COVID-19 Resources
APRIL is working on ways we can continue to support our members through this transition period surrounding COVID-19. People with disabilities and those living with the effects of aging are most at risk during this global health pandemic. We are dedicated to finding creative ways to help people stay connected in this new era of social distancing as we all find our way in these unprecedented times of the COVID-19 pandemic. We encourage you to follow your local, state and CDC recommendations regarding groups and meetings and to monitor the situation which is changing daily. Below is a list of resources and links that may prove useful to you in the weeks that follow. If you have any information to submit to this page, please submit to Mary Willard
The following tips were provided by The OSU Nisonger Center’s Rehabilitation and Research Training Center’s Disability Experience Expert Panel, Healthy Community Living Partners, Blindness Perspective, Hartgen Consultancy, Sorenson, ILRU, Atlantis, ABLE, SARTAC, Ability 360, GRAIL, SKIL, Access 2 Independence, and more. Thank you to all who are gathering this information.
Advocacy During COVID-19Civil Rights, HIPAA, and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ocr-bulletin-3-28-20.pdf
Office for Civil Rights OCR has released a “fact sheet” regarding the application of Section 504 and the ADA to the Coronavirus/COVID-19 impact on public school students with disabilities: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/ocr-coronavirus-fact-sheet.pdf https://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/memosdcltrs/qa-covid-19-03-12-2020.pdf
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/newsroom/wysk/wysk_ada_rehabilitaion_act_coronavirus.cfm |
COVID-19 InformationAdministration on Community Living (ACL) Current resources and guidance found at www.ACL.gov/COVID-19. This page is intended to make it easier for the aging and disability networks to find the information they need most. In most cases, you will find links to the definitive source for information, in order to ensure that our networks are accessing the most up-to-the-minute information. Please note that program officers will not be providing health related information, other than to refer to these resources.
American Sign Language (ASL) videos created by the Center from Disease Control and Prevention
CDC Updates Current COVID-19 information can be found at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) CMS is taking action to protect the health and safety of our nation’s patients and providers in the wake of the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. CMS has released a Virtual Toolkit to help you stay up-to-date on CMS materials available on COVID-19. This guidance, and earlier CMS actions in response to the COVID-19 virus, are part of the ongoing White House Task Force efforts. To keep up with the important work the Task Force is doing in response to COVID-19 click here Coronavirus.gov. For information specific to CMS, please visit the Current Emergencies Website
CIL CARES Act FAQs
Resource Page from the Independent Living Field https://www.ilru.org/resources-covid-19
Partnership Disaster Hotline The Partnership’s Disaster Hotline provides information, referrals, guidance, technical assistance and resources to people with disabilities, their families, allies, organizations assisting disaster impacted individuals with disabilities and others seeking assistance with immediate and urgent disaster related needs. The Disaster Hotline is always available for intake calls, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year at (800) 626-4959 and
Plan Language information on COVID-19 This 8-page booklet about the Coronavirus is written in plain language. It was created by and for people with developmental disabilities. |
Resources for Independent Living Programs Working Remotely OnlineAPRIL and Ability 360 came up with a Tip sheet on moving groups online Tips for Taking CIL Services Online
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Access Resources When working with deaf people as co-workers, board members, partners, consumers, or more ensuring accessibility is needed if requested. Remember to always ask the deaf or hard of hearing person what they prefer in accommodations. Do not assume that CART or an interpreter is the preferred method. During this new remote working location know that there are options to ensure accessibility. Here are a few of the technologies that can be used. Read more: Interpreters for Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Remote Working
Tips for Microsoft Teams
Tips for using the Zoom Platforms Join A Zoom Meeting From and Email Message Join a Zoom Meeting from an Email Message Plain Text Set Up Sound and Video in a Zoom Meeting Set Up Sound and Video in a Zoom Meeting Plain Text Zoom Meeting Control Buttons Plain Text Zoom Meeting Social Rules Plain Text Facilitating Remotely with Zoom Meeting Software A Guide to Zoom Cloud Meetings from a Blindness Perspective” -Free audiobook, “Meet Me Accessibly |
Resources from IL Across the CountryAtlantis Community check-in survey Example of consumer surveys or questions for check-in. Customer Questionnaire Template Kansas Example of consumer questionnaire for check-in. Self-Direct services preparation template Kansas Tips to prepare self-directing consumers Telecommuting Authorization template Iowa Authorization of Telecommunications Recreation and Activities you can do during social distancing |
Rural Conversation Series on COVID-19:
Video series are listed below.