(Story courtesy South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department)
Students, business leaders, workforce partners and rehabilitation professionals gathered in North Augusta Oct. 14–16 for the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Association’s annual conference, highlighting the importance of disability inclusion, community partnerships and employment opportunities during National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM).
The three-day conference featured activities that showcased the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department’s (SCVRD) mission to help individuals with disabilities prepare for, obtain, and maintain employment.
One highlight was the inaugural Roll & Stroll, held Thursday, October 15, in partnership with Aiken County Public Schools. Students from area middle and high schools joined Vocational Rehabilitation leaders for a spirited pep rally and walk around SRP Park, celebrating their abilities, potential, and opportunities for the future.
The celebration featured the Midland Valley High School drumline and North Augusta High School cheerleaders, along with Southern Soul recording artist Douglas Furtick, better known as 803 Fresh, who served as Grand Marshal.
Furtick, a former Vocational Rehabilitation consumer, also joined a featured conversation with SCVRD Commissioner Felicia W. Johnson to share his personal journey and the role rehabilitation services played in his life.
The conference also emphasized the importance of employer partnerships in strengthening South Carolina’s workforce.
During The Workforce Playbook: Employer Partner Roundtable, Terra Carroll, President and CEO of the North Augusta Chamber of Commerce, moderated a discussion among business and workforce representatives on employer engagement, workforce needs, and opportunities to connect individuals with disabilities to meaningful employment.
Panel participants included Sara Wilson, Business Development Specialist with SCVRD’s Aiken Area Office; Amanda Atwell of Chartwells; and Andre Anderson, Workforce Development Administrator with the Lower Savannah Council of Governments.
“National Disability Employment Awareness Month is an opportunity to recognize not only the talents and contributions of individuals with disabilities, but also the importance of the partnerships that help create opportunities for them,” said Commissioner Johnson. “Whether we’re helping a student prepare for employment, working with a business to meet its workforce needs, or celebrating the success of someone who once received our services, it all comes back to our mission: helping people achieve greater independence through meaningful employment.”
Together, the conference activities demonstrated the value of collaboration among educators, employers, and community partners in creating pathways to employment and greater independence for South Carolinians with disabilities.
