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COVID-19 Resources

(Related page: Resources for Distance Service Delivery)

Note: Due to the urgency to share the information, some of the documents may not be fully accessible. For accessible version of the documents, please contact the publisher and/or author of the resources.

Click each topic for more information:


General COVID-19 Resources

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-COVID 19 - This link takes you to the CDC COVID-19 website with information on how to protect yourself and what to do if you think you are sick.
  2. CDC-Resources for Large Community Events-Mass Gatherings
  3. Symptoms of Coronavirus Disease
  4. CDC-How to Protect Yourself
  5. Guidance for Businesses and Employers

  6. Get Your Home Ready
  7. CDC-Link to State Health Departments
  8. CDC-Latest travel information
  9. CDC-Preventing COVID-19 spread in communities
  10. CDC-Information on the use of cloth face coverings
  11.  CDC-Information about running essential errands
  12. CDC Guidance for critical infrastructure workersschoolsbusinesses and employers
  13. CDC- Coronavirus Self-Checker
  14. CDC-Apple Inc. App and Website Screening Tool
  15. CDC- Data Visualization Webpage
  16.  CDC-Pets and other animals
  17.  CDC-Searchable List of CDC Guidance
  18. CDC Fact Sheets:

  19. Plain Language Booklets on COVID-19 for People with Disabilities - This was developed by the Green Mountain Self-Advocates.

  20. Step-by-step guide to submitting your Expensify.org/hunger report for reimbursement
    A resource through Expensify where they will reimburse up to $50 to anyone who is receiving SNAP
  21. SHRM – Coronavius and COVID-19
    It is an overall resources for managing COVID-19 and Coronavirus in your organization. SHRM is a highly recognized HR resource and has many toolkits and templates that a program could use.
  22. World Health Organization
  23. Humane Society, including links for families who are having trouble affording their pet during COVID19
  24. Virtual Resources for Health and PE During COvid19
  25. Financial resources for hardships during covid19
  26. A Look at some financial assistance available during the coronavirus
  27. Food Services, San Diego
  28. Virtual Tours including the Lourve!
  29. ACCSES: COVID-19 Resource page for Service Providers - ACCSES, a network of over 1,200 organizations that provide services to individuals with disabilities, has created a COVID-19 Resources page for service providers
  30. COVID-19 Combined Federal Legislative Response
  31. Cornell University ILR School - COVID-19 and Social Insurance and Benefit Programs: COVID-19 and Social Insurance and Benefit Programs-Cornell University developed a quick reference that explains the rules of the stimulus payment as they pertain to the receipt of public benefits.

  32. ESRI-Impact planning for COVID-19  Interactive map to view COVID-19 planning by state and county.
  33. CDC-COVID-19 Information Presented in American Sign Language
  34. OSHA Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19:  To purchase click here
  35. Financial Resilience Center
    NDI's Financial Resilience Center is an online hub to answer frequently asked questions about: COVID-19 Stimulus; Employment and Unemployment; Public Benefits; Money Management; Housing, Food and Healthcare; Scams and more. In addition to providing trusted answers to FAQs, the Financial Resilience Center offers assistance to help users manage their finances. These resources and assistance are offered free of cost!

  36. Adolescent Health COVID-19 Resources for Parents and Teens - The Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine has COVID-19 resources for parents and teens.  There is a plethora of links to resources and websites to help teens and coping and resources for online education.

  37. #ReslientPwD text messaging campaign  This NDI campaign delivers information, tips and interventions to people with disabilities and chronic health conditions. The texts, which are available by signing up for a free subscription, are being sent two times per week for the next six months and are intended to help combat stress and feelings of isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic, build positive thinking and establish new behavior patterns that promote emotional well-being and financial resilience. Please sign up to receive these messages by texting the keyword RESILIENT to 833-632-0273 or by visiting the website.

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Federal Disability Resources Related to COVID-19

  1. U.S. Department of Labor Coronavirus Resources - The U.S. Department of Labor released resources to help workers and employers prepare for the COVID-19 virus.
  2. Administration for Community Living (ACL) Coronavirus Resources - ACL updated its information resource page addressing the question: What do Older Adults and People with Disabilities Need to Know About Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)?
  3. Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) Resources - OSERS posted Questions and Answers on Providing Services to Children with Disabilities During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Outbreak.
  4. U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Resources - EEOC posted resource titled What You Should Know About the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and COVID-19.
  5. National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC) Resources - Stuck at home? Resources compiled by the NIDILRR (National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research) community to help people stay engaged, active, and connected to the community.
  6. U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) - SSA is posting updates on what the agency is doing during the COVID-19 pandemic. A link is included to receive alerts when SSA adds information on this resource page.
  7. Job Accommodation Network (JAN) - Source for information about workplace accommodations for people who may be at higher risk of COVID-19 due to age and/or chronic health conditions. Also included are “Situations and Solutions” that provide advice on how to handle specific situations based on questions received from the public.
  8. Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) - Information about the reasonable accommodation process to support people who may be at higher risk of COVID-19 due to age and/or chronic health conditions.
  9. Career OneStop Unemployment Benefits Finder -This website is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor and has links to each state’s unemployment insurance information.
  10. U.S. Office of Civil Rights - Online Education and Website Accessibility -The U.S. Office of Civil Rights has posted a youtube video on this topic.

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  1. Medicare and Coronavirus
  2. U.S. Department of Education Fact Sheet COVID-19 Civil Rights of Students
  3. Pandemic Preparedness in the Workplace and the Americans With Disabilities Act
  4. ADA Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources
    This site is comprehensive, fully vetted and factual. It has an alerts section for immediate information and resources for people most at risk of becoming very ill - people with disabilities and older adults. We include information on counseling and support, information for health care professionals, facilities and departments, information for people facing financial, food, housing insecurity, schools and education, travel and transportation, and workplace and business. The site also includes information in Spanish and in American Sign Language, as it is made available from federal and state agencies. Some information is region specific, state health departments, and state unemployment offices, but most are national in scope.
  5. Workforce GPS Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Other Disability Focused Federal Resources
    Targeted compilation of resources shared to support the WorkforceGPS Disability and Employment community during the COVID-19 crisis. Below is a collection of federal resources to support a specific segment of the American population. We will continue to update this listing as new information is shared and updated from different federal agencies.
  6. Olmstead's state by state resource list
  7. Financial resource list from usa.gov
  8. U.S. Department of Education
  9. General, Federal, and People with Disabilities: Proposed Bill
  10. COVID-19 Resources for People With Disabilities, Families, and Service Providers
  11. DOL: Temporary Rule: Paid Leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act - The U.S. Department of Labor announced new action regarding how American workers and employers will benefit from the protections and relief offered by the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act and Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act, both part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). Wage and Hour posted a temporary rule issuing regulations pursuant to this new law, effective April 1, 2020. Please review DOL’s COVID-19 response website often as they continue to update the compliance assistance information available there.
  12. SSA-New Guidance about COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments for Social Security and SSI Beneficiaries

  13. The US Ability One Commission sent out the following memo on April 1, 2020: AbilityOne Flexibilities Related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Emergency and Recovery for the Duration of Fiscal Year 2020

  14. CDC-Guidance for Direct Service Providers

  15. CDC-Guidance for Group Homes for Individuals with Disabilities

  16. CDC-Guidance for Direct Service Providers, Caregivers, Parents, and People
    with Developmental and Behavioral Disorders

  17. CDC-People with Developmental and Behavioral Disorders

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COVID-19 Resources for Individuals with Disabilities

  1. College Students in Need of Aira - As universities and colleges are shifting to distance learning, some materials and software are inaccessible. Aira is offering free service to college students for the remainder of the spring semester. Email support@aira.io for more information on the program.
  2. Freedom Scientific - Free short-term licenses for JAWS, ZoomText, or Fusion
    Educational institutions in the United States with up-to-date multi-user licenses of JAWS, ZoomText, or Fusion, are qualified, All students, faculty, and staff with an active email address are entitled to receive free home annual licenses for their personally owned equipment. In addition, special licenses have been created to assist students and workers who must remain home during the COVID-19 crisis. A free short-term Home Annual license of JAWS, ZoomText, or Fusion (expires June 30, 2020) is available to anyone with a personal email address in the United States and Canada.
    These products require either a Microsoft Windows 10 or 7 operating system. Remote desktop and Citrix support are not provided. Contact Freedom Scientific Customer Service at 727-803-8000 with any questions.
  3. NFB Newsline Access - The National Federation of the Blind is making the “Breaking News’ section of the NFB-NEWSLINE service available through the United States, including Puerto Rico, for sixty days beginning March 16. This includes states that do not have a sponsor for the NFB-NEWSLINE service and are therefore usually only able to receive limited content. This includes thirty-four outlets with frequently updated content.
  4. National Braille Press -Free downloads of three NBP titles To help with some of the practical challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, we're offering free digital downloads of three relevant books, between now and April 30th:

  5. Hadley Discussions - Hadley creates personalized learning opportunities that employee adults with vision loss or blindness to thrive- at home, at work, and in their communities. Social distancing has become the norm these days. And while that can be isolating, there are some ways to stay connected with people. Hadley is still offering our discussion groups every week. In these phone-in sessions, our learning experts share tips and insights on a topic. Then, we open the phone lines for questions. The link about entitled Hadley discussions will take you to a calendar and then click the sign up button.
  6. Resources for children with disabilities during the coronavirus
  7. Administration for Community Living (ACL) "What Do Older Adults and People with Disabilities Need to Know?"
  8. NAMI COVID-19 - Information and Resources - Mental Health resources
  9. The ARC - COVID-19 Resources for People with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities
  10. Supporting Individuals with Autism through Uncertain Times

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  1. SAMHSA Social Distancing and Your Behavioral Health During Quarantine and Isolation
  2. Autism Society - Coronavirus: Response & Resources
  3. Oregon State Covid19 Resource list including DSA and employment path contingency funding forms, emergency worker forms, and support services for people with disabilities.
  4. Access Living: COVID19- Resources for the Disability Community
  5. American Foundation for the Blind-COVID 19 Resources Posts address topics such as online learning for students and adults, accessible medical devices, accessible work-from-home solutions, accessible social gaming, staying connected with other digitally, home fitness resources and many more.
  6. Harkin Institute-COVID-19 Resources for people with disabilities Includes links to many websites including videos about Coronavirus in ASL, plain language information on COVID-19, and much more.
  7. Autism Speaks COVID19 Information and Resources for People with Autism

  8. COVID-19 Unemployment Benefit Cross-walk - This is a cross-walk between COVID-19 individual scenarios and possible benefits

  9. Mental Health and COVID-19 – Information and Resources

  10. HLAA How do I communicate with Doctors, Nurses, and Staff at the Hospital During COVID-19  Guide for individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, and Deafblind.

  11. National Association of the Deaf and COVID-19

  12. National Deaf Center COVID-19

  13.  DeafBlind Interpreting and COVID-19

  14. Helen Keller National Center

  15. Usher Syndrome

  16. Information and FAQs on CARES Payments and SSi Recipients (by Justice in Aging, Disability Rights California, and Western Center on Law & Poverty)

  17. RespectAbility-COVID-19 Economic Benefits How-To Guide

  18. UMASS-COVID-19 + Mental Health: Resources for Youth, Young Adults, Families, Colleges, Educators, Employers and their Supporters

  19. National Disability Rights Network-Know Your Education Rights as a College Student during the COVID-19 Pandemic

  20. Projecte3 Covid 19 Resources

  21. BlindSquare and Navilens are offering the BlindSquare EVENT navigation app for free until November 2020 in honor of Global Accessibility Awareness Day.

  22. Using technology to mind your mental health during COVID-19 epidemic

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State Resources Related to COVID-19

  1. COVID-19 Resources and Information by State

  2. State Employment Leadership Network Compilation of State Resources
  3. IOWA: Employee Assistance Program:

  4. Covid19 in California

  5. Oregon State Covid19 Resource list including DSA and employment path contingency funding forms, emergency worker forms, and support services for people with disabilities.
  6. DES Arizona State including resources from the DDD (Developmental Disabilities)
  7. Colorado VR Website
  8. Texas Workforce Website

  9. Washington VR Website
  10. Wisconsin State Business COVID19 resources
  11. Indiana Specific Covid Resources Including resources for people with disabilities
  12. Michigan State important Covid19 resources
  13. California State Association of Counties Resources Regarding COVID19
  14. Coronavirus Help: Resources, Hotlines, Unemployment, Covering Bills And More
  15. The graduate program in Rehabilitation Counseling at San Diego State University has provided some guidance and resources for students in the program during the COVID-19 crisis
  16. San Diego COVID19 Community Response Fund
  17. Labor and Workforce Development Agency: resources for employment issues during the covid19 crisis
  18. South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Resource page
  19. Wyoming Department of Ed Continual Updates
  20. Colorado

  21. COVID-19 Feed Your State (Information by states)
  22. PDF of PowerPoint for staff on Teleworking
  23. Memo to VR staff re: Reopening the agency
  24. Guidance on Virtual Services to staff and CRPs

  25. Templates for Guidance to CRPs for Virtual Services and Fees

  26. NYT Article: State by State Travel Restrictions

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Articles of Interest Related to COVID-19

  1. Forbes-5 Things to Know About Coronavirus and People With Disabilities
  2. Social Distancing This is Not a Snow Day

  3. Forbes-Leading in the Midst of Uncertainty
  4. How to keep the Greater Good in Mind During the Coronavirus Outbreak (article)
  5. Latest updates, graphs, and important information from the NYTimes
  6. Harvard Health’s Continually Updated Coronavirus Resource Center
  7. Your money: A Hub For Help During the Coronavirus Outbreak
  8. What we’ve learned about the coronavirus and what we still need to know
  9. Thrust into Working Remotely? Try This Attitude Adjustment  
  10. How To Protect Your Mental Health During The Coronavirus Pandemic, According To Psychologists
  11. Rent and mortgage financial assistance during the COVID19 crisis

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Return to Work Safely

  1. Return to Work: How to Bring Your Team Back Safely
  2. OSHA-Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 to purchase click here
  3.  PPE Resources for Clear Masks-Communicating with Deaf and hard of hearing (list developed through CSAVR-Chanda and Theresa)

  4. IDB Return to In-Person Services Rules and Procedures
    The Iowa Department for the Blind has developed rules and procedures for staff safely return to work.  You can see these rules and procedures.
  5. CDPH - COVID-19 Industry Guidance: Office Workspaces
    The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (CalOSHA) have also recently published guidance documents specific to various industries, including office workspaces.
  6. Rhode Island Phase 2 Reopening Guidance
    The Rhode Island Office of Rehabilitation Services has published guidelines for returning to work safely in Stage 2 of their re-opening.

  7. Report on COVID-19 State Re-Open Actions & Key Metrics for States
    We encourage you to view this report regarding COVID-19. On page 7 under heading: Expanding Access to Behavioral & Mental Health Series, you will find policies that states have implemented to increase mental health services. Download report here.

  8. Kentucky: Essential Services and COVID-19
    The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation in Kentucky published a memo on essential services and COVID-19.

  9. OSHA Guidance on Non-Essential Business Reopening

  10. American Job Center Re-Opening Process in four states - Examples:

  11. Alaska Office Re-Opening  Guidance 05/29/2020

  12. Florida General VR program -Summary of reopening activities

  13. The Bureau of Disability Adjudication in Nevada - Phase Two plan for reopening

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