COVID-19 Resources for the Disability Community
Last updated: 3:00pm, 7/22/21
In light of developments in the outbreak of COVID-19 across the country, Access Living will continue to support our community in a multitude of ways, including creating and maintaining the below list of resources.
Please note: This is a living document. Information will be updated as it changes or becomes available.
As a person with a disability, how are you being impacted by Covid-19? Tell us your story.
Vaccine Updates
- Monday, July 26 is the last day for kids to get first vaccine shot before school starts on Aug. 30
- City of Chicago Vaccine Finder
- Vaccine Communication Card
- Vaccine Guidance for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or DeafBlind Persons
- Patient fact sheets in English and Spanish
- Homebound Vaccination Program for City of Chicago Homebound Residents
- The CDC issues new guidelines for adults who have been vaccinated for Covid-19
- Illinois Vaccine Appointment Aggregator – Find an available appointment for you or someone you love. **Some areas are struggling to get their residents vaccinated, so please be conscious of booking in neighborhoods you don’t usually visit**
- United Center Mass Vaccination Site Information
Table of Contents
- NEW – Vaccine Information and Updates
- Recently Added
- Accessible Tech Resources
- City and State Updates and News
- Communications Access Assistance
- Collective Care, Caregiving, and Organizing
- Coronavirus Preparedness
- Disability Health Information
- Food
- Get Involved – Advocacy
- General Vaccine Information
- HCBS and Personal Assistants
- Housing
- Media
- Parents and Teachers: Schooling and Activities for Kids at Home
- Pet Aid Resources
- Relief Funds
- Self-Care
- Transportation
- Volunteer Opportunities
Recently Added
- From NBC: Here’s what we know about the Delta variant and the surge in COVID cases
- Pace announces reinstatement of several suspended routes
- Delta variant will be majority of Chicago COVID cases by August, but getting vaccines can protect you
- CPS announces that masks will be required for all students this fall
- Chicago Travel Advisory List as of 7/20/21
- Easy Read Guides on Covid-19 and Vaccine
- Questions and Answers on Civil Rights and School Reopening in the COVID-19 Environment
- TSA extends face mask requirements at airports and throughout the transportation network
- CDC Guidelines for the Fully Vaccinated
Accessible Tech Resources
- Online Course Accessibility Checklist
- Remote communication options for Deaf/Hard of Hearing professionals or students
- Access strategies for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing in remote meetings
- National Homework Hotline for Blind/Visually Impaired Students
- Accessibility tips for a better Zoom meeting
- On-Site and Remote Captioning & Interpreting Services
City and State Updates and News
- Covid-19 testing sites in the State of Illinois
- IDHS Coronavirus Information Center
- Cook County Social Vulnerability Index
- Cook County Medical Examiner COVID-19 Dashboard
- Coronavirus.Illinois.Gov
- Chicago Department of Public Health Coronavirus Information
- Chicago COVID Coach Website/App
- Home Services Program Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates
- Illinois COVID-19 Immigrant Family Support Project
- City of Chicago COVID-19 Testing Sites
Communications Access Assistance
- ACS Remote Captioning
- Communication Resources for Deaf/deaf, HOH, DeafBlind Community
- A guide for Deaf/HOH community on communicating with medical staff during COVID-19
- Letter Template To Use For Any Live News Updates Without ASL Access
- COVID-19 information – ASL
- COVID-19 ASL videos from the Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission
- Live Transcribe for IOS – The story behind the app and where to buy it
- Transcription/Note-Taking App Ottor.ai Allows for Live Transcription
- Apps for Deaf or Hard of Hearing Kids and Adults – Android
- Apps for Deaf or Hard of Hearing Kids and Adults – iOS
- Roundup of ASL Resources on Coronavirus
- COVID-19 Vaccine Social Story for People of Color with Disabilities
- COVID-19 Accessible Resources
Collective Care, Caregiving, and Organizing
For information on volunteering assistance, please see the Volunteer Opportunities section of the resource page. Please note that mutual aid groups, resources, or offers are not affiliated with local or state governments, professional organizations, or other verified entities. Please use caution and your best judgement when choosing to provide information to these groups or individuals.
- Pod mapping for mutual aid
- Template: Creating a mutual aid group
- Organizing and DIY resources from Its Going Down
- Suggested Practice for Racial Equity Rapid Response Outreach
Coronavirus Preparedness
- COVID-19 information for people with disabilities from the CDC
- Template: My Coronavirus Emergency Plan
Disability Health Information & Resources
- Reduce Prescription Costs with the Chicago RX Card
- Access Living and More than 140 Illinois Organizations Request COVID-19 Treatment Protocols
- Home Services Program Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates
- COVID-19 sanitation best practices for the blind/visually impaired
- National Disability Institute Financial Resilience Center for People with Disabilities
- A Checklist for People with Disabilities – Preparing for Hospitalization During COVID
- Cleaning service for older adults – the heavy duty chore program
- Keeping Your Wheelchair Clean During COVID-19
- Returning to Work During Covid-19
- Mental Health Resources from NAMI
- Donate or apply for mobility equipment from Devices 4 the Disabled
Food
- Find a Chicago-area food bank or pantry
- Brave Space Alliance will be operating a crisis food pantry for queer and trans folks on the south side of Chicago during the pandemic. If you would like food or other supplies dropped off at your front door, please use this form. They are prioritizing folks who are sick, disabled, quarantined without pay, elderly, undocumented Black, Brown, or Indigenous.
- Top Box Grocery Delivery in Chicago
- Grocery Delivery Through Shopping Angels, Inc.
- West Side Residents Can Sign Up To Get Free Groceries Delivered
General Vaccine Information
- Vaccine FAQs – Illinois Department of Public Health
- Vaccine FAQs – City of Chicago
- Vaccine Planning Information – City of Chicago
- Vaccine Information Hub for the City of Chicago
- Vaccine Planning Information – State of Illinois
- City of Chicago Vaccine Distribution Data
- Plain Language Covid-19 Vaccine Information
- Reasons to Vaccinate – CDC
- Tutorial – Using Zocdoc to Sign up for COVID Vaccine in Chicago
- State of Illinois Vaccination Location Finder
- Become an Illinois Covid-19 Prevention Ambassador
- ICYMI: Watch the Recording of Virtual Community Q&A on the Covid-19 Vaccine
- ICYMI: Watch the Recording of Virtual Webinar on the Covid-19 Vaccine and the Disability Community
HCBS and Personal Assistants
Housing
- On-site housing and Off-site Housing for people and pets who need a safe escape from domestic violence
- Department of Family and Support Services has announce the Rental Assistance Program in an effort to prevent homelessness
- The Mayor’s Office has launched the Utility Billing Relief UBR Program to help low-income residents come into compliance on water bill payments
- The City of Chicago is providing further rent/mortgage assistance to households in Chicago impacted by Covid-19
Media
Most major news outlets have announced that all COVID-19 coverage will be available to all for free. Here are a handful of outlets with free coverage:
Parents and Teachers
Schooling
- Two research-based strategy bundles for families of students with disabilities
- Illinois State Board of Education Continuing Education Resources
- For Teachers: Accessible teaching in the time of COVID-19, and a related Twitter thread on e-learning accessibility for students with disabilities.
- For Teachers: How to provide access and accommodations to your students
Activities for Kids at Home
- The Kids Should See This: Smart videos for curious minds of all ages
- Storyline Online: Free children’s literacy resource featuring the world’s best storytellers reading books aloud
- For kids who like to get up and moving throughout the day: GoNoodle, Good Energy at Home
- Free audiobooks for kids
Pet Aid
- Illinois Pet Food Pantry List
- On-site housing and Off-site Housing for people and pets who need a safe escape from domestic violence
- RedRover Relief Emergency Pet Boarding Grants
Relief Funds
- City of Chicago Emergency Rental Assistance Program
- Illinois Department of Employment Security FAQ on COVID-19 and Unemployment
- Temporary financial assistance for pregnant women/families w/one or more dependent children
- Stimulus Check Resource: Non-Predatory Accounts for Un-banked Individuals
- Emergency Broadband Benefits
Self-Care
- Mental Health Resources from NAMI
- Crisis Counselor Text Line
- Mental Health Toolkit for Coronavirus anxiety
- Grounding, meditation, and mindfulness techniques free of charge from Calm. (Suitable for kids too!)
- Mental health, grief, anxiety, and other coping resources from NAMI
- Getting emotionally organized during a crisis
Transportation
- Masking requirements from the Chicago Transit Authority
- Latest information on Pace’s response to COVID-19
Volunteer Opportunities
- Brave Space Alliance COVID-19 Mutual Aid Sign-up
- Greater Chicago Food Depository
- Lakeview Pantry
- Chicago Medical Reserve Corps
- CPS Students Compassion Fund for COVID-19 Closures