AccessAbility Invites All to a Collaborative Community Event with the North Charleston Police Department

Press Release

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AccessAbility recently completed an extensive series of sensitivity training in tandem with the North Charleston Police Department. In celebration of this partnership and culmination of joining forces, the organizations will be hosting a free community event next Saturday.   

The public is invited to celebrate at the North Charleston Community Collaboration event on June 9th from 10am-1pm at Park Circle (4800 Park Circle, Felix C Davis Community Center at Park Circle). The gathering will offer free food, music, prizes as well as an inside look into specialized equipment, vehicles, and technology of AccessAbility and the North Charleston police force.

Next Saturday’s event marks a huge step in the direction of building a more informed and inclusion-focused community. Activities planned will not only be engaging, but also serve as a catalyst for communication between the police force and people with disabilities as well as the families, friends, and caregivers of individuals with disabilities.

The partnership between the community of people with disabilities and the police force began in December of 2017 and consisted of training focused on communication style, patience, and education about disabilities in general. The series was facilitated by AccessAbility and presented a deeper understanding and advancement of the conversation concerning the dos and don’ts when engaging with citizens who have disabilities that span across the spectrum.

Facilitator Rick Magner of AccessAbility commented on the sensitivity training’s key focus:

“Often the biggest barrier for individuals with disabilities (and without) is communication and therefore a lack of understanding of another’s intentions and needs. This is why we emphasize disability spectrum awareness and communication strategies to heighten understanding and prevent problems before they occur.”

The North Charleston Community Collaboration was made possible with assistance from the Trident United Way.

AccessAbility is a non-profit organization and non-residential center for independent living representing Charleston, Berkeley, Dorchester, Williamsburg, and Orangeburg counties. The organization promotes the full integration of people with disabilities in their communities and operates on a cross-disability basis. AccessAbility’s offices are located between Cross County Road and Lincoln Patriot Blvd. on Dorchester Road in North Charleston.

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