DDSN strives to serve all South Carolinians who are eligible for services and to ensure that services meet high standards.
The Department recognizes that existing programs or services may not always meet the needs of individuals with unique or multiple disabilities. Local DSN Boards and provider organizations are encouraged to be creative in developing supports and services to meet the needs of those people, especially those with a disability complicated by medical or behavioral needs.
Since someone with a disability often needs other services not related to their disability, the DDSN staff works with other federal, state and local service agencies to coordinate educational, medical, mental health, social, public health and housing services provided by these agencies.
Following are some examples of the kinds of services available from DDSN.
Individual/Family Support Services
Individual/family support services often enable people with disabilities to remain in their own homes. These support services include:
Early intervention is a family-focused, in home service for children from birth to age 6. An Early Interventionist helps families understand their child’s development and gives specific training to address areas of delay. Service Coordination is provided in accordance with an Individualized Family Service Plan. DDSN’s Early Intervention program serves children and families, some of whom are eligible for BabyNet in their own home or in the child’s natural environment.
Genetic evaluation, treatment and counseling services are available to families in which a developmental disability has occurred and to families at risk of having a child with a disability or a special need. Emphasis is on preventing disabilities, when possible.
Respite services provide temporary care to individuals, allowing families or caregivers to handle emergencies and personal situations or take a break. Respite may be provided in the individual/family home, a qualified caregiver’s home, regional center or other locations.
Financial Assistance is available to help individuals/families afford the cost of care for an individual in their own home. Funds are available for transportation, specialized equipment, child care, recreation and other needs.
Individualized summer services provide financial assistance for families whose family members with a disability attend activities selected by the person or the parents. Participants attend various types of summer activities, from traditional camps to highly individualized services and activities.
Summer camps provide supervised recreational activities for children and adults. Day camps and residential camps are available.
Individual Rehabilitation Support Services are interventions designed for each person to develop an enhanced capacity for independence, self-direction and participation in community activities. Supports include interventions intended to develop or restore functional abilities, personal identity, responsibility and self-direction. The services are provided in the person’s own community and home.
Day Services for Adults
Service Coordinators assist with planning for transition from school to adult day services. Local DSN Boards and providers offer a variety of day services, including supported employment, adult activity and center based work programs in local communities.
Supported employment provides assistance to obtain and sustain employment. This service enables people to earn wages and opportunities to interact with non-disabled workers. Supported employment includes job coaching and enclave and mobile work crew opportunities.
• Job coaches develop employment opportunities and work with participants on a one-to-one basis to teach them the skills necessary to perform and maintain a particular job. Assistance is also provided to help individuals develop job-related skills such as money management, use of transportation and interpersonal skill development
• Enclaves provide work for groups of adults at a local industry or business. Participants work on-site. These jobs often lead to competitive employment.
• Mobile work crews train teams of adults to work in their community and perform services such as lawn care, janitorial or landscaping services.
• Center-based services provide a safe and healthy environment for people to develop social and personal care skills for more independent and productive lives. Participants may receive competitive wages for work.
Residential Services
Supervised Living Programs provide adults with needed support in order for them to live in apartments, duplexes or other (single family) housing. Supervision and support services are tailored to the person’s needs.
Community Training Homes (CTH) offer people the opportunity to live in a homelike environment under the supervision of qualified and trained staff.
Personalized care, supervision and individualized training are provided for no more than four people living in a home.
Caregivers are either trained private citizens who provide care in their own homes (CTH I), or employees who provide care in a home that is owned or rented by the provider organization (CTH II).
Community Intermediate Care Facilities/Intellectual Disability (ICF/ID) Residences These community residences off er a community living option to those people who need maximum support for their high levels of need. Twenty-four-hour care, supervision, training, recreation and other activities are provided in this structured environment.
Regional Residential Centers provide 24-hour care, supervision and treatment to DDSN’s most fragile consumers with the greatest need for support. Regional Center care is generally recommended only when all other appropriate community services are not available.
Prevention and Genetic Services
DDSN has established many prevention programs and activities to prevent or reduce primary and secondary disabilities in South Carolina. Activities implemented through DDSN’s prevention programs include:
• SC Neural Tube Defect Awareness & Prevention Initiative: The goal of this project is to reduce the number of babies born with neural tube defects in South Carolina by encouraging all women of childbearing age to take a multivitamin with folic acid every day. The project includes research, professional education and a public Awareness campaign.
• Steps to Your Health is a wellness program for adults with disabilities focusing on nutrition, exercise and stress management.
Greenwood Genetic Center
DDSN has established a special working relationship with Greenwood Genetic Center. This facility serves without charge families who are at risk for having a child born with a genetic disease and families in which a child has already been diagnosed with a birth defect or a handicapping physical or mental disability. Services emphasize prevention programs, which reduce the risk of having children with mental or physical disabilities.
Genetic disease affects one of every eight children born in South Carolina and causes a range of birth defects, including intellectual disability and related disabilities. Genetic services reduce the risk of children having disabilities caused by genetic factors, whenever possible.
Genetic Service Coordinators coordinate services at the regional level. Services are provided through a central clinic and laboratory in Greenwood and a network of satellite clinics. Services are also available through local DSN Boards and provider organizations.
In 1974, the Center began with support from DDSN and the Self Foundation. The facility is a unique model of cooperation between public and private sectors in South Carolina.
Greenwood Genetic Center collaborates with the University of South Carolina School of Medicine and the Medical University of South Carolina. Genetic Center faculty members have joint appointments at the medical schools to facilitate this collaboration.
South Carolina’s Self Research Institute builds on accomplishments of Greenwood Genetic Center and is located beside the Center. The Institute is a state and national resource with a goal of having every baby born with sound mind and body. Research of the institute focuses on prevention of birth defects and intellectual disability.
For more information about genetic services, contact the appropriate regional genetic office or the central clinic.
Greenwood Genetic Center (Central Clinic)
101 Gregor Mendel Circle
Greenwood, SC 29646
Phone: (864) 941-8100
Toll-free: 1-888-GGC-GENE (442-4363)
Fax: (864) 388-1812
Neural Tube Defect Prevention Hotline
1-800-SOMEDAY (676-6332) Fax: (864) 388-1707
Regional Genetic Offices
• North Piedmont Region –
serving residents of Cherokee, Greenville, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg, and Union counties.
Phone: (864) 224-5401 (Genetics Service Coordinator)
(864) 250-7944 (Geneticist)
• South Piedmont Region –
serving Abbeville, Anderson, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, and Saluda counties and Whitten Center
Phone: (864) 229-5585 (Genetics Service Coordinator)
(864) 941-8100 (Geneticist)
• North Midlands Region –
serving Chester, Kershaw, Lancaster, Richland/Lexington, York counties and Midlands Center Phone: (803) 754-0882 (Genetics Service Coordinator)
(803) 799-5390 (Geneticist)
• South Midlands Region –
serving Aiken, Calhoun, Fairfield, Richland/Lexington, Newberry counties and Babcock Center
Phone: (803) 356-6854 (Genetics Service Coordinator)
(803) 799-5390 (Geneticist)
• East Pee Dee Region –
serving Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Marion, Williamsburg counties and Pee Dee Center
Phone: (843) 248-8875 or toll free 877-248-8875 (Genetics Service Coordinator)
(864) 250-7949 (Geneticist)
• West Pee Dee Region –
serving Chesterfield, Marlboro, Marion, Darlington, Lee, Clarendon, Dillon counties and Saleeby Center
Phone: (843) 678-9090 or toll free 866-638-9090 (Genetics Service Coordinator)
(864) 941-8100 (Geneticist)
• East Coastal Region –
serving Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Hampton, Jasper, Dorchester counties and Coastal Center
Phone: (843) 881-2404 (Genetics Service Coordinator)
(843) 746-1001 (Geneticist)
• West Coastal Region –
serving Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Orangeburg and Sumter counties
Phone: (843) 754-0882 (Genetics Service Coordinator)
(864) 941-8100 (Geneticist)
• Columbia Office
Toll-free: 1-800-679-5390
Fax: (803) 799-5391
• Greenville Office
Toll-free: 1-866-478-4363
Fax: (864) 250-9582
• Charleston Office
Toll-free: 1-866-588-4363
Fax: (843) 746-1002
• Florence Office
Toll-free: 1-877-679-0927
Fax: (843) 676-9881