Category: News

• News

To Our Consumers:

The South Carolina Commission for the Blind (SCCB) is conducting a comprehensive statewide needs assessment of the employment needs of individuals who are blind or have a visual impairment in South Carolina. We are asking you to complete a short survey so that we can include the knowledge and experience of the individuals that we serve. The results of this survey will be used to improve programs and services and meet the changing needs of persons who are blind or have a visual impairment.

Please take this opportunity to complete the survey and share your thoughts and experiences with us. Please complete the survey by January 23, 2023. The Survey link is below:

Individual Consumer Survey

Your responses will be anonymous and you will not be asked for your name anywhere in the survey.

Thank you.

• News

To Our Business Partners:

The South Carolina Commission for the Blind (SCCB) is conducting a comprehensive statewide needs assessment of the employment needs of individuals who are blind or have a visual impairment in South Carolina. As part of this assessment, we are surveying businesses to determine their needs related to recruiting, hiring, accommodating, and retaining employees who are blind or have a visual impairment.  

Please take this opportunity to complete the survey and share your thoughts and experiences with us. Please complete the survey by January 23, 2023. The survey link is below:

Business Partner Survey

Your responses will be anonymous and you will not be asked for your name anywhere in the survey.

Thank you.

• News

To Our Community Partners:

The South Carolina Commission for the Blind (SCCB) is conducting a comprehensive statewide needs assessment of the employment needs of individuals who are blind or have a visual impairment in South Carolina. As part of this assessment, we are surveying our community partners to incorporate their knowledge and experience.

Please take this opportunity to complete the survey and share your thoughts and experiences with us. Please complete the survey by January 23, 2023. The survey link is below:

Community Partner Survey

Your responses will be anonymous and you will not be asked for your name anywhere in the survey.

Thank you.

• News

The following comment was recently received from a consumer who received SCCB’s Older Blind services:

It was my lucky day when a friend gave me your telephone number. I called and [the counselor] made an appointment to come and meet me. She offered suggestions, making my house easy to move around in. She gave me a telephone, a package of bump dots, and some other odds and ends. She made me an appointment for an evaluation. I received several sizes of magnifying glasses, an address book, and other stuff.

I’m so thankful for the Commission. It has given [me] more freedom. I use everything you have given me. I have had several visits with [my counselor] and found her to be very helpful. I feel I can call her any time.

—Former SCCB Consumer

• News

June 26 – July 1, 2021

The annual Children’s Summer Camp, hosted by NFB Successful Transitions, is for children who are legally blind, aged 12 and under. It will be held at Rocky Bottom Retreat and Conference Center of the Blind in Pickens County from June 26 to July 1, 2021.

Activities will include canoeing for kids at Table Rock, virtual story hour with the state library service, technology day (courtesy of Vispero/Freedom Scientific, who will demonstrate various types of assistive technology), Braille activities, independent living activities, and more. Many of the senior and junior counselors and administrative personnel will be legally blind individuals.

SCCB partners with Successful Transitions to help promote this event and provide other resources.

• News

June 21 – July 31, 2021

The 2021 SCCB Summer Teen Program will feature two activity paths: the Independence Track, which will help students prepare for future internships, and the Worker Track, which will provide an internship experience for eligible students.

The program will take place from June 21 through July 31. The first week will be held virtually for both tracks. After that, activities and events will be held at different locations in Columbia. The final week will be held at Rocky Bottom Retreat and Conference Center of the Blind in Pickens County.

Students on the Worker Track will have internship/work experience opportunities offered by Carolina Wildlife, edVenture, and other partners.

SCCB’s Summer Teen Program offers Pre-employment Transition Services workshops in conjunction with Successful Transitions.

• News

May 21, 2021

The Virtual Spring Senior Camp will be held Friday, May 21, from 10am to 2pm. About 20 seniors are anticipated to attend, and will participate in networking opportunities, social time, and an interactive game. Helpful resources will be provided, with a focus on new offerings from the Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired for short recordings, podcasts, and other options. There will be a discussion about independence and relying on one’s abilities.

For more than 30 years, SCCB has partnered with the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina to offer this event.

• News

May 19 – August 6, 2021

The 2021 Student Internship Program (SIP) will provide an opportunity for six SCCB consumers who are post-secondary students (in 2 or 4 year degree programs) to participate in an internship related to their major. It will begin with a three-day virtual orientation from May 19 – 21, which will include workplace etiquette, self-advocacy, resume writing, interview skills and mock interviews. Then, between June 1 and August 6, the students will intern at Freeway Music in Columbia, Orangeburg County Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, SCCB’s Assistive Technology Department in Columbia, ABC Academy Daycare in Saluda, Courage Center in Lexington, and the Richland County Public Defender’s Office in Columbia.

• News

The following comment was recently received from a consumer who received services from SCCB:

I can’t thank you enough for what you did for me. SC Commission for the Blind is a blessing from God. When you have struggled all your life and can’t afford insurance and other things, it’s a terrible feeling. You all rescued me from not knowing how I was going to make a living for my family. I have nothing but gratitude for you. This organization is top-notch and definitely needed in this world. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

—Former SCCB VR Consumer

• News

Anastasia DeGuzman, Braille Instructor, and Derrick Strick, Training and Employment Instructor, (pictured above, left to right) were selected to present at the Dare to be Remarkable virtual conference that was held on December 15-17, 2020.

During their presentation, titled “Blindness, Literacy and Employment in the 21st Century,” they discussed the causes of blindness and provided breakdowns by age and employment status followed by a brief review of Braille research, literacy outcomes and the limited implementation of technology and instruction in relation to employment outcomes. Next, they gave an overview of the necessary instructional skills, technological skills and specialized equipment available to provide high-quality distance learning in Braille. Finally, they presented the components of a Proposed distance-learning Braille instruction Framework using the 4 Pillars of Andragogy and Structured Discovery Methodology. They also gave a demonstration of how instructors could remotely interact with consumers when teaching Braille online.

Dare to Be Remarkable is a three-day national training conference for education and rehabilitation professionals who work with blind and low vision transition-aged students or adults.