Progress Monitoring: What Parent Need to Know
2025-01-28 12:00 - 13:00 UTC
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!

Current Status of SC School Vouchers
2025-02-03 12:00 - 13:00
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!

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!

Helping Your Child Reach Their Potential
2025-02-11 18:30 - 19:30
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!

The Early Childhood Journey
2025-02-12 12:00 - 13:00
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!

SC Medicaid Waivers: A Guide for Parents
2025-02-19 12:00 - 13:00
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!

Support Parent Training
2025-02-22 09:00 - 13:00
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!

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.

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

April Accessibility Morning at the SC State Museum
2025-04-12 08:45 - 11:00
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!

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

Family Connection: Journey Toolkit: The Power of Organization
2025-08-07 12:00 - 13:00
Learn strategies to organize medical and school records so you can communicate clearly and advocate confidently. This hands-on workshop will help you build a “journey book” to keep everything in one place.
Register

Family Connection: SC Medicaid Waivers: A Guide for Parents
2025-08-11 12:00 - 13:00
Join our healthcare team as they discuss waivers available in SC, who they are intended for, and how to get started! Register!

Parenting with Purpose: A Positive Parenting Series Session 1: Parenting for Children with a Disability
2025-08-20 11:30 - 13:00
Discover the seven key principles of positive parenting for children with disabilities. Learn how to create a safe, nurturing, and engaging home environment that supports learning and development. Register!

WAZE to Adulthood: Parent & Professional Training: Pathway to Success: Independent Living
2025-08-21 12:00 - 13:00
>When it comes to planning for life after high school, it is important to think about working, learning, and living in our communities. These topics play a part in the various paths a person may choose to take in pursuing their independent living goals. Register!

WAZE to Adulthood - Youth Training: Your Pathway to Success: Independent Living
2025-08-21 18:00 - 19:00
Join us for a live Zoom webinar as we discuss various independent living skills that will benefit you as you prepare for adulthood. Register!

Parenting with Purpose: A Positive Parenting Series Session 2: Helping Your Child Reach Their Potential
2025-08-27 11:30 - 13:00
Get six powerful tips to become your child’s most effective teacher at home. Support school success and daily life skills with simple, positive strategies. Register!

Parenting with Purpose: A Positive Parenting Series Session 3: Changing Problem Behavior into Positive Behavior
2025-09-03 11:30 - 13:00
Learn how to turn chaos into calm with six step-by-step tools to manage challenging behavior and build better routines. Register!

Family Connection: Let's Talk TEFRA
2025-09-09 12:00 - 13:00
Join Family Connection’s health care team for a conversation about TEFRA Medicaid. Register!

Family Connection: Understanding the IEP
2025-09-17 08:30 - 09:30
This workshop will walk you through the special education process, break down key terms, explain what is in an IEP, and help you feel confident and prepared as a key member of your child’s team. Register!

Support Parent Training
2025-09-27 09:00 - 13:00
This training equips you with the skills to provide other parents with emotional support and helpful resources. Register!

2025 Caregiver Resource Fair
2025-11-04 10:00 - 13:00 | Florence Family YMCA, 1700 S. Rutherford Drive, Florence, SC, 29505, United States
