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Doug Maurer brings with him over 25 years of business experience working as a computer programmer, Programmer Analyst, Systems Programmer, and for the last ten years as a Systems Administrator / Database Administrator for the South Carolina State Ports Authority in Charleston, SC. Doug became the Chairman of the SCILC in October 2006. In addition to his duties with the SCILC, he serves on the advisory boards of the Disability Resource Center and AWE (Achieving Wheelchair Equality) in Charleston. He's been married to Gloria since 1977 and together they have one daughter who will soon graduate high school. He enjoys swimming, movies, and playing Chess. Doug sustained a spinal cord injury in 1971 while riding dirt bikes and has been a paraplegic since. “I was drawn to the Independent Living movement because of a desire to participate in a peer support program. While I still enjoy those new friendships, I've become far more deeply aware of the need for system changes which will enhance our choices to live independently, such as the MiCASSA legislation”. |
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Scottie is the current Vice Chair of the SCILC. He brings a one of a kind personality and a tireless dedication to the Council. He was diagnosed with a rare blood disease, acute intermittent porphyria in 1994, and has since been told he has a version of this disease that has never been seen. Scottie has a unique view on disabilities in that he has been blind, deaf, had 72 comas, is currently a T-11 paraplegic and is allergic to all forms of pain medications and all but two forms of anesthesia.
Scottie is currently the Executive Director of Disability Solutions in Hartsville, and is a member of the SC Disability Voting Coalition. Scottie also serves on several advisory committees: SC Assistive Technology Project, Protection and Advocacy’s Minority Rural Outreach Project of which he serves as Vice Chair, and the Lt. Governor’s Office on Aging System Transformation Grant Project. He has served as a consultant to several local, state and national organizations and agencies regarding disability issues.
He hopes to one day see an America that truly stands for liberty and justice for all not liberty and justice for some.
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R.J. lives in Chesterfield, SC. He has lived there all of his life and R.J. loves the small town atmosphere. R.J. guesses he is what you would call a “good old country boy”. R.J. has always been an outdoors man from the time he was a very small boy. R.J. hunted, fished, camped, and was always up for anything that had to do with the outdoors. He and his wife were always going camping on weekends and it was nothing for them to be out all night cat fishing.
R.J. is 34 years old and as a result of an ATV accident, he is a C-4 quadriplegic and has been a wheelchair user for almost 9 years now. Needless to say, with the kind of life he lived before his accident, it has been a struggle to cope. It took a long time for R.J. to figure out how to do things he used to love to do with the limitations R.J has now. With the help of family, friends and a great support system, he is able to do a lot of things R.J. thought he would never be able to do again.
As a member of the SC Independent Living Council, R.J. hopes to be able to help others learn that there is a lifeline out there. No one has to be less than they want to be. The possibilities are endless as far asprograms, support groups and general help in getting the things to make life a happy and enjoyable thing again; no matter what a persons limitations are.
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Kirk lives in Laurens, SC with his parents and sister. He is 25 years old and Kirk has Cerebral Palsy. His Cerebral Palsy was caused at birth due to a delay in delivery when he was deprived of oxygen for an extended period of time. Because of Kirk's physical challenges, he is non-verbal, and he uses a power wheelchair. Kirk is both an avid user of assistive technology and a strong advocate for others; sharing his life experiences in hopes of encouraging others so they can be successful too. Kirk works as a free lance web designer.
Kirk did not know what the Council was about until he met some of the active council members while attending the SC Assistive Technology Expo in March of 2005, in Greenville. Kirk was approached by former vice-chair, Princilla Lee Bridges, and she asked if he would be interested in serving to represent people like or similar to himself. Kirk replied, “he thought that he would but he would like to find out more about what the Council does”. Kirk then attended several meetings to see what the SCILC were about and how it operated. So, after a little paperwork and waiting on his application to be approved by the Council members, it was submitted to the Governors Office, and here Kirk is!!
Kirk has been a strong advocate for others with varying disabilities all his life. It has been an honor for Kirk to serve on the Council as he has learned so much about others during his short time on the Council. Also, Kirk sees many opportunities before us here in South Carolina to make things better for all individuals with disabilities.
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Steve became interested in SCILC through meeting former vice-chair, Princilla Lee Bridges, by way of his wife and the Disability Action Center (DAC). Steve has wanted to be involved with helping people with disabilities for some time. Since meeting with Princella he has wanted to become a part of the SCILC to try and help.
Steve is an Ordained Minister and on a mission trip to Jalapa, Mexico back in March of 2000 he came down with a viral infection that made his immune system start eating the myelin coating off of his nerves. Therefore Steve is now a T-11 paraplegic wanting to help people as much as he can.
Steve says, as far as trying to change a particular law, it would have to be handicap parking laws. There are far too many placards given out that are being used by someone's family member without the disabled person with them.
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Clay is originally from the upstate New York area where he spent 45 years. Clay's career was in the trucking industry, sales, operations, and dispatch. He moved to Myrtle Beach, SC. in 1994 and started a self-help support group for people with nervous symptoms. Later Clay started to volunteer for different agencies in SC such as Protection and Advocacy for people with disabilities, Mental Health Assoc.-HC, SHARE, the Department of Mental Health (DMH)-Planning Commission, and Waccamaw Center for Mental Health.
Clay was first introduced to the SCILC by its Director at a Peer Support Training. He immediately fell in love, but more so with the organization, its philosophy, concepts, and ideas that might help those with mental illness. Clay says the SCILC has an atmosphere where you can feel free to express yourself and present new ideas without criticism. His message to all is “Individually, we are but drops of rain on a dry desert, but when we come together we can be a thunderstorm creating the flood which can make the changes we want for the disabled”.
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Charles was born and raised on the beaches in South Carolina. Charles has had many jobs and even more life experiences. He has written two books that chronicle his life as a person struggling with mental illness. The two books are titled Pink Pencil and Abnormal Behavior. Charles was a paratrooper for three years and is very proud of his military service. He has lived in Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia, but home is South Carolina. He and his wife Judy were married for 28 years until she passed away from lung cancer. Charles has been blessed with a son and four grandchildren.
Charles has made it his mission to spread hope to people and to teach people that mental illness is not something to be feared, but just another bump in the unpaved road of life.
Charles is a man of many talents including golfing, cooking, and spreading the word of God.
Charles was appointed to the SC Independent Living Council in February 2007.
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Mike is a person with a disability and he enjoys working with like-minded people. He wants to help people with disabilities make a positive impact to achieve their goals and improve their quality of life.
Mike wants to see and enforce positive changes with and for the entire disability community. Being a part of the Council gives him a chance to work with others and achieve our common goals to improve the lives of people with disabilities.
Miks is very interested in the laws changing for the better, especially for People with Disabilities (PWD). Members of the Centers for Independent Living, the SC Independent Living Council and the Spinal Cord Injury Association are in the process now on amending a law that would redistribute funds that were collected for research for people with Spinal Cord Injuries, to one that would allow consumers to access funds. This would give consumers the opportunity to improve their quality of life, achieve their goals, have employment opportunities, take a more active role in society, and to help deinstitutionalize the consumers. This law would allow folks to return to the community and get services they need to improve their lives.
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SC Vocational Rehabilitation Department |
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Freda King has been employed with South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department (SCVRD) since June 17, 1994. During her tenure with the Department, she has held many positions – Counselor, Project Supervisor, Consultant, and Administrator for the Comprehensive Center. Currently she is employed as an Area Development Specialist.
Freda became affiliated with the South Carolina Independent Living Council as the liaison between the Council and the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department. In addition, she is the DSU (Designated State Unit Representative) and secretary for the South Carolina Independent Living Council.
Since becoming involved with the Council, Freda has broadened her knowledge in providing service as well as advocating for persons with disabilities. She believes in the mission and philosophy of the Council and is eager to assist in any capacity when needed. In addition to being the DSU Representative and Secretary, she is a member of the legislative / bylaw and planning committees.
Freda obtained her masters degree in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling from South Carolina State University in May 1993. She enjoys working with persons with disabilities and carrying out SCVRD’s mission, “Enabling eligible South Carolinians with disabilities to prepare for, achieve and maintain competitive employment”.
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Client Assistance Program |
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SC Commission for the Blind |
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Dr. Ray was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina in a community affectionately referred to as "Back of the College." His early childhood was spent in this predominately African-American neighborhood nestled behind the predominately white Wofford College.
It was during the height of the Civil Rights era, when racial tensions were high, but hardly noticeable in the neighborhood. The neighborhood and college had a special bond. Many of his relatives and friends worked at the college; he worked after school in the cafeteria during his junior and senior years in high school.
This piece of history is important because though there was a racial divide within other parts of the city, it rarely raised its ugly head in his neighborhood.
In 1973, he received his B.S. Degree in Psychology with a minor in Special Education from South Carolina State University, where he also received his M.A. Degree in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling in 1975. In 1997, he received his doctorate in Human Services Administration from Union Institute & University in Cincinnati, Ohio.
For the past 27 years, Dr. Ray has worked at the SC Commission for the Blind. His career at the Commission for the Blind started in 1980, when he was hired as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. He presently serves as Chief of Consumer Services, with the primary responsibility of supervising the Vocational Rehabilitation Department. Prior to working at the Commission, he worked eight years in the alcohol and drug abuse field.
As a practitioner, Dr. Ray has spent his entire employment history focused on working with people with disabilities. As an educator, he has taught at several colleges and universities in the disability field. In 1996, he was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease, so he knows what it's like to live with pain.
Dr. Ray and his wife, Beverly, have lived in Columbia since 1975. She is a veteran elementary school teacher.
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