Annual Advocacy Day for Access & Independence at the South Carolina Statehouse & Streamed Live Online

Press Release

The SC Access & Independence Network, in association with the SC Statewide Independent Living Council, will host Advocacy Day for Access & Independence on Tuesday, April 25th, from 10 am to 12 pm at the SC Statehouse. The event will also be streamed live online to viewers worldwide.

The annual Advocacy Day for Access & Independence will allow the disability community, advocates, and supporters to rally together and call on South Carolina lawmakers to address barriers to independence for people with disabilities. 2023 issue areas of focus are discrimination, housing, transportation, and healthcare.

The goal of the rally on the North Steps of the Statehouse will be to unlock the barriers to independence people with disabilities experience. The rally will include several speakers with disabilities and their political and business allies. Confirmed speakers include U.S. Attorney, District of South Carolina Rob Sneed, South Carolina Representative of the 75 District Heather Bauer, and leaders and advocates from the disability community. The disability community is ready to see an end to discrimination against people with disabilities and increased access to transportation, housing, and healthcare, as explored in the attached handout.

Advocacy Day for Access & Independence was created as part of the State Plan on Independent Living with the support of 40 organizations statewide to unlock the barriers that prevent people with disabilities from having equal access and opportunity. Policies regarding people with disabilities across our state encourage dependence on state programs and the government instead of promoting independence and inclusion. South Carolinians with disabilities are often discriminated against in education, employment, voting, parenting, and daily life. Advocacy Day for Access and Independence will hold the megaphone as disabled people rally on these issues, with the goal of improving the lives of disabled and nondisabled South Carolinians alike!

The official issue area booklet contains details on the barriers that impact people with disabilities and calls to action on how South Carolina lawmakers can move the state forward. The booklet is attached to this notice and can also be found on our website https://unlockingbarriers-sc.org/barriers

“We Want Access! We Want Independence! We Want Equality!” Search www.unlockingbarriers-sc.org for more, and follow our hashtag #BarrierFreeSC across social media platforms. Find our official Facebook page at SC Access & Independence Network.

Participants may register for this free event at www.unlockingbarriers-sc.org/register or by calling 800-681-7715 or via the TTY line at (803) 779-0949.

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