Links
South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs (DDSN) – Head and Spinal Cord Injury Division
If you have been diagnosed with a Traumatic Brain Injury and you are a resident of SC, you may be eligible to receive services (case management, attendant care, nursing, family support, respite, etc.) from the SC Department of Disabilities and Special Needs (SCDDSN) Head and Spinal Cord Injury (HASCI) Division. Please see the eligibility information here:
If you are eligible for SCDDSN HASCI services and have Medicaid, you may be eligible to receive additional help from a Medicaid Waiver. More information here:
and here:
Post-Acute Rehabilitation Funds
SCDDSN has some state funds for individuals with no insurance or who are underinsured to receive Post-Acute Rehabilitation in an inpatient or outpatient facility. This is for individuals who no longer need acute care. BIASC has advocated with the state legislature since 2007 for those state funds to increase little by little each year. The first year $500,000 was appropriated for the fund. As of July 1, 2020, $3.1 million was appropriated. For more information, see here:
Links and More
Able SC: An independent living center which is a consumer-controlled, community-based, cross-disability nonprofit that provides an array of independent living services. Serves Chester, Clarendon, Calhoun, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lee, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg, Richland, Saluda, Sumter, York, Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg, and Union counties.
(800) 681.6805.
http://www.able-sc.org/
AccessAbility: An independent living center which is a consumer-controlled, community-based, cross-disability nonprofit that provides an array of independent living services. Serves Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester, Orangeburg, and Williamsburg counties.
(866) 874.7730.
http://www.abilitysc.org/
Brain Injury Association of America: The country's oldest and largest nationwide brain injury advocacy organization.
(703) 761-0750.
http://www.biausa.org
Brainline: a website for civilians and military personnel living with traumatic brain injury.
Center for Disability Resources Library: Brain Injury Books and resources can be mailed to you. You will receive a postage-paid mailing envelope to return them.
(803) 216-3206 http://uscm.med.sc.edu/CDR/index.htm or email steve.wilson@uscmed.sc.edu
Center for Disease Control (CDC): Information about TBI: http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/tbi/TBI.htm
Client Assistance Program (CAP) - The Client Assistance Program (CAP) assists individuals who receive or want to receive services from the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department (VR) or the South Carolina Commission for the Blind (SCCB) understand their rights to services. CAP also helps people understand their employment rights; such as their rights to reasonable accommodations and to be free from disability related discrimination.
Individuals should contact Disability Rights SC when they have been turned down for services by Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) or South Carolina Commission for the Blind (SCCB), need a better plan for VR or SCCB to help them go back to work, or need to better understand their rights. Disability Rights SC can also help if people are not receiving the services they need from independent living centers. Disability Rights SC will continue to assist individuals who encounter other barriers to work, such as employment discrimination.
Toll Free: 1-866-275-7273; Local: 1-803-782-0639; TTY: 1-866-232-4525;
Website: Home - Disability Rights SC
Disability Rights SC: Disability Rights SC, formerly Protection & Advocacy, assists individuals.
Toll Free: 1-866-275-7273; Local: 1-803-782-0639; TTY: 1-866-232-4525
Website: Home - Disability Rights SC
Dreamriders Therapeutic Horseback Riding: Providing opportunities for people with special needs to benefit from equine assisted activities in a safe environment.
(803) 957-7906
http://www.dreamrider.org/
Family Connection of SC: A statewide nonprofit organization with the mission to strengthen and encourage families of children with special healthcare needs through parent support.
(800) 578-8750.
http://www.familyconnectionsc.org/
Free Medical Clinics: Provides quality health care, at no cost, to residents of SC who cannot pay for such services and who have no health insurance. (803) 765.1503.
http://www.freemedclinic.org/
Get Care SC: This is a guide to available resources for older adults, people with disabilities, their family members and caregivers in South Carolina.
(803) 734-9900.
https://www.getcaresc.com/
IRS: www.irs.gov. Free tax return preparation to individuals having low to moderate income.
(800) 829-1040 or TTY/TDD (800) 829-4059
Lash and Associates: Brain Injury books, tip cards, resources available for purchasing:
http://www.lapublishing.com/
Long Term Care Facility locator: http://www.nfbl.sc.gov/
Medicare: A health insurance program for people age 65 and over, people under the age of 65 with certain disabilities, and people of all ages with End-stage Renal Disease.
(800) 633-4227
www.medicare.gov
No Tears in Heaven: an Inspirational and informational website developed by the family of a 12-year-old boy who had an anoxic brain injury due to cardiac arrest.
http://www.notearsinheaven.com
Palmetto Able Savings Account is an investment account that allows qualified individuals with disabilities to save money for the future without losing eligibility for important benefit programs such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
https://palmettoable.com/
Palmetto Animal Assisted Life Services: PAALS trains animals to assist people with varying abilities to live more independent and enriched lives by providing them with assistance dogs.
(803) 788-7063
www.paals.org
Prisma Health SeniorCare PACE: Provides all-inclusive medical care with adult day health services for participants 55 years and older residing in Lexington and Richland Counties.
https://www.palmettohealth.org/medical-services/other-services/geriatric-services/palmetto-seniorcare
SAMSHA Resources for returning veterans and their families: http://www.samhsa.gov/veterans-military-families/samhsas-efforts
SC Assistive Technology Program: Federally funded program concerned with getting technology into the hands of people with disabilities so that they might live, work, learn and be a more independent part of the community.
(800) 915-4522
http://www.sc.edu/scatp/
SC Commission for the Blind: helps blind and visually impaired residents of SC gain independence. Provide training, job placement and business opportunities for South Carolinians.
(888) 335-5951
www.sccb.state.sc.us
SC Department of Health and Environmental Control: Provides information on TBI in SC and the SC Student Athlete Concussion Law.
http://www.scdhec.gov/Health/ChildTeenHealth/Concussions/
SC Department of Health and Human Services/Healthy Connections/Medicaid: If you can't afford to pay for medical care, Medicaid can assist financially eligible people to get care from approved providers who accept Medicaid. A person must apply for Medicaid at the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. An electronic application is available on the website.
(888) 549-0820
https://www.scdhhs.gov/
SC Department of Mental Health: Provides a full range of community and inpatient services to citizens of all ages who have emotional or psychiatric problems.
(803) 898-8581
http://www.state.sc.us/dmh/
SC Housing and Urban Development: Mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.
(803) 765-5592
https://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/states/south_carolina
SC Respite Coalition: The mission of the SC Respite Coalition is to expand quality respite opportunities in South Carolina throughout the lifespan for South Carolina families who have a member with special needs.
(866) 345-6786
http://screspitecoalition.org/
SC Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program: Provides telephones or other assistive equipment to S.C. residents who are hearing impaired or have speech impairments.
(803) 737-0870
http://www.sc.edu/scatp/scatcenters/atresource.htm#tedp
SC Thrive (The Benefit Bank): Assists individuals with finding financial resources and benefits.
(800) 726-8774
https://www.scthrive.org
SC Vocational Rehabilitation Department: Prepares people with disabilities to become qualified candidates for employment by using in-depth assessment, disability management, job readiness courses and hands-on training. Services are available at 29 locations throughout the state. For more information, call 800-832-7526, 803-896-6533 (TTY), or visit http://www.scvrd.net
South Carolina Brain Injury Leadership Council (SC BILC):
Social Security Administration: (Social Security and Supplemental Security Income) For financial assistance, the Social Security Administration provides applications for Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income.
1-800-772-1213
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/
South Carolina Brain Injury Leadership Council: The state's advisory body on brain injury as mandated under the federal TBI Act of 1996. It is an active forum for addressing systems issues, service gaps, funding constraints and public awareness related to brain injury.
http://www.scbilc.com/
State Library: There's more than one way to read a book: (800) 922-7818.
http://www.statelibrary.sc.gov/tbs
The South Carolina Online Assistive Technology Exchange: An online recycling database that helps citizens with disabilities and older people with functional limitations find affordable assistive technology devices and equipment.
http://www.sc.edu/scatp/reutilization.html#scexchange
U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs: http://www.va.gov/
Walmart Prescription Drug Discounts: http://www.walmart.com/cp/5431
Intelligent.com: Resources for advocacy in the school setting. Tips for advocating for Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and 504s in elementary through high school, as well as tips for how to advocate for disability services in college. https://www.intelligent.com/college-planning-guide-for-students-with-learning-disabilities/.