20th Annual Disability Advocacy Day

Wednesday, March 4, 2009 -- 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

at the South Carolina State House (starting at the Blatt Building)

YOU can help the Governor and members of the SC General Assembly understand the unique needs of citizens with severe, lifelong disabilities in South Carolina. Our goal in 2009 is to restore and maintain essential “MUST HAVE” services for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

Let your voice be heard by attending Disability Advocacy Day

What you need to do now:

• Call, write or visit your state Representative and Senator in your district and inform them that you will be attending Disability Advocacy Day at the State House on March 4, 2009.
• Make an appointment for a short visit with your legislators to discuss the top priorities listed in here...
1. If at all possible, in their office at some time during Disability Advocacy Day
2. Or in your hometown, during February or March.
• If you do not know your legislators’ names, visit SC Legislature Online and search by zip code, call the voter registration office in your county for this information. Legislators’ telephone numbers are available by calling 1-800-922-1539.

Tell your personal story!

• Write your personal story to leave with your state Representative and Senator.
• Bring a photo of your family member with a disability when meeting with your legislators and when you come to Disability Advocacy Day. Wear as part of your nametag or show to legislators as a visual reminder of who you are representing.
• Personal stories put a real face and voice on how important services are to you and your family member.

OUR GOAL

• Families need help to care for their loved one with a disability at home. DAY SUPPORT SERVICES aid family members to work and earn money, lead normal lives and prevent costly out of home placements.
• Continue providing services through the PDD PROGRAM (Pervasive Developmental Disorder) for young children with autism and Asperger syndrome.
• RESPITE and other IN-HOME SUPPORTS help families cope with the day to day challenges of caring for our loved ones.
• Self Advocates want REAL jobs with real pay.

PARKING INFORMATION

130 meters will be bagged for free parking. Locations are shown on the map with dotted lines. Passes are not required for bagged meters, but they are available in the Blatt Building or from traffic guides on the streets around the State House Complex for the parking garages.*

A new parking garage is on the corner of Pendleton and Park Streets. Park free in this garage and the Lady St. garage all day IF a display a special pass on your dashboard. Without this pass, you must pay parking fees. Passes will be handed out at both garage entrances.* (8 ft. clearance)

* To get passes before March 4, please contact service providers and DAD co-sponsors. Passes can be emailed for you to print.

HANDICAP ACCESS: SIDEWALK RAMPS are marked on MAP with * Ramps at Pendleton Street, but unloading is not permitted here. Ramps are also marked on Sumter Street and Guides will be stationed at the three Sumter Street ramps(*) to assist with unloading.

Cosponsors: SC Partnership of Disability Organizations; SC Autism Society; Brain Injury Alliance of SC; The Arc of SC - Advocates for Special Needs; SC Spinal Cord Injury Association; SC Human Service Providers, Inc.; The Disability Action Center, Inc.; SC Chapter - American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD); SC Respite Coalition; Family Connection of SC; Epilepsy Foundation of SC; Babcock Center, Inc.; People on the Go - Self Advocacy; IMPACT SC- Statewide Self Advocacy Council; PRO-Parents of SC