your child’s life skills. While content of each session is designed for parents and caregivers of children up to age 12, sessions are open to all parents and caregivers!

Register here!

Accessibility Morning Event
2025-02-08 09:00 - 11:00 | South Carolina State Museum, 520 Gervais Street, Columbia, SC, 29201, United States
We are so sorry we had to cancel last month’s event. We missed seeing you all. Our next Accessibility Morning event will take place on February 8, 2025, and we’d love it if you would join us, and Pete the Cat, for this awesome event.

If you plan to attend this event, please let us know and check out the information below to find out more about the event and what we ask of you as a Community Resource Partner. As always, we’d appreciate it if you would share this event with others, and let us know if there is anyone else we could be inviting to it!

Current Status of SC School Vouchers
2025-02-03 12:00 - 13:00 | SC
In South Carolina, there are ongoing discussions about using public funds for private schools. How do these decisions affect students with disabilities? Join Jennifer Rainville with SC Appleseed to learn about the latest school voucher laws and how they could change public education, including support and accommodations for students.

Register here!

Progress Monitoring: What Parent Need to Know
2025-01-28 12:00 - 13:00 | SC
This learning session will provide parents with a clear understanding of progress monitoring requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the process of tracking progress on Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals, and best practices for ensuring their child’s educational success. Register!

Positive Parenting
2025-01-21 18:00 - 19:30 | SC
Parenting is hard. We’re here with helpful resources to create a safe, positive learning environment for your child.

Register!

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Freedom March
2025-01-20 10:00 - 12:00 | SC
The 26th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Freedom March will return to Florence on Monday, January 20, beginning at 10 a.m.

The march will kick off at the Seventh Day Adventist Church on Oakland Avenue, where participants are invited to arrive early for refreshments, including coffee and cocoa.

The procession will then make its way along Oakland Avenue, cross the Martin Luther King Jr. Bridge, and continue to the Performing Arts Center for the closing program.

Councilwoman Lashonda NeSmith Jackson is eager for this year’s event and is hoping for a diverse turnout from the community, including local churches, Greek organizations, and motorcycle clubs.

At the Performing Arts Center, the program will feature a keynote address by Bishop R. Christopher Brown of Sword of Truth Church, along with poetry, praise dancers, and reflections on Dr. King’s lasting legacy. Following the program, city buses will transport participants back to their vehicles.

For Jackson, the return of the march in 2023 after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic was deeply emotional.

It marked the first march without three key community leaders who were instrumental in establishing the event: former councilman Ed Robinson (died 2016), longtime city councilman Billy D. Williams (died 2021), and activist Freddie Jolly (died 2020).

This year, Jackson hopes to approach the march with less emotion while honoring the legacy of these leaders, who are profoundly missed by the community.

“This year, we want to make sure everyone has a voice, just as Dr. King did,” Jackson said. “We’re doing this for the community, to honor the past and set the tone for the future.”

The march is a tradition in Florence, and Jackson said she encourages all to join in commemorating Dr. King’s legacy and incorporating his teachings into their daily lives.
or those unable to walk, city buses will ensure everyone can still participate by riding behind the marchers

MLK Day 2025
2025-01-20 08:00 - 15:00 | Virtus Academy, 2407 Pisgah Road, Florence, SC, 29501, United States

FMU MLK Celebration Event
2025-01-16 18:30 - 20:00 | Francis Marion University, 4822 East Palmetto Street, Florence, SC, 29501, United States
Francis Marion University will host its 26th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration on campus Thursday, January 16 at 6:30 p.m. in Chapman Auditorium.
This year’s keynote speaker will be Florence Mayor Lethonia Barnes. The program will be emceed by members of the FMU Student Government Association and the Campus Activities Board. The event will also include entertainment provided by the Young Gifted and Blessed Gospel Choir and winners of FMU’s Got Talent.
Lethonia Barnes is an accomplished business owner, a former college administrator, wife, mother, and a current pastor. Barnes graduated from Wilson High School and went on to attend South Carolina State University, where she earned her degree in business. Prior to becoming Mayor of Florence, Barnes owned the largest beauty and barber salon in Florence and led the first business to kick-start the downtown renewal in the city. She also served as an administrator at Florence-Darlington Technical College and Virginia Tech for a combined 21 years. Additionally, Barnes served a four-year term as a Florence City Councilwoman

Let's Talk TEFRA Medicaid
2025-01-16 12:00 - 13:00 | SC
From eligibility to the application process, we’ve got answers for you on health care coverage for children with disabilities.

Register!

Accessibility Event at the State Museum
2024-12-14 09:00 - 11:00 | South Carolina State Museum, 520 Gervais Street, Columbia, SC, 29201, United States
Please join us for this month’s Accessibility Morning activities on Saturday, December 14. Let us know if you’d like to join us, The Grinch, and Santa for this awesome event. We’d love to have you!

Check out the information below to find out more about the event and what we ask of you as a Community Resource Partner. As always, we’d love it if you could share this event with others, and let us know if there is anyone else we could be inviting to it!

Accessibility Morning Information:
This inclusive program provides free access for families of children, teens, young adults, and adults who would benefit from a quieter, more sensory-friendly and disability adapted experience at the museum where they can explore at their own pace and enjoy the special activities.

ASL Interpretation will be provided by the SC School for the Deaf and Blind as noted in the schedule below. The museum also has several other accessibility tools available – just ask an educator upon your arrival!

The event is free, and guests are encouraged to pre-register as the FREE 9:45am show tickets can only be reserved on-site on the day of the event. There is no age limit, and you do not have to attend the activities. Guests are welcome to simply come and enjoy the museum.

Accessibility Morning Schedule:

8:45am Program Partners Arrive

9-10am Community Resource Partners present (1st Floor – Carolina Gallery)

Please note: You’re welcome to stay until 11am but we only advertise that you’ll be there until 10am, so no pressure!

9-11am Sensory Room available (2nd Floor – Huger St. Room)

9-11 Meet and Greet with Santa

9:45am Sensory Friendly 4D theater show, Rudolph

*ASL interpreter present

10:30 am Meet-and-greet with The Grinch (1st floor NASA Gallery)

*ASL interpreter present

11am Official event is over, but guests are welcome to stay all day 🙂

How can YOU get involved?

Share the event! The biggest help is just getting the word out.

Event Registration Page: Accessibility Morning – Meet Santa & The Grinch | South Carolina State Museum

Facebook Event: Accessibility Morning – Meet Santa & The Grinch | Facebook

Be a presenting partner! We’d love to have you here sharing the amazing things your organization is doing! There is no fee to do so. We want this to be free to everyone and simply to be a good resource fair for our guests. It doesn’t matter if you can only make it once a year or you come every month – just let us know when you’d like to reserve a table. We’d love to have you!

Don’t have staff but have stuff? We do have a small table where we are able to place materials. Just bring by whatever you’d like us to put out and we’ll be happy to share it!

Support Parent Training
2024-12-07 09:00 - 13:00 | SC
Are you a South Carolina parent/caregiver of a child with a disability? Would you like to become a volunteer Support Parent and offer emotional support to other parents who have a child with a similar diagnosis as your child? If so, this interactive, virtual session could be for you!
Register!

Special Education: Evaluation & Eligibility Under IDEA
2024-12-04 12:00 - 13:00 | SC
This session will cover the process and requirements for evaluation and eligibility as defined in IDEA and breakdown important terms like parental consent and prior written notice. What is an educational evaluation and how is it decided if a student is eligible for special education services? We’ll answer these questions and more in this virtual training. Register!

DDSN 101
2024-11-19 12:00 - 13:00 | SC
This virtual session is designed to empower parents and caregivers with the knowledge and resources needed to navigate the SC Department of Disabilities and Special Needs (DDSN). Join Stephanie Turner, DDSN’s Autism Division Director, for an overview of available services and supports across the state for children and young adults with disabilities. Register!

STEM Saturdays: Land and Sea Design Challenges. Camp is specifically for children with ASD.
2024-11-16 09:00 - 12:00 | FMU Freshwater Ecology Center, 3742 North Williston Road, Florence, SC, 29501, United States
Saturday, Nov. 16, 9 a.m. -12 p.m. For 3rd-6th graders. $25. Have your kids come learn about the scientific and design process while working to make the best puff cars and penny boats! How far can your car go? How much weight can your boat hold?

You can register here: https://www.fmarion.edu/stem-saturday-land-and-sea-engineering-design-challenges-for-autistic-youth/

The Power of Play
2024-11-13 18:30 - 19:30 | SC
In this virtual session, we will discuss what we mean by “play”, why it is so important for learning, especially for our littlest learners and “how” you, as caregivers, can engage in and encourage play throughout your daily routines. Come ready to learn and have fun as Kerri Wikel, IMH-E®-Infant Family Associate, teaches us new ways to connect with and help our little ones grow. Register!

What to Know As Your Young Adult Turns 18
2024-11-12 18:00 - 19:00 | SC
This virtual session, with guest speaker Amber Lydford from SC Vocational Rehabilitation Department (SCVRD), will provide information and support for young adults with disabilities who are approaching turning 18. In this session, participants will learn about their rights and resources, including navigating health care services and transitioning from TEFRA Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), employment opportunities and more. Attendees will also learn more about what’s available through SCVRD and how to access services in their communities. Young adults over 17, parents with children of all ages and professionals are welcome to attend! Register!

Changing Problem Behavior into Positive Behavior
2024-10-24 11:30 - 13:00 | SC
Changing Problem Behavior into
Positive Behavior
Thursday, October 24
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Join us for the final session in our three-part series. Cindy Tomlinson will address types of behaviors, why it’s important to address, and how to handle. Come with questions as we discuss six important steps to change or manage behavior. The session is designed for parents and caregivers of children up to age 12–but all parents are welcome. This session is approved for 1.5 hours of Foster Parent Credit. Register!

Team Up to Teach Up: Supercharging Special Ed with Collaborative Superpowers!
2024-10-17 10:00 - 11:00 | SC
Registration
Participants must register to receive the webinar link. REGISTER NOW.

About the Program
Discover the transformative power of collaboration in special education! This engaging webinar will explore practical strategies for enhancing teamwork among educators, paraprofessionals, administrators, and parents to create a dynamic literacy learning environment. Learn how to overcome common challenges, leverage digital tools, and implement best practices that will elevate your collaborative efforts and ultimately boost learner success.
Target Audience: AT, Paraprofessionals, SpEd Administrators, SpEd Teachers, Practitioners

Identify and implement effective strategies to overcome common collaboration challenges, including communication breakdowns and role confusion in special education settings.
Develop a comprehensive plan to enhance parental engagement, utilizing a variety of communication methods and involvement opportunities.
Apply digital tools and consistent instructional frameworks to streamline communication and foster a cohesive team approach in supporting learners with complex needs.

About the Presenters

Trisha Johnson
Trisha Johnson has been an advocate for learners for the last 26 years and now serves as the president of Building Wings. She believes that ALL Means ALL and that all learners can learn reading, writing, and communication skills. She splits her time between Illinois and South Carolina. You can follow her on LinkedIn, X, and Instagram.

Accommodations
CART captioning is provided for all SCATP webinars. If you need an additional accommodation to participate, please contact us at least one week prior to the webinar via e-mail or by phone at 803-935-5263.
Webinars are recorded and archived on our training page.

How To Tuesday: All About TEFRA
2024-10-15 19:00 - 19:45 | SC
How to Tuesday:
All About TEFRA
Tuesday, October 15
7:00- 7:45 p.m.
Join the health care team for a conversation on TEFRA Medicaid, including a page-by-page review of the application and what to expect during the review process. Come with a copy of your application and questions for this 45 minute virtual session. Register!
Need the application? Download a copy here: https://www.familyconnectionsc.org/tefra-download/

White Cane Celebration Day
2024-10-15 13:00 - 14:00 | SC
Registration
Participants must register to receive the webinar link. REGISTER NOW.

About the Program
This hour-long webinar celebrates White Cane Day by highlighting the significance of the white cane as a symbol of independence and mobility for people who are blind or have low vision. The event will feature informative presentations on the history and importance of White Cane Day, personal stories from white cane users.

Participants will learn about the history and significance of the white cane and white cane day.
Participants will learn about the types of white canes including low- and high-tech options.
Participants will learn the benefits of using a white cane.

About the Presenter

Amanda Stolz, COMS/TVI
Amanda Stolz is the Chief Programs Officer of Adult Services at the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired South Carolina. She has been a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist and Certified Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments for 15 years.

Accommodations
CART captioning is provided for all SCATP webinars. If you need an additional accommodation to participate, please contact us at least one week prior to the webinar via e-mail or by phone at 803-935-5263.
Webinars are recorded and archived on our training page.

Support Parent Training
2024-10-12 09:00 - 13:00 | SC
Support Parent Training
Saturday, October 12, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Are you a South Carolina parent/caregiver of a child with a disability? Would you like to become a volunteer Support Parent and offer emotional support to other parents who have a child with a similar diagnosis as your child?
This four-hour evidence-based training will give you the skills to help educate, inspire, and empower parents and their children to live rich, fulfilling lives. As a volunteer of Family Connection, a Support Parent provides emotional support and information to families of individuals with disabilities or other special needs. Attendees who complete the training will receive a certificate as well as additional opportunities for skill development and volunteer time during their year commitment with Family Connection of SC. Learn more and register!

Let's Explore: Clicker Writer
2024-10-08 10:00 - 11:00 | SC
Registration
Participants must register to recieve the webinar link. REGISTER NOW.
About the Program
In this webinar, Kyle demonstrates the core features of Clicker Writer. During the session, Kyle will:

Navigate participants through the core features of Clicker Writer

Speech Support, Word Prediction, Voice Notes, Analytics.

Explain how Clicker Grids enable students to write with whole words and phrases. Emerging writers build sentences word-by-word, while Word Banks provide scaffolding to support developing writers.

Target Audience: Special Education Teachers, Assistive Technology Specialists, Occupational Therapists
Participants will Learn:

How to utilize the ready-made resources created by our team of teachers
How to quickly scaffold and differentiate Clicker’s Writing Grids to meet individual learner needs
How to create custom writing resources (Sentence Sets, Connect Sets, Word Banks, Planning Boards

About the Presenter

Kyle Odierno
Education Sales Consultant and MBA student at Sacred Heart University

Life Care Planning: Making the Future More Secure for Your Family
2024-10-07 11:30 - 12:30 | SC
Life Care Planning: Making the Future More Secure for Your Family
October 7, 11:30 – 12:30 p.m.

Presented by Douglas A. Vogel, Special Care Planner, this session will review components of a Life Care Plan and recommended steps parents and caregivers can take to create one for their child with disabilities or specific health care needs.
This workshop will address protecting government benefit eligibility for Supplemental Security Income and Medicaid, creating special needs trusts, the importance of a will, guardianship, financial strategies including ABLE Accounts and preparing Letters of Intent.
Attendees will leave this session with a comprehensive overview of available resources and necessary tools to help develop their personal agenda to best meet the needs of their family.
Register!
