Hundreds attend “Disability Advocacy Day” at the Statehouse

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — Hundreds of people across the Midlands made their way to the Statehouse Tuesday morning for the annual event known as “Disability Advocacy Day.”

Community members, lawmakers, and organization leaders united for one common goal — to enhance the lives of people with disabilities.

Speakers at the event emphasized the need for better access to care and assistive technology, greater equity in transportation, and better housing and employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

School initiatives and the need for greater respite care across the state were also discussed.

Margie Williamson is the Executive Director for an organization called The Arc of South Carolina.

“When you sit at a legislative level, you have a lot of people coming at you asking for things, and I think what we’re asking for is a lot of independence. It’s a lot of being able to teach our community that we are able, and we are excited and ready to be a part of our workforce, a part of our communities and engaged in our communities.”

Nathan Mackey is part of an organization called Easterseals.

“I was born three months premature with cerebral palsy, and Easterseals provided physical therapy services to me until I was about 6 years old. And a couple years ago, after I’d grown up and gone to college, I actually got a pilot’s license, and I wanted to give back to Easterseals,” Mackey says.

He now sits on the board of the organization and encourages other folks to use their services.

“It makes me feel like I am giving back to the people who gave me so much. And I just want to promote Easterseals and what a wonderful organization they are, and help people that aren’t aware of Easterseals so they can take advantage of those services as well,” he says.

Amy Mayne with The Arc of South Carolina says the event teaches people with disabilities how to advocate for themselves.

“I’ve got three girls. My middle child, actually adult, is on the spectrum. And it just makes me so proud when she learns skills to be able to advocate for herself and be as independent as possible,” Mayne says.

Representatives say around 1.1 million South Carolinians live with a disability.