Community Participation

Cognitopia added a collection of COVID-19 resources to the Staying Healthy portfolio in My Life. It’s designed to provide cognitively accessible information related to the coronavirus, including reliable links, instructional videos, personal care routines, and collected other info to help folks get through a difficult time. Cognitopia’s MyLife tool can be used remotely by a student and their support team as they transition from school to college or work.

Factsheet answering common questions from organizations (including businesses and nonprofit organizations) on balancing public health and access to customers. The FAQ covers what to say or do when a customer comes in without a mask, accommodating customers who say they cannot wear a mask, fake mask exemption cards, and what a business owner can ask a person about a disability. Certain disabilities make wearing a face covering difficult or impossible. A person with a respiratory condition, for example, may be unable to breathe effectively with a face covering.

The Great Plains ADA Center received many questions regarding face mask policies and the ADA from the business community. They collected a summary of these questions and the responses to guide businesses wanting to ensure their face mask policies comply with the ADA. Topics include fake exemption cards, masking for employees, and how to provide reasonable accommodations for patrons who cannot wear masks, among others.

In this archived webinar, ADA coordinators from around the Mid-Atlantic region share lessons learned during the pandemic such as use of technology for remote work and services, the toll on mental health in the community, and the importance of maintaining connections with community partners to support independence of people with disabilities.

In this webinar, presenters discussed the impacts of COVID-19 on policy and lived experience of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Presenters discussed the lessons learned, future federal policies, and ways that policies promote Home and Community-Based Services can provide more equitable social justice during this pandemic.