SC Access and Independence Network

05/06/2026

Advocacy Day for Access & Independence is more than a single day; it's weeks and months of preparation, writing to lawmakers, negotiation, and representation.

Last month, we kicked off preparations for Advocacy Day for Access and Independence by delivering our 2026 Advocacy Guide to all 170 SC state-level lawmakers. Together we walked and rolled down the halls of the Gressette and Blatt buildings on the SC Statehouse grounds. We returned after the Advocacy Day event with postcards written by people with disabilities and our allies, by YOU!

Here are a few photos of the volunteers who took the time to meet with lawmakers about "Unlocking the barriers for South Carolinians with Disabilities."

[1- SC Access & Independence Network volunteers outside the Gressette building, smiling- they are diverse in age, race, and disability. 2- A volunteer hands the booklet to a lawmaker's staff person. 3- Volunteers take a selfie during postcard delivery. 4- close up of stacks of postcards with keys attached, during delivery.]

04/30/2026

🚨 ACT NOW: Protect Medicaid in South Carolina 🚨
✉️ Email your lawmaker: https://secure.everyaction.com/LywZfjywvkydbU0XBeSuLg2
📞 Call your lawmaker: https://secure.everyaction.com/RYMp3HypDUWEfy3LfupH4g2

Medicaid is a lifeline for our neighbors, like Kim, who shared her powerful testimony with us during Advocacy Day for Access & Independence.

South Carolina lawmakers are making critical decisions about the state budget RIGHT NOW. Medicaid funding is on the line, and we need your voice to protect healthcare for 1 million South Carolinians.

The Problem:
A multi-million-dollar cut is being considered in the state budget in response to the SC Dept of Health and Human Services' request. With over 20,000 people already on waiting lists, these cuts could lead to fewer providers, longer waits, and a loss of independence for many.

For people like Kim, Medicaid makes living at home, working, and staying active in the community possible. It covers essential services such as personal care workers, medical care, and home-based support that help keep people out of nursing homes.

What You Can Do:
Share your story! Use the links below to send a pre-written letter or place a call to your lawmaker and add how this impacts you or your loved ones.

✉️ Email your lawmaker: https://secure.everyaction.com/LywZfjywvkydbU0XBeSuLg2
📞 Call your lawmaker: https://secure.everyaction.com/RYMp3HypDUWEfy3LfupH4g2

Time is running out. Let’s make sure our lawmakers prioritize the health and independence of South Carolinians!



[Short video of Kim, a white woman with cerebral palsy in a power wheelchair using an AAC device to speak while outside the SC statehouse during the 2026 Advocacy Day for Access & Independence.] https://secure.everyaction.com/LywZfjywvkydbU0XBeSuLg2?utm_name=sked&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=sked_69f25a4018ae93165310c084

04/29/2026

Don't miss photos from this year's Advocacy Day for Access & Independence, 2026!

04/29/2026

04/15/2026

What a Day for a Barrier-Free SC! 🔓
Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday, April 14, at the South Carolina State House for Advocacy Day for Access & Independence. Together, we called on lawmakers to take action to unlock the barriers to housing, healthcare, transportation, and employment, that people with disabilities face. We are sending a clear message: Community Living is about access and we have a right to thrive!

Since our first gathering in 2014, this movement has grown as it continues to represent all people with disabilities. This year, your energy and dedication reached new heights!

The Impact by the Numbers:

540+ Advocates joined us in person at the State House.

200+ Views on our event livestream (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dBAI9gMsxk)

75+ Organizations participating from across the state.

70+ Direct messages sent to lawmakers during the event.

AND Hundreds of postcards collected for delivery to our representatives.

Our Mission Continues!

While the rally has ended, our work to Unlock Barriers is just beginning. Our lawmakers hold the keys to a more accessible future, and because of you, they heard our voices loud and clear. Whether you rode the shuttle, watched from home, or rolled with us to the north steps—thank you for being part of the mission for a Barrier-Free SC.

"We can imagine a future where these barriers are unlocked, and our lawmakers hold the keys!"



[Two group photos of event volunteers and staff following the event. The group has people of different ages, race, genders, and disabilities. They are all wearing matching "Unlocking Barriers" t-shirts while standing or rolling up around the SC Statehouse north steps. First image, the group is smiling, second image the group has their arms in the air or are making excited faces.]

04/15/2026

Thank you ABC Columbia for the coverage of our event!

Able South Carolina

Tuesday morning (April 14) people from across the state came to Columbia to celebrate Advocacy Day at the State House.

04/14/2026

04/14/2026

Join us today at the Statehouse for Disability Advocacy Day!

We’re here until 12 PM, standing together to raise awareness, share our voices, and advocate for the needs of our community. This is a chance to connect, learn, and support efforts that make a real difference for individuals with disabilities and their families.

Stop by, say hello, and be part of something meaningful—we’d love to see you here!