The Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak Facts and Vaccine for the Disability Community
Nov. 16,
A judge says Texas’ ban on mask mandates violates the rights of students with disabilities.
A federal judge ruled on Wednesday that Gov. Greg Abbott’s ban on mask mandates in Texas schools violates the rights of students with disabilities, clearing the path for districts in the state to issue their own rules for face coverings, a decision that could affect more than five million students.
Attention Howard County residents with disabilities and chronic health conditions who need a vaccination appointment!!
Accessible Resources for Independence,
Howard County Health Department and Maryland Department of Health are holding clinic in Columbia on Friday, April 23rd.
For more information, contact Audrey Sellers, COVID-19 Response Coordinator at 443-713-3915 or covidsupplies@arinow.org
Timonium Fairgrounds Johnson & Johnson Special Needs Clinic
BALTIMORE COUNTY
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (DD) SPECIFIC
JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE CLINIC
TUESDAY APRIL 13, 2021 8am-12pm
THURSDAY APRIL 15, 8am-1pm
Timonium Fairgrounds, Baltimore County
Baltimore County, in collaboration with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is hosting TWO vaccine clinics for people with developmental disabilities and their families who are 18 years or older. These clinics are specific to people and families living in Baltimore County. The vaccine administered is scheduled to be the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
These clinics require registration (see link below) and are limited to 75 per day. Please do not share links with others.
Please use the links below to register and complete applicable consent forms:
Tuesday, April 13th 8 am to 12 pm Timonium Fairgrounds-Johnson and Johnson Special Needs Clinic
https://www.marylandvax.org/reg/6946804129
Thursday, April 15th 8 am to 1 pm Timonium Fairgrounds, Johnson and Johnson, Special Needs Clinic
https://www.marylandvax.org/reg/6029129674
*Please remember to bring your ID to the clinic.
March 16,
Source:
Texas State Independent Living Council
Study on the Impact of COVID-19 on People with Disabilities Self-Directing Home and Community-Based Services
Brandeis University is conducting a study to learn about the experiences of people receiving home- and community-based services and self-directing those services. They are interested in learning how people with disabilities are staying safe, how they are keeping their personal care attendants safe, and how they are accessing critical services and supports. Information from this study will be used to advise government agencies and providers.
-Are you a person with a disability who receives Medicaid home and community-based services?
-Are you above the age of 18?
-Do you self-direct your services and supports? In other words, do you control who you hire to provide services or control a budget for services?
-Do you live in the United States?
If you answered yes to each of the questions above, you may be eligible to participate. Participation includes one interview over the telephone or videoconference. The interview will be about one hour. Participants will receive a small gift card for their time.
If you are interested in participating, please contact Miriam Heyman, Senior Research Associate at the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy, at miriamheyman@brandeis.edu or 781-736-8415.
This study is made possible by the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy and the Community Living Policy Center at Brandeis University. Funding is provided by ACL's National Institute for Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research.
ID: Transmission electron microscopic image of an isolate from the first U.S. case of COVID-19, formerly known as 2019-nCoV. The spherical viral particles, colorized blue, contain cross-section through the viral genome, seen as black dots. Photo Credit: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
March 11,
I might fall through cracks again, as I have done most of my life since I don't meet the criteria for high-risk groups for people with disabilities. I live on my own, not chronological ill, don't go to a program. At least I haven't even had a cold this year, during my year of self quarantine. I was just born to be a Desperado!!!
March 11,
Getting a shot of hope in Maryland
If you are in Maryland here is the
vaccine center at the M&T stadium. The number is 1-855-634-6829. I already called a couple times and good luck! At least there is a text option, so you don’t have to sit on the phone for hours. Maybe the texting option will start sending you automatic updates.
This morning I did received an update for the
Balt. County Deparment of Health to let me know I finally was put on the COVID-19 Vaccine Registry. It is the 11th of March and I signed up on January 18th. I think it might be October before I get the shots, since I am not in a high-risk group while being super uber hygienic life style is not CP friendly.
March 8,
COVID-19 vaccine prioritization by state and territory; this link is intended to inform PWDs as to when they are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination
This dashboard was created as a partnership between the
Johns Hopkins Disability Health Research Center and
the Center for Dignity in Healthcare for People with Disabilities as a starting point for understanding how the disability community is prioritized in COVID-19 vaccine distribution and intends to help people with disabilities determine when they qualify for a COVID-19 vaccine in their state.
This tool tracks vaccine prioritization plans across four categories for the 50 US states, 5 US territories, and the District of Columbia:
March 4,
Congress Weighs Stimulus Checks For Those With Disabilities, Funds For Services
A $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief plan under consideration in the U.S. Senate includes a major investment in home- and community-based services and stimulus payments for more people with disabilities.
The bill approved by the House of Representatives last weekend would funnel an
estimated $9.3 billion extra to states for Medicaid programs that enable people with disabilities to live in the community.
February 17,
Shut-in, but not shut out: Mobile team in Howard County delivers COVID vaccines
For those interested in these special deliveries, you’re asked to go to the Howard County Health Department’s website and fill out a survey to make sure you qualify. For those interested in these special deliveries, you’re asked to go to the Howard County Health Department’s website and fill out a survey to make sure you qualify. You can also call the department’s COVID line at 410-313-6284.
February 16,
Unpaid Caregiver for an Elderly Individual or Person with a Disability Letter
Did you know that unpaid caregivers for individuals with ID/A are eligible to receive the COVID Vaccine under Phase 1A of the PA's vaccination plan. To provide documentation that you are an unpaid caregiver to the vaccine provider, you may download the "Unpaid Caregiver for an Elderly Individual or Person with a Disability Letter" from the DHS website.
Scroll to the bottom of the page to the section titled "Unpaid Caregiver for an Elderly Individual or Person with a Disability Letter (PDF)." Then, click the checkbox to self-attest that you are an unpaid caregiver for an individual with ID/A. After clicking the checkbox please click "View Letter" to download and print the letter. You may then bring the letter with you to the vaccination site to verify your status as an unpaid caregiver eligible for the vaccine in Phase 1A.
January 28,
DREDF Is With You: Together We Will Not Let COVID-19 Cancel Disability Civil and Human Rights
The effects of the COVID-19 crisis will hit disabled people and their families disproportionately. DREDF will continue to work in coalition with our community, organizational partners and political allies to provide technical assistance and be a connector of people, resources, and information.
We will continue to hope and fight for the best, which will only be achieved by uniting across community lines and continuing to press for change—especially now.
January 14,
The COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan in Maryland
Adults at least 75 years old are in the next vaccine priority group, called phase 1B. The group includes assisted living facility residents and staff that weren't covered in phase 1A, along with teachers, people with developmental disabilities and certain high-risk inmates. Next in line is phase 1C, which includes Marylanders 65 and up and grocery store, public transit, agriculture and manufacturing workers. After phase 1C is phase 2, which includes people over the age of 16 with significant underlying medical conditions.
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