CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – A new initiative at the University of South Carolina’s College of Nursing is looking to change how people with disabilities are represented in the health care workforce.
South Carolina has one of the highest disability rates in the U.S., with one in three adults in South Carolina reports having a disability, but people with disabilities only make up 4% of health care providers.
This month, the USC College of Nursing announced that it received funding from the Duke Endowment to establish a program to build clear pathways for people with disabilities to become nurses.
The project includes a summer immersion program for high school, college and second-degree students with disabilities who are interested in nursing.
Participants will receive training on clinical skills, accessibility tools, disability rights and health equity in the College of Nursing’s state-of-the-art simulation center.
Additionally, existing licensed nurses with disabilities will be supported through mentorship and career resources.
The multi-year program is set to kick-off next summer.
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