A Resource Guide for South Carolinians with Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
Fact sheet
Service Coordination and Related Services
Head and Spinal Cord Injury (HASCI) Division
Department of Disabilities and Special Needs (DDSN)
PO Box 4706
Columbia, SC 29240
803-898-9798 (HASCI Division);
1-866-867-3864 (Toll free Information and Referral)
www.ddsn.sc.gov
The HASCI division of DDSN provides services to individuals with head and spinal cord injuries. Services provided may include service coordination, information and referral, home modifications and assistive technology, personal assistance, and services and support to improve functioning, increase productivity, and promote self-determination. To apply for services through the HASCI division, please contact DDSN Screening at 1-800-289-7012.
Depending on the severity of their disability, children and young adults with a brain injury before age 22 may receive services through the Intellectual Disability and Related Disabilities (ID/RD) Division of DDSN. Use the same application process as for HASCI by calling 1-800-289-7012. Any child who is less than 36 months of age and has a brain injury should apply for services through First Steps/BabyNet at 1-877-621-0865.
During the application process, individuals or their guardians should state their preference for HASCI or ID/RD services. This preference is considered by the evaluation team, however, the current functioning level of the child as documented in assessments, evaluations, and medical/school records may ultimately determine whether the child is found eligible under HASCI or ID/RD. Individuals who qualify for the ID/RD Division may be eligible for additional services which are not generally available to HASCI clients. These services include residential habilitation and behavioral support services.
Medicaid Waiver Services Provided Through DDSN
Individuals up to age 65 who are Medicaid eligible and require the level of care provided in a nursing home or Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disability (ICF/ID) may be eligible for the HASCI Medicaid waiver. Services provided under the waiver may include attendant care and personal assistance services, respite care, some nursing care, prescribed drugs, specialized supplies and adaptations, communication therapy, psychological and behavioral services, Personal Emergency Response System, residential and day habilitation, physical and occupational therapy, prevocational services, and supported employment. The HASCI waiver does not provide housing, room and board, general supervision or 24-hour care. Individuals who are interested in the Medicaid waiver should request waiver services through their service coordinator or when applying for services through the HASCI Division.
Statewide and National Brain Injury Associations
Brain Injury Association of South Carolina
121 Executive Center Drive, Ste. 135, Columbia, SC 29210
Phones: 803-731-9823 Toll Free: 1-877-TBI-FACT (in-state)
Fax: 803-681-0096
Executive Director’s email: [email protected]
Outreach Coordinator’s email: [email protected]
Brain Injury Association of America
1608 Spring Hill Road, Suite 110
Vienna, VA 22182
703-761-0750
1-800-444-6443 (National Brain Injury Information Center)
The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) and its affiliates across the country work to promote help, hope and healing for people with brain injury, family members and those that are affected by brain injury. BIAA offers a toll free National Brain Injury Information Center (800-444-6443), which people can contact to get access to information about brain injury and local resources. BIAA offers a quarterly newsletter, THE Challenge! both in print and electronically through the BIAA website. BIAA also offers educational opportunities for both family members and professionals through a variety of webinar series offered throughout the year. Contact with BIAA’s state affiliates is available through the BIAA website.
SC Brain Injury Support Groups
There are multiple local support groups. For a full list please visit: https://www.biaofsc.com/support-groups
Vocational Assistance
SC Vocational Rehabilitation Department (Statewide)
Main Office:
1410 Boston Avenue
West Columbia, South Carolina, 29171-0015
803-896-6500 (Voice)
803-896-6553 (TTY)
1-800-832-7526 (Toll free)
The SC Vocational Rehabilitation Department’s Brain Injury program helps individuals identify barriers to employment and develop behavioral and compensatory strategies to improve their work-related performance. All participants receive a comprehensive evaluation including vocational and psychological assessments, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nutritional guidance, and exercise and fitness instruction. Based on the results of the evaluation as well as feedback from the client and family members, a behavioral management and vocational plan is developed.
Independent Living Assistance
Centers for Independent Living are private, non-profit, consumer-controlled entities that provide nonresidential and non-medical Independent Living (IL) services for people of all ages with all types of disabilities. The following services are offered: advocacy, teaching of independent living skills, peer counseling, advocacy, and information & referral in counties in South Carolina.
Able South Carolina (serving 23 counties in the Midlands and Upstate SC: Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Chester, Clarendon, Calhoun, Fairfield , Greenville, Greenwood Kershaw, Laurens, Lee, Lexington, Newberry, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens Richland, Saluda Spartanburg, Sumter, Union, York)
Columbia Office:
136 Stonemark Lane, Suite 100
Columbia, SC 29210
1-800-681-6805 (Toll free, Voice)
803-779-5121 (Voice)
803-779-0949 (TTY)
Greenville Office:
330 Pelham Road, Suite 100-A
Greenville, SC 29615
864-235-1421 (Voice)
864-235-8798 (TTY)
1-800-681-7715 (Toll free, Voice)
AccessAbility (Serving five counties in the Low Country and neighboring areas: Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester, Orangeburg, and Williamsburg Counties)
7944 Dorchester Road, Suite 5
North Charleston, SC 29418
843-225-5080
843-225-0231 (TTY)
1-866-874-7730 (Toll free, Voice)
Walton Options for Independent Living
Western SC office (serving four counties in western SC: Aiken, Barnwell, Edgefield, and McCormick Counties)
514 West Avenue
N. Augusta, SC 29841
803-279-9611
This office provides Independent Living, Information and Referral, Advocacy and Peer Support services as well as serving as the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance office for South Carolinians on Social Security seeking information on returning to work through the WIPA program.
Lower SC office (serving Bamberg, Beaufort, and Colleton Counties)
2414 N. Jefferies Blvd
Walterboro, SC 29488
843-538-1600
While this office provides all Independent Living, Advocacy, Peer Support, Information and Referral Services, all inquiries for services should be by appointment only, as this is not a walk-in location at this time.
Assistive Technology Assistance
South Carolina Assistive Technology Project
Midlands Center
8301 Farrow Rd
Columbia, SC 29203
803-935-5263
1-800-915-4522 (Toll free)
Services offered include demonstration equipment and loan center, training on assistive technology options for service providers and consumers, technical assistance by telephone for people with questions about assistive technology resources and options, and technical assistance to assistive technology assessment teams.
Assistive Technology Exchange Program (free or affordable equipment for people with disabilities).
Resources for Children
Family Connection of South Carolina
1800 St. Julian Place
Suite 104
Columbia, SC 29204
803-252-0914
1-800-578-8750 (Toll Free In State)
1-888-808-7462 (Español)
Email: [email protected]
Family Connection is a support network for families who have children with special needs. They match parents with other trained veteran support parents who have children with similar concerns and issues. Family Connection is also the federally designated Parent Training Center for South Carolina, providing training to parents about education rights of children with disabilities. There are Family Connection offices in Columbia, Greenville, Anderson, Spartanburg, Charleston, and Rock Hill, with support parents throughout South Carolina.
Disability Rights South Carolina
3710 Landmark Drive, Suite 208
Columbia, SC 29204
803-782-0639 (Voice/TTY)
1-866-275-7273 Toll Free (In State – Voice)
1-866-232-4525 Toll Free (In State – TTY)
Email: [email protected]
Our organization, Disability Rights South Carolina, publishes a number of fact sheets designed to assist individuals with disabilities. Disability Rights SC offers information and referral services to assist individuals with self-advocacy. Disability Rights SC also provides representation for individual cases which warrant additional services for clients and their families. We do not charge for our services.
Center for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR)
The CPIR is a central resource for Parent Training and Information (PTI) Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers (CPRCs), offering information and products to assist the families of children with disabilities. The CPIR serves as the home of many of the resources developed by NICHCY, the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities. NICHCY’s funding ended in October 2013, but many of its products and webpages can still be found here.
Related Websites
Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC)
1-800-870-9244
1-866-966-1020 DVBIC Information and Referral (24/7)
Email: [email protected]
Established in 1992 as the Defense and Veterans Head Injury Program (DVHIP), the clinical research conducted by DVBIC has come to define optimal care for survivors of TBI. Clinical care and research is currently undertaken at seven military and VA sites and one civilian treatment site. Patients may be referred to DVBIC by primary care and other physicians/health care providers, family members, or by self-referral.
Head Injury Hotline for Survivors
Brain Injury Resource Center, P O Box 84151 Seattle, WA 98124
206-621-8558
Email: [email protected]
This site, which is maintained by brain injury survivors, provides survivors and their families with information and support.
National Association of State Head Injury Administrators (NASHIA)
802-498-3349
Email: [email protected]
A number of fact sheets on TBI in both English and Spanish are available to download, including topics like Policy Information, Federal and State programs, educational opportunities and conferences, among others.
TBI.org (formerly “The Perspectives Network”)
Email: [email protected]
Information and support for survivors and families.
Disability Rights South Carolina is the Protection and Advocacy System for South Carolina. This publication provides legal information but is not intended to be legal advice. As the law may change, please contact Disability Rights South Carolina for updates. Please let us know if you would like this information in an alternative format.
Last updated: 2024