Coronavirus: Information and Resources
Health, Community Living, and Civil Rights
Employment and Business
- U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC): Information on Coronavirus and COVID-19 includes guidance documents on employment issues such as the kinds of health-related questions employers are allowed to ask, medical exams they are allowed to conduct, and when they may require a worker to stay home; a webinar (with transcript) answers common questions about COVID-19 in relation to the ADA, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and the Civil Rights Act.
- U.S. Department of Labor (DOL): Coronavirus Resources provides information on workplace safety, wage and hour issues, unemployment insurance, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and other employment issues.
- Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN): COVID-19 Workplace Resources and Tools feature a wide variety of resources on legal issues, workplace safety, how to support employee mental health, and job accommodations, including telework, virtual meetings, and other online employment activities.
- Disability:IN: A comprehensive collection of information and resources on Digital Accessibility and Best Practices for Remote Work.
- Deaf/Hard of Hearing Technology Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (DHH-RERC): Remote Workplace Guidance for employers and employees who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind (including information in American Sign Language).
- Small Business Administration (SBA): low-interest federal disaster loans may be available to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of COVID-19.
Transportation
- The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) extended the face mask requirement across transportation networks until September 13, 2021. The requirement applies at airports, onboard commercial aircraft, on over-the-road buses, and on commuter bus and rail systems. Limited exemptions for travelers under the age of 2 years and those with certain disabilities will continue.
- The Federal Transit Administration in the U.S. Department of Transportation (FTA/DOT): Frequently Asked Questions Regarding COVID-19 and Civil Rights answers questions about how transit operators can maintain access and equity in public transit and paratransit services.
- National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC): COVID-19 Resources includes a variety of information on how to safely and effectively operate transit programs and services during the pandemic.
Housing
- Mortgage and Housing Assistance (CFPB/FHFA/HUD): This website from from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has information about mortgage relief and protections for renters during the coronavirus emergency.
- The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) also lists a variety of housing assistance agencies and resources, including resources for individuals who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
Health, Community Living, and Civil Rights
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The Administration for Community Living (ACL): COVID-19 Response provides a variety of information and resources for older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, veterans, state and local planners, health care and other service providers, educators, and businesses.
- A Disability Information and Access Line can be reached between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern Time at 888-677-1199 or by emailing DIAL@n4a.org. The service can help people with disabilities find vaccination locations in their communities, assist callers with making vaccination appointments, and connect callers to local services – such as accessible transportation – to overcome barriers to vaccination. The hotline also can provide information and resources to answer questions and address concerns about the vaccines and can connect callers to information and services that promote independent living and address fundamental needs, such as food, housing, and transportation.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): COVID-19 pages also offer a wealth of information for various audiences, including a series of five videos on COVID-19 presented in American Sign Language (ASL) and "easy to read" materials designed for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
- Check out their guidance for clinics and health care providers on Vaccinating Older Adults and People with Disabilities
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Office for Civil Rights (OCR), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): Bulletin: Civil Rights, HIPAA, and COVID reminds health care providers that:
- People with disabilities should not be denied care based on stereotypes, judgments about a person's relative "worth,” or assumptions about quality of life;
- Communicating effectively with individuals with hearing or vision disabilities, as well as others with limited English proficiency, may require the provision of aids or services such as qualified interpreters, picture boards, or other means;
- Emergency messages should be made available in plain language, and in languages prevalent in the affected area, and in multiple formats to ensure access;
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Emergency planning must address the needs of individuals with all types of disabilities.
- Check out these other informative publications from the OCR/HHS:
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Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Disaster Distress Helpline
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This 24/7, 365-day-a-year, national hotline is dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to disasters, including disease outbreaks and pandemics. Toll-free, multilingual, and confidential crisis support service is available to all residents in the United States and its territories.
Connect with a trained crisis counselor:
Telephone: 1-800-985-5990 (voice or relay; Spanish speakers press “2”); TTY 1-800-846-8517
Text: TalkWithUs to 66746 (Spanish speakers from the 50 states text Hablanos to 66746; from Puerto Rico text Hablanos to 1-787-339-2663)
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This 24/7, 365-day-a-year, national hotline is dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to disasters, including disease outbreaks and pandemics. Toll-free, multilingual, and confidential crisis support service is available to all residents in the United States and its territories.
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Project Connect Disability Helpline
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The Arc of California and the Stony Brook University School of Social Welfare have partnered to offer a free telehealth support line for individuals with disabilities, their families, direct support professionals, and others who support those with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The support line is staffed by graduate students in the School of Social Welfare and supervised by licensed social workers. The graduate students are able to offer a wide range of support services including counseling, wellness checks, depression screening, and referral to community services.
Call 888-847-3209 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
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The Arc of California and the Stony Brook University School of Social Welfare have partnered to offer a free telehealth support line for individuals with disabilities, their families, direct support professionals, and others who support those with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The support line is staffed by graduate students in the School of Social Welfare and supervised by licensed social workers. The graduate students are able to offer a wide range of support services including counseling, wellness checks, depression screening, and referral to community services.
Education and Civil Rights
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Office for Civil Rights (OCR), U.S. Department of Education:
- Fact Sheet: Addressing the Risk of COVID-19 in Schools While Protecting the Civil Rights of Students reminds schools, including post-secondary schools, that while they continue to operate and provide educational programs, students with disabilities need to be accommodated;
- Supplemental Fact Sheet Addressing the Risk of COVID-19 in Preschool, Elementary and Secondary Schools While Serving Children with Disabilities corrects a misunderstanding about distance learning programs, reiterating that federal disability laws do not prevent the use of distance learning methods;
- Online Education and Website Accessibility is a brief video that provides an overview of requirements and resources related to accessible distance learning programs and other online functions of educational institutions.
- Accessible Educational Materials (AEM): This organization provides information and resources on creating, obtaining, and using accessible materials and technologies in the classroom or for remote learning.
- Mid-Atlantic ADA Center: Check out our podcast episode on COVID-19 and College
General
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): FEMA's COVID-19 Response resources include a wide variety of information on vaccination and health programs, reimbursement for COVID-related funeral expenses and other economic support, the latest news and responses to rumors, how to help with donations or by volunteering, and best practices for effective and equitable services.
- The U.S. Department of Justice: The Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division issued a press release warning that cards and other documents bearing the Department of Justice seal and circulating on the web and via social media channels, claiming that individuals are exempt from face mask requirements, are fraudulent. The press release notes that the "ADA does not provide a blanket exemption to people with disabilities from complying with legitimate safety requirements necessary for safe operations."
- Mid-Atlantic ADA Center: Check out our podcast episode on COVID-19, Face Mask Policies, and Title II and Title III of the ADA
- The Southeast ADA Center: Disability and COVID-19 includes a wide variety of information; some information is also available in Spanish.
- The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD): Digital Accessibility in the Age of COVID-19 includes information for ensuring accessibility for remote work, school, and social engagement.
- National Association of the Deaf (NAD): Information on Coronavirus related to various issues for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
- COVID-19 Accessible Resources: the Georgia Institute of Technology, with funding from the CDC Foundation, offers a collection of information on COVID-19 designed or adapted for accessibility; find accessible documents, easy-to-read publications with simplified text, videos presented in American Sign Language, and more.