Eligibility:
- Must be a South Carolina resident ages 16 - 19 years old
- must not have entered post secondary school before March 1, 2016
- must be a high school senior or otherwise qualified to begin post secondary education no later than the 2016-2017 school year.
**You do not need to have a disability to enter.
Contest Rules:
- Your article must address the theme: "My Disability is One Part of Who I Am." It should reflect the message that people with disabilities are just that - people. They have a wide range of talents, interests, perspectives, strengths and work experiences. Your article should recognize the achievements of individuals with disabilities in the workplace.
- Your article should not exceed three pages. Documentation of quotes or woks cited may be on a fourth page.
- Use correct grammar and sentence structure.
- Observe journalism's office W's: Who, What, When, Where, and Why.
- Report about people with disabilities in language that focuses on their dignity, equality, individuality, and ability. Choose words that carry non judgmental connotations. Avoid using "victim", "cripple", "handicapped," or "wheelchair bound." Emphasize the uniqueness and worth of the whole individual by writing "a person who has a disability" or a "person who is deaf" rather than a "disabled person."
- Research disability issues and interview people with disabilities. Resources can include your library, the Internet, and organizations that serve individuals with disabilities. Your local S.C. Vocational Rehabilitation Department office provides services that prepare and assist eligible citizens with disabilities to achieve and maintain competitive employment.
- Attribute all quotes, either within the body of the article or in footnotes.
- Type your article on white 8 1/2 x 11 inch paper. Double space. Font size should be no smaller than 11 point.
- Include a separate cover sheet with your name, age, grade, home address, telephone number, and email address. Also include your school name, school address, school telephone number rand principal's name.
- Have your principal, teacher, or sponsoring organization's representative sign the cover and indicate his or her title.
- Have any individual you interview sign the cover sheet.
- On the cover sheet include this statement with your signature: "I hereby confirm that the enclosed article submitted to the 2016 Journalism Contest is my own work. I wrote the article and conducted the research and any interviews (unless otherwise cited) used in the article."
Send your entry to
Mark Wade, Assistant Commissioner
SCVRD
1410 Boston Ave
PO Box 15
West Columbia, SC 29171
For more information please contact the SC Vocational Rehabilitation Department at 803-896-6503.
Deadline: February 1, 2016