In 2021, the Covid 19 pandemic uncovered the need that the community have for digital skills and devices and internet.

So we launched our digital literacy program, Palmetto Connect, to help reach those who needed the resources.

Our digital literacy program covers offering digital literacy training, digital devices, affordable internet solutions, online content and technical support.

So we have a digital navigator that provides assistance with our participants getting access to connectivity, getting internet at home if they do not already have that.

Our digital literacy program begins with teaching them how to create an email address, how to click on the links, how to send and receive emails, and just being safe with it as well.

We also focus on teaching them health literacy.

I want to try and do better with my health situations and eating healthier and learning more about electronics devices, which I'm kind of pretty much not familiar with, how to get online and do certain things.

So, and I thought the class would be very helpful today.

Being afraid of how to get on and not being able to use it.

Is some of the main things that I was afraid of.

Maybe hitting the wrong button, sending the wrong message to the wrong person, but after I got into it and got to know where my buttons were and how to use them, everything was helpful.

you can see their faces light up they're, excited to share what they have learned with their family members.

You can hear some of their conversations just saying, wait until I show my daughter, or wait until I show my son what I've learned.

Our participants have skill levels that range from very beginner to a little more advanced.

Sometimes some things that they're commonly asking about is account creation on a lot of different platforms.

So whether that's like their own zoom account or their own social media account, social isolation can be a contributing factor to mental health conditions.

And so the technology allows seniors to not only build their confidence in learning something new, but also making those connections that they need to thrive in a world where they may not be able to move about.

when we teach about video communication, we cover telehealth and telehealth.

We cover everything from accessing email to access a telehealth visit to going through your patient portal.

Sometimes patients have no idea that they even have a patient portal to log on to where they're able to message their provider or schedule a visit.

Today I came because I was interested in learning more about digital equipment and telehealth.

Well, telehealth my experience at first, I wasn't having no parts of it.

I was raised in the 60s, so I'm used to sitting in a doctor's office.

But because the doctor's office was in Charleston, I tried it and I loved it.

It is very important to never limit yourself.

We all must continue to keep learning every day.

Technology is something that changes every day, so it's important for us to also continue learning and to work together.

Some of our participants expressed that they had some barriers to attending the in-person training.

Some of these included transportation or other medical issues.

Once we learned that we developed online modules so that everyone could have access to digital literacy, and so that everyone could learn about their digital device and how to use the internet safely.

We have reached individuals in all 46 counties of South Carolina, and we've trained over 3000 South Carolinians, we're here to make sure that they have that foundation to thrive in the community once they go home with their device.

you never get too old to learn, and this just makes it easier.

I've never actually, you know, been able to search the internet like I want to, but this has given me a start where I'm not going to be afraid.

I feel great now.