Palmetto Council May 20, 2025 – Meeting Minutes

Participants:

Kirk Adams – guest speaker

Members Present:

Dave

Nancy

Jennifer

Amelia

John

Sharon

Jamila 

Ryan

Dave introduced Kirk Adams, former CEO of the American Foundation of the Blind. Kirk currently heads the 

Apex program

Nova Coast, a  Cybersecurity company joined with Pearson and other companies to make testing accessible. 

VR set up to pay for it, including SC. The Commission will pay for it!

Program consists of:

  • 200 hours of online training. 
  • Designed to be done in 10 weeks to devote 20 hours a week. 
  • Regular check in’s throughout your training.

Curriculum is delivered in the following modes:

  • Audio lectures 
  • brf files 
  • PowerPoints 

Testing works with screen readers and refreshable braille displays. 

Certifications to be earned at the completion of the program:

  • CompTia 
  • Network plus 
  • Cybersecurity plus 

After the program has been successfully completed: 

  • Nova Coast Staffing will help people connect with employers. 
  • You do not have to have a 2 or 4 year degree,
  • jobs are largely remote. 
  • Entry level pay is a living wage and you would have upward mobility. 

For more details go to:

https://www.theapexprogram.com

Financial report: 

deferred to June.

$960 received from interstate auction

Walkathon update:

You don’t have to walk. All you have to do is send out the link! 

Here it is: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E144393&id=103&cfifid=75 

Kudos to John, Lucas, and Dave! We currently have $425. 

Goal is $2,500, but we have to give half to ACB. 

We have 26 members and 3 have donated to the walkathon. 

You can call people, tell them about it, ask them to donate. 

National ACB news:

Claire Stanley shared her experience of riding in a Waymo. 

Palmetto Council News:

Mandi graduated from USC Upstate Congratulations to her!

Jennifer working on the flyer, need pictures! 

You (or someone who’s blind or low vision) using a cane, reading braille, using a CCTV, large print books, working with your guide dog, etc. 

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