Advocacy Day for Access & Independence
Annual Statehouse Rally Day to Unlock Barriers for People with Disabilities in South Carolina
Brought to you by the SC Access & Independence Network
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Make your plans now to join us at the South Carolina State House as we call on the state to Unlock Barriers, advocate for disability rights, and share our mission for a Barrier-Free SC!
Advocacy Day for Access & Independence was first created as an initiative in the State Plan for Independent Living in 2014, its inaugural gathering attracted over 300 South Carolina residents in May 2014. Since then, support has grown to over 50 organizations statewide all unified in an effort to ensure people with disabilities have equal access and opportunity.
People with disabilities face unnecessary and discriminatory barriers to full and integrated community participation. Advocacy Day for Access and Independence will shine a light on the barriers in hopes of improving the lives of all South Carolinians.
Event Details
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
10 am - 12 pm
South Carolina Statehouse North Steps
1100 Gervais Street
Columbia, SC
Advocacy Day for Access & Independence is the ONLY event in South Carolina that's breaking down barriers for ALL South Carolinians with disabilities. Since its inaugural gathering in May 2014, support has grown to 50 organizations statewide all unified in an effort to ensure people with disabilities have equal access and opportunity.
At Advocacy Day for Access & Independence, we're focusing on the issues that South Carolinian's with disabilities care most about. Inclusive Community Living is key to our independence! Employment, Transportation, Housing, and Healthcare all affect our ability to be fully included in the community. Our lawmakers have a role to play in how we access our communities. We can imagine a future where these barriers are unlocked, and our lawmakers hold the keys!
Resources and Media Links:
2025 Advocacy Day Save the Date Flyer
Advocacy Day Lesson Planning Guide for Teachers
Guide to Contacting Your SC Lawmaker
SC State Legislature Website, “How Do I…” Guide Page
Advocacy Day Branded Printable Postcard
2025 Advocacy Day Digital Postcard Form: submit your responses digitally
Issue Areas:
2025 Issue Area Booklet for Lawmakers
- The issue areas in the booklet linked above come directly from people with disabilities living in South Carolina.
- These priorities present barriers.
- Our lawmakers hold the keys to unlocking each of these barriers. Read the full booklet to learn about how our lawmakers can unlock these barriers.
What do we do with the booklet?
- We present the booklet to our lawmakers before Advocacy Day.
- The booklets each have a small locked padlock attached to them.
- After Advocacy Day, we provide lawmakers with postcards written by people with disabilities.
- These postcards have keys attached to them. Those keys unlock the padlocks on their booklets
- Lawmakers can then use the words written by people with disabilities on the postcards to symbolically unlock the barriers presented in the booklets
- This powerful symbol shows our lawmakers how people with disabilities self advocacy is a powerful tool. As we say, “nothing about us, without us!”
Countdown to Advocacy Day for Access & Independence!
