DPH Highlights Programs During International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Published Date

Tue, 10/22/2024 - 17:33

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Dec. 3, 2024

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) is joining others across the globe in observing International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPWD) on Tuesday, Dec. 3.

Each year, IDPWD aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights, and well-being of persons with disabilities. There are various disability types, including mobility, cognition, vision, hearing, and chronic illness.

Disability significantly impacts South Carolina. The latest CDC data shows that there are currently 1,183,750 adults in South Carolina living with a disability, equating to about 1 in 3 adults in South Carolina.

In alignment with the mission of IDPWD, DPH collaborates with Able South Carolina (Able SC), the state's oldest and largest disability-led non-profit organization. Over the years of their partnership, these entities have worked to enhance access and outreach for South Carolinians with disabilities, ultimately striving for improved healthcare outcomes.

"DPH are wonderful partners,” said Kimberly Tissot, Able SC CEO. “They are truly committed to ensuring their programs are inclusive of people with disabilities.”

Currently, DPH and Able SC are partnering through the Centers for Disease Control Foundation (CDCF) Stretch program, which was launched in 2024 to establish a meaningful collaboration between the agencies. The objective of this grant is to identify and address health disparities affecting individuals with disabilities in South Carolina.

The SC Stretch partners envision a future in South Carolina where health care access is manageable for all residents. DPH is dedicated to dismantling barriers and addressing biases while fostering welcoming health care systems that prioritize the needs and perspectives of individuals with disabilities. The collective vision is for a future in which every South Carolinian can access quality care and fully participate in community life.

Building on this collaboration, DPH engaged Able SC to assist in developing onboarding for new hires. Able SC provided expertise to ensure the promotion of disability inclusion and accessibility, underscoring the importance of embedding these principles into organizational practices.

"The Healthcare Quality team works across bureaus to provide quality care for all those served by DPH-regulated facilities," said Gwendolyn Thompson, Healthcare Quality Deputy Director. "The inspections and investigations that our team complete are crucial to educating facilities on regulatory requirements and ensuring safe services that meet our communities' needs."

In addition to the adult population, 23% of children in South Carolina have disability-related health care needs, according to the Health Resources Service Administration, National Maternal and Children Health Bureau, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

DPH’s Section of Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) features a variety of programs that assist this population by providing supplies, resources, payment assistance for medical services, linkage to care, and transition assistance to adult care to qualifying children, youth and their families. In addition, CYSHCN supports the DPH Newborn Screening (NBS) Follow-Up Program, providing long-term follow up for infants with specific diagnoses identified through NBS testing.

The CYSHCN programs include:

The SC Stretch partner effort extends to the CYSHCN team operation, Camp Burnt Gin, an overnight summer camp for children, teens and young adults who have physical disabilities and chronic illnesses. The camp will, for the first time, benefit from specialized training and resources provided by a disability-led organization. The sessions, led by people with disabilities for people with disabilities, will focus on disability culture, accessibility, and advocacy and aim to equip camp staff and volunteers with tools to create a supportive, accessible, and inclusive environment

“Our programs help provide children with disabilities and special health care needs with the tools, support and resources they and their families need to thrive in their homes, schools and communities,” said Malerie Hartsell, DPH’s Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs section director. “Every child deserves the opportunity to live the happiest and healthiest life possible, and we aim to address the needs of children here in South Carolina to afford them that opportunity.”

DPH’s various collaborative efforts exemplify how the partnerships foster both immediate programmatic impact and long-term systemic change in public health practices.

For more partner agencies and organizations, visit DPH’s Finding Quality Healthcare webpage, which features information on resources for people with disabilities.

###