Disability Advocacy Day

Attention South Carolinians with lifelong disabilities, family members, and service providers!

Join us at the Statehouse March 6^th for the 24^th annual Disability Advocacy Day!

Click here for more information, including directions and FREE parking.

Our 2013 priorities include the following:

• Maintain current essential services.
• Emphasize the need for services NOW, not long waiting lists.
• Continue critical services provided by DDSN to individuals with disabilities and their families.

Tentative Schedule of Events

Registration in the Blatt Building                                                        8:30 – 9:30

Appointments with Legislators or Staff                                          8:30 – 9:15

Walk (Meet at Strom Thurmond Statue)                                       9:15 – 9:45

Press Conference                                                                                    9:45 – 10:00

Floor of State House/Balcony                                                             10:00 – 11:30

Self Advocacy Rally & Lunch                                                                11:30 – 12:30

Steps to take in NOW:

• Make an appointment with your legislators to discuss this year's top priorities.
• Ask your legislator to come out and walk with you on Disability Advocacy Day.
• Encourage local group homes and assisted living communities to bring their residents to DAD.

If you or your child lives in a group home or assisted living community, we want you to attend DAD, too! Please contact the assisted living community or group home to see if DAD is on the schedule for March 6. Ask if the home is planning transportation for DAD and, if you're a parent, offer to be a chaperone. There is a self advocate rally held at the end of the day, and it is always a highlight for attendees. With so many group home providers in the state, we should be able to flood our state house with self advocates.

For more information on the self advocate rally or if you are interested in speaking, contact Deona Lindholm at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or  (864)450.0607

• Donate your used shoes to show legislators that people are not just numbers.

Each shoe will represent someone who is not receiving the services they need to lead a happy, safe and healthy life. The shoes will fill the state house steps on March 6 to create a visual representation of just how many individuals are waiting to receive services.

Donations are accepted through the end of February at Family Connection, The Arc of SC, Team Therapy and Palmetto Language & Speech. If you do not live in Columbia and still wish to donate, contact Margie Williamson at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (803)431-5405.

To find out who your legislators are, visit www.sc.gov or call the voter registration office in your county.

Disability Advocacy Day Co-sponsors: SC Autism Society; Brain Injury Association of SC; The Arc of SC - Advocates for Rights for Citizens; 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; Babcock Center, Inc.; People on the Go - Self Advocacy; IMPACT; PRO-parents.