Covid-19
WID joined disability rights, public health, and emergency management experts from across the globe to issue urgent calls to action for immediate strategies and solutions from governments at every level, including local, state, federal, tribal and territorial, to address the specific needs of persons with disabilities throughout the COVID-19 outbreak and all public health emergencies.
WID’s Response
Throughout the pandemic, WID has worked in collaboration with the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies, and other local, national, and international groups to get people with disabilities the information, care, and support to survive this pandemic. WID has highlighted disparities and exclusion resulting from disability inequities in COVID-19 safety protocols; vaccine availability, information, and distribution access practices.
Covid-19 and the Rights of People with Disabilities in Disasters
The rights of people with disabilities don't disappear in times of crisis. For information on the rights of people with disabilities in all disasters and public health emergencies and reporting rights violations, in the US and globally, please visit our Rights of People with Disabilities in Disasters & Public Health Emergencies page.
For more information on the rights of people with disabilities specifically in the COVID-19 pandemic, we recommend the following resources from our colleagues:
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- Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies US-based organization focused solely on the rights and needs of people with disabilities throughout disasters, emergencies, and crises.
- (WHO): Disability considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak World Health Organization's page on Disability considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak
- Preparing for Hospitalization During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Checklist for People with Disabilities June Isaacson Kailes, Disability Policy Consultant
- CDC: Releases New ASL Videos on Covid-19 emergency prep download video
- Guidance for People with Disabilities in the face of COVID-19 in the Americas and the Caribbean United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction – Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean
- Redy.gov Website in Spanish
- (WHO): Disability considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak World Health Organization's page on Disability considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak
- Redy.gov Website in Spanish
- Ready.gov Individuals with Disabilities
- Emergency Power Planning for People Who Use Electricity and Battery Dependent Assistive Technology and Medical Devices
- Emergency PreparednessTools and Guidelines
- United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Disability
- Real Emergency Access for Aging and Disability Inclusion Act and Disaster Relief Medicaid Act
- United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction Website
- Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs in Emergencies
- Charter on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action
- Mutual Aid Hub
- IASC Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings
- AARP Community Connections
- DREDF International Laws
- The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies Website
- A Guide to Disability Rights Laws
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities CRPD
- Filling with Office for Civil Rights
- Disability Rights Section of the US Department of Justice
- Disability Inclusion in Disaster Risk Management
- Ready.gov Website
- Guidance for People with Disabilities in the face of COVID-19 in the Americas and the Caribbean United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction – Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean
- Preparing for Hospitalization During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Checklist for People with Disabilities June Isaacson Kailes, Disability Policy Consultant
- Social Distancing and Crip Survival: A Disability Centered Response to COVID-19 from Sins Invalid
- Disability Justice and COVID-19 Resources NYU Center for Disability Studies
- Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies US-based organization focused solely on the rights and needs of people with disabilities throughout disasters, emergencies, and crises.
- CDC: Responding to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Among People Experiencing Unsheltered Homelessness
- Call to Action sign-on form To sign on to the COVID-19 Call to Action, fill out the Call to Action sign-on form
- CDC: Releases New ASL Videos on Covid-19 emergency prep download video
- list of signatories to the Call to Action View list of signatories to the Call to Action
- Open letter to Vice President Mike Pence Open letter to Vice President Mike Pence
- Disability Rights International (DRI) Survey that gathered data on how States are responding to states of emergency situations in relation to people with disabilities.
- The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) Preventing Discrimination in the Treatment of COVID-19 Patients: The Illegality of Medical Rationing on the Basis of Disability
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights (OCR) Bulletin March 28, 2020– Civil Rights, HIPAA, and the Coronavirus Disease
- Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws
- (WHO): Disability considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak World Health Organization's page on Disability considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak
- ONG Inclusiva: First International Survey on People with Disabilities and COVID-19 (PDF)
- International Disability Alliance (IDA): COVID-19 Resource – Key advocacy messages, questions to ask on inclusion and signpost to resources to learn more (PDF) IDA covid resources (PDF)
- International Disability Alliance (IDA): Toward a Disability-Inclusive COVID-19 Response: 10 recommendations (PDF)
- Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies US-based organization focused solely on the rights and needs of people with disabilities throughout disasters, emergencies, and crises.
- Call to Action sign-on form To sign on to the COVID-19 Call to Action, fill out the Call to Action sign-on form
- list of signatories to the Call to Action View list of signatories to the Call to Action
- Open letter to Vice President Mike Pence Open letter to Vice President Mike Pence
- Disability Rights International (DRI) Survey that gathered data on how States are responding to states of emergency situations in relation to people with disabilities.
- The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) Preventing Discrimination in the Treatment of COVID-19 Patients: The Illegality of Medical Rationing on the Basis of Disability
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights (OCR) Bulletin March 28, 2020– Civil Rights, HIPAA, and the Coronavirus Disease
- National Disability Rights Network (NDRN): Know Your Rights COVID-19 video series Know Your Rights during the COVID-19 Pandemic
- CDC: Responding to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Among People Experiencing Unsheltered Homelessness
- CDC: Releases New ASL Videos on Covid-19 emergency prep download video
- ONG Inclusiva: First International Survey on People with Disabilities and COVID-19 (PDF)
- International Disability Alliance (IDA): COVID-19 Resource – Key advocacy messages, questions to ask on inclusion and signpost to resources to learn more (PDF) IDA covid resources (PDF)
- International Disability Alliance (IDA): Toward a Disability-Inclusive COVID-19 Response: 10 recommendations (PDF)
- Guidance for People with Disabilities in the face of COVID-19 in the Americas and the Caribbean United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction – Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean
- Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies US-based organization focused solely on the rights and needs of people with disabilities throughout disasters, emergencies, and crises.
- Disability Rights International (DRI) Survey that gathered data on how States are responding to states of emergency situations in relation to people with disabilities.
- The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) Preventing Discrimination in the Treatment of COVID-19 Patients: The Illegality of Medical Rationing on the Basis of Disability
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights (OCR) Bulletin March 28, 2020– Civil Rights, HIPAA, and the Coronavirus Disease
- National Disability Rights Network (NDRN): Know Your Rights COVID-19 video series Know Your Rights during the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws
- CDC: Responding to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Among People Experiencing Unsheltered Homelessness
- CDC: Releases New ASL Videos on Covid-19 emergency prep download video
- Connecticut State Independent Living Council Facebook page for CTSILC
- Disability Rights Connecticut
- Disability Inclusion in Disaster Risk Management
- Ready.gov Website
- Redy.gov Website in Spanish
- Ready.gov Individuals with Disabilities
- United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Disability
- Emergency Registries for People with Access and Functional Needs
- United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction Website
- Emergency Power Planning for People Who Use Electricity and Battery Dependent Assistive Technology and Medical Devices
- Charter on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action
- Emergency PreparednessTools and Guidelines
- IASC Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings
- Real Emergency Access for Aging and Disability Inclusion Act and Disaster Relief Medicaid Act
- DREDF International Laws
- FEMA Office of Disability Integration and Coordination
- The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies Website
- Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs in Emergencies
- A Guide to Disability Rights Laws
- Mutual Aid Hub
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities CRPD
- AARP Community Connections
- Filling with Office for Civil Rights
- Disability Rights Section of the US Department of Justice
- Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction - a whole communty action
- Disaster Preparedness Guides for Persons with Disabilities
- Mutual Aid Hub
- United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Disability
- United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction Website
- Charter on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action
- IASC Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings
- DREDF International Laws
- The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies Website
- A Guide to Disability Rights Laws
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities CRPD
- Filling with Office for Civil Rights
- Disability Rights Section of the US Department of Justice
- Ready.gov Individuals with Disabilities
- Access to Emergency Information on Television
- United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Disability
- Charter on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action
- IASC Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings
- DREDF International Laws
- The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies Website
- A Guide to Disability Rights Laws
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities CRPD
- Filling with Office for Civil Rights
- Disability Rights Section of the US Department of Justice
- The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies Website
- A Guide to Disability Rights Laws
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities CRPD
- Filling with Office for Civil Rights
- The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) Preventing Discrimination in the Treatment of COVID-19 Patients: The Illegality of Medical Rationing on the Basis of Disability
- Disability Rights Section of the US Department of Justice
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights (OCR) Bulletin March 28, 2020– Civil Rights, HIPAA, and the Coronavirus Disease
- Real Emergency Access for Aging and Disability Inclusion Act and Disaster Relief Medicaid Act
- National Disability Rights Network (NDRN): Know Your Rights COVID-19 video series Know Your Rights during the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Access to Emergency Information on Television
- Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws
- International Disability Alliance (IDA): COVID-19 Resource – Key advocacy messages, questions to ask on inclusion and signpost to resources to learn more (PDF) IDA covid resources (PDF)
- International Disability Alliance (IDA): Toward a Disability-Inclusive COVID-19 Response: 10 recommendations (PDF)
- Disability Justice and COVID-19 Resources NYU Center for Disability Studies
- United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Disability
- United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction Website
- Charter on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action
- IASC Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings
- DREDF International Laws
- Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies US-based organization focused solely on the rights and needs of people with disabilities throughout disasters, emergencies, and crises.
- Call to Action sign-on form To sign on to the COVID-19 Call to Action, fill out the Call to Action sign-on form
- list of signatories to the Call to Action View list of signatories to the Call to Action
- Open letter to Vice President Mike Pence Open letter to Vice President Mike Pence
- Connecticut State Independent Living Council Facebook page for CTSILC
- Disability Rights Connecticut
- International Disability Alliance (IDA): COVID-19 Resource – Key advocacy messages, questions to ask on inclusion and signpost to resources to learn more (PDF) IDA covid resources (PDF)
- International Disability Alliance (IDA): Toward a Disability-Inclusive COVID-19 Response: 10 recommendations (PDF)
- Social Distancing and Crip Survival: A Disability Centered Response to COVID-19 from Sins Invalid
- Disability Justice and COVID-19 Resources NYU Center for Disability Studies
- Real Emergency Access for Aging and Disability Inclusion Act and Disaster Relief Medicaid Act
- Disability Justice and COVID-19 Resources NYU Center for Disability Studies
- National Disability Rights Network (NDRN): Know Your Rights COVID-19 video series Know Your Rights during the COVID-19 Pandemic
- CDC: Releases New ASL Videos on Covid-19 emergency prep download video
- Disability Rights International (DRI) Survey that gathered data on how States are responding to states of emergency situations in relation to people with disabilities.
- ONG Inclusiva: First International Survey on People with Disabilities and COVID-19 (PDF)
- Guidance for People with Disabilities in the face of COVID-19 in the Americas and the Caribbean United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction – Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean
- The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies: COVID-19 Community-Wide Resources (Google Doc) Comprehensive and continuously-updated Google Doc of various resources and organizations related to COVID-19 and disability advocacy.
Covid-19 on the Blog
WID created a series of blogs about the experiences and needs of people with disabilities and disability-led organizations around the world during the pandemic. Click on a headline below to read the full story.
Most recent COVID blogs
FREEkey is Developing Personal Assistance Services in Hungary Through the Pandemic
COVID Blog: How Indian Disability Non-profits are Evolving to Face the Challenges of COVID-19
COVID Blog: My Disability-Led Workplace Handled COVID-19 Better Than My School and Hospitals By Listening to Young Disabled People
COVID Blog: Chinese Women with Disabilities in COVID-19
COVID Blog: This Precious Thing – Kindness, Rights, and New Zealand’s COVID Response
Getting COVID-tested while Blind: Self-Advocacy (& A lot of phone calls)
Calls to Action on Covid-19
Over 170 organizations have signed on to the original Call to Action and the list of supporters keeps growing. To sign on to the COVID-19 Call to Action, fill out the Call to Action sign-on form.
View list of signatories to the Call to Action
Additionally, read and share the Open letter to Vice President Mike Pence.
You can learn more about WID’s priorities for COVID-19 and all emergency response, as well as our CEO/Executive Director Marcie Roth’s 20+ years of experience working in disability inclusive emergency preparedness and response, via this recorded webinar from the Connecticut State Independent Living Council and Disability Rights Connecticut: