COVID-19 Information and Resources

Montana Updates and Resources

Resources related to the Governor of the State of Montana, Mr. Steve Bullock, executive order declaring a state of emergency to exist within the state of Montana related to the communicable disease COVID-19, also known as coronavirus (March 12, 2020).

Updates for Montanans are available through these options:

COVID-19 phone line: 1-888-333-0461

COVID-19 questions for public:  covid19info@mt.gov

COVID-19 Web site:  http://covid19.mt.gov

National Updates and Resources

To learn what you can do in response to COVID-19, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  There is additional information posted for people with disabilities on the CDC COVID-19 disability page, as well as information about stress & coping relevant to people with disabilities on the CDC Stress and Coping webpage, under the section: For people at higher risk for serious illness.

Green Mountain Self-Advocates [gmsavt.org] in Vermont has been doing an awesome job developing plain language materials in collaboration with self-advocates:

• Abbreviated version, A self-advocate’s guide to COVID-19
• Comprehensive version, A self-advocate’s guide to COVID-19
• Working with support staff
• Accessible COVID-19 medical form

Multilingual Resources

Hesperian Health Guides has developed this accessible and clearly written Coronavirus Fact Sheet now in 13 languages (with more to be released in the next few days).  It is available now in

English, Spanish, French,Chinese, Urdu, Bangla, Filipino, Vietnamese,Bahasa Indonesia, Farsi, Sindhi, Telugu, and Hindion Hesperian Health Guides website. Fact sheets in Shona, Portuguese, Arabic, and Chichewa are on the way.

International Resources

In the light of the COVID-19 pandemic and with the aim to support a disability-inclusive response to the crisis, the International Disability Alliance (IDA) has launched a webpage to share the most recent updates and resources as they become available.  The webpage includes IDA’s key recommendations toward a Disability-Inclusive COVID19 Response and as well a compilation of useful resources related to COVID-19 and the disability movement.

The recommendations are available on the IDA COVID-19 webpage.

Individuals with updates on how COVID 19 is affecting persons with disabilities in their areas of work, or who want to share any good practices or lessons learnt, please contact IDA inclusive humanitarian adviser Ms Elham Youssefian via emailing eyoussefian@ida-secretariat.org.

Resources for Seniors and People with Disabilities

• For seniors and people with disabilities, the U.S. HHS Administration on Community Living is updating resources on its website, available at: https://acl.gov/COVID-19.  ACL is updating this page frequently.
• At AAHD, we have gathered resources that address the COVID-19 outbreak and disability. You can now find all these resources on our website at: https://www.aahd.us/covid-19/. On this page, you’ll find general resources on Disability and COVID-19, COVID-19 & Medicaid, Advocacy Resources and Governmental Resources.
• The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies has a document that is continuously updated. This document is specific to the disability community and COVID-19 related resources and information. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-53u6OnvUCB0OaWs8ys8RRDbfQLN-9zmZzzYPHF7bHU/edit
• Georgia Tech: COVID-19 Accessible Resources for People with Disabilities The Georgia Tech Center for Inclusive Design and Innovation (CIDI), with funding from the CDC Foundation and technical assistance from CDC is adapting COVID-19 materials into accessible formats for people with disabilities. The project has created a microsite to house all of the materials which has now gone live. On the microsite, you can request embossed braille, download accessible Word Documents and PDFs, and register for upcoming webinars related to COVID-19 and people with disabilities. More accessible materials are coming soon.
• Colleagues at the University of Michigan are organizing resources on COVID-19 that are relevant to persons with disabilities into Google Docs format.
• 5 Tips for Disability Service Professionals to Provide Accessibility in Online Classes
• For the Deaf community: Dr. Michael McKee  at the University of Michigan,  is a  family physician with clinical and research expertise in disability health. In this video, Dr. Mckee was interviewed and explains COVID-19 and  recommendations for response. The interview was conducted in ASL with English captions.
• The National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) is committed to sharing resources for Direct Support Professionals. We understand that given this global crisis, Direct Support Professionals are still working to provide supports– including a three-part webinar series with Dr. Rick Rader  specifically for Direct Support Professionals to provide them with guidelines for understanding the virus, protecting the individuals they support in the community and offering reliable resources for ongoing news and practices.  https://nadsp.org/covid-19resources/
  • Summary: The current worldwide news about the emergence of the Coronavirus is on everyone’s list of concerns, questions and insecurities. We created this webinar specifically for Direct Support Professionals to provide them with guidelines for understanding the virus, protecting the individuals they support in the community and offering reliable resources for ongoing news and practices.
  • Takeaways:
    • What is the Coronavirus and what is the realistic level of its threat. How can we better understand the potential for its “spread.”
    • What can the DSP do to mitigate the risk of the virus.
    • How can the DSP minimize the confusion, fears and anxiety about the virus on behalf of the individuals they support. How to differentiate fact from mythology about the virus. How “misinformation” can be as bad as “no information.”
    • What are the current recommendations regarding recognizing the symptoms, medical treatment, prevention protocols and outcomes.
• Resource on COVID-19 developed by Green Mountain Self-advocates for individuals with ID/DD. This resource is an 8-page booklet about the Coronavirus written in plain language. It was created by and for people with developmental disabilities. It focuses on “need to know” information. There is an English version [selfadvocacyinfo.org] and Spanish version [protect2.fireeye.com].
• Questions and answers regarding services for infants, toddlers, and children with disabilities within the schools/local education agencies (LEA) and early intervention services (EIS). The U.S. Department of Education has received guidance from the CDC to help plan for and prevent the spread of COVID-19 among students.
• CDC webpages, specifically related to COVID-19 and people with disabilities, direct service providers and caregivers.
  • Guidance for Direct Service Providers [cdc.gov]
  • Guidance for Group Homes for Individuals with Disabilities [cdc.gov]
  • Guidance for Direct Service Providers, Caregivers, Parents, and People with Developmental and Behavioral Disorders [cdc.gov]
  • People with Developmental and Behavioral Disorders [cdc.gov]
• AAHD survey reports available on Novel Coronavirus Pandemic and Access to Health Services Among Adults with Disabilities Project (COVID-19 & Disability Project).  AAHD conducted a rapid, real-time online survey of COVID-19 and persons with a range of disabilities.  The COVID-19 & Disability Project is funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation.  The purpose of the COVID-19 & Disability Project is to understand the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on access to health care and on adults with a range of disabilities responding to COVID-19.

Online Physical Activity Resources

To help maintain your physical activity levels, consider on-line resources available on the National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD) website.  Here are examples:  An extensive listing of physical activity resources for people with all types of disabilities, several alternatives for activities you can do at home, great demonstrations of how to make necessary accommodations, and how to address barriers of all types.  They even have their own “How To Video Series” (see below) and a new Inclusive Workout From Home Toolkit (PDF).

NCHPAD How To Video Series– Physical Activity

1. Champion’s Rx, a high-intensity daily workout program designed for individuals that are currently active and that incorporates all ability levels. The workouts have been divided into three main classes. Class A is for individuals who can use all four limbs, individuals with ambulatory CP, and individuals with limb loss. Class B is for individuals who have use of their upper body, including some core. This may include individuals with paraplegia, some individuals with CP, and individuals with double above the knee limb loss. Class C is for individuals with limited use of their upper body with possible impairment in their grip. This may include individuals with quadriplegia and those with highly involved CP.
2. 14 Weeks to a Healthier You.  A free, personalized, web-based physical activity and nutrition program, for people with mobility limitations, chronic health conditions and physical disabilities.  The Goal of this 14-week program is to help you get moving and making healthy nutrition choices.
3. Inclusive Yoga: A Practice for Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury.  This 35 minute yoga video is a first-of-its-kind practice for individuals with a disability.
4. Kids Corner. Resources that engage youth, parents, and professionals working with youth with disabilities.
5. Life Help via Chat on their Website, http://NCHPAD.org

Last updated April 9, 2020