#AdvocacyMatters: Just the Facts
December 3, 2021 / #AdvocacyMatters
Efforts to keep yourself informed in this tumultuous news cycle can quickly become overwhelming. With news about the COVID-19 pandemic seemingly breaking every day – new data, new recommendations, and new variants of the virus – it’s clear that there are still questions that need answered. What we do know is that COVID-19 affects people with disabilities in unique ways. Many people with disabilities face heightened risks related to COVID-19, and are more likely to be infected, hospitalized, and die because of exposure to the virus. When the endless stream of talking heads and news tickers causes people to tune-out potentially life-saving information, we knew we had to do something.
We recently launched an easy to understand, one-page factsheet covering individual rights and advocacy around the COVID-19 vaccine. This factsheet outlines the assistance being offered by DRO in scheduling vaccine appointments, arranging transportation to receive the vaccine, connecting homebound individuals with in-home vaccine access, and directing people with vaccine-related questions to those best suited to answer them. The purpose of this document is clear: Your disability shouldn’t be a barrier keeping you from receiving the vaccine. Any person who wants the COVID-19 vaccine – regardless of disability – can receive it.
We also collaborated with other Protection and Advocacy agencies from across the country to create videos explaining the right to vaccine access for people with disabilities. We ask for your continued help by sharing these videos with your friends, family, and followers. The videos are available in both English and Spanish – both with closed captions and ASL interpretation – and will be available in more languages soon.
Our goal is to help keep our communities safe and healthy throughout these unprecedentedly challenging times, and we firmly believe that every factsheet, blog, and video can make a huge difference. This pandemic is far from over and because we’re committed to the belief that #AdvocacyMatters, we won’t stop working to keep you informed.