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!

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!

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!

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/

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!

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!

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!

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 […]

From eligibility to the application process, we've got answers for you on health care coverage for children with disabilities.   Register!

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

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. […]