News / Announcements 


IHDA Covid 19 Housing Resources
https://www.ihda.org/about-ihda/covid-19-housing-resources-information/

New from CDC – COVID-19 Vaccination Materials for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities – Help spread the word!
Stay safe from COVID-19

Emergency Broadband Benefit – The Emergency Broadband Benefit is an FCC program to help families and households struggling to afford internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic. 
Emergency Broadband Benefit | Federal Communications Commission (fcc.gov)

Vaccination Appointments: Residents who don’t have access to or need assistance navigating online services can call the toll-free IDPH hotline at 833-621-1284 to book an appointment. The hotline is open 7 days a week from 6am to midnight with agents available in English and Spanish.

WBEZ Chicago – NPR News – COVID-19 Resources Page
https://www.wbez.org/collections/covid-19-in-chicago-and-illinois/6

Illinois Department of Human Services Memo – Caregiver Letter from Rahnee Patrick,Director, DRS and Alison Stark, Director, DDD
https://www.illinoislifespan.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Caregiver-IDHS_Letter_January-21-002.pdf

Illinois Department of Public Health – This is the IL organization charged with leading the COVID-19 response and reporting of information.
http://www.dph.illinois.gov/ 

Information from Governor Pritzker’s Office – Official news/information from State of Illinois.
https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/coronavirus/Pages/default.aspx

The Arc of the US COVID-19 Resources –
https://thearc.org/covid/
Scroll down to “Advocate to Congress” to find updates including:
Recovery Rebates Fact Sheet (April 16, 2020)
Estímulo por el Coronavirus: Reembolso de Rescate y Ayuda (16 de abril del 2020)
COVID-19, Unemployment Insurance, and People with Disabilities (April 16, 2020)

Illinois Developmental Disabilities Services and Supports Information

Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) COVID-19 Information – This is the page on which DHS is posting official memos and information for services/providers.
http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=123118

General Information on COVID-19 

Illinois Department of Public Health Information on COVID-19 – The Illinois agency charged with protecting public health and sharing information on health-related concerns.
http://www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/diseases-a-z-list/coronavirus

Mental Health and Coping During COVID-19 – from Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html

COVID-19 Resources from Centers for Disease Control (CDC) – The CDC is charged with protecting national health in the United States.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

CDC – What To Do If You Are Sick
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html

COVID-19 Advice for the Public from the World Health Organization (WHO) – WHO’s primary role is to direct international health within the United Nations’ system and to lead partners in global health responses.
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

COVID-19 Resources for Individuals and Families from Shriver Center for Poverty Law
https://www.povertylaw.org/article/covid-19-resources-for-individuals-and-families-in-illinois/

Illinois DHS Division of Mental Health – COVID-19 Resources
http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=123603

Illinois DHS – Talk to Someone Options
http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=123539

Information for People with Disabilities and Families

These resources cover a variety of meaningful resources for assistance for an individual/family during the COVID-19 outbreak. 

Resources from the Center for Disease Control (CDC)
COVID-19 Materials for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Their Care Providers

COVID-19 Materials for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Care Providers | CDC

Resources from Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities (ICDD)
Vaccination Tips for Medical Staff: https://www.illinoislifespan.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/COVID-Vaccination-Tips-for-Medical-Staff.pdf
Vaccination Tips for Family Advocates: https://www.illinoislifespan.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/COVID-Vaccinaton-Tips-for-Family-Advocates.pdf

IRS Issuing Third Economic Impact Payments to non-filers and most federal beneficiaries – April 5, 2021
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-issuing-third-economic-impact-payments-to-non-filers-and-most-federal-beneficiaries

April, 2021 – NACDD Get Out the Vaccine Website
Get the Vaccine

January 14, 2021 – Second Round of Coronavirus Economic Impact Payments Information – The Arc
http://thearc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/FINAL_EIP-Fact-Sheet_1-14-20.pdf
http://thearc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/FINAL_EIP-Fact-Sheet_1-14-21_Spanish.pdf

January 11, 2021 – Social Story – Getting the COVID 19 Vaccine – from University of Kentucky, Center for Dignity in Healthcare for People with Disabilities
https://hdi.uky.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Social-Story_Getting-the-COVID19-Vaccine.pdf

December 17, 2020 – COVID-19 Vaccine Information In Plain Language from SARTAC
COVID-19-Vaccine-Information-in-Plain-Language.pdf (selfadvocacyinfo.org)

November 23, 2020 – Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) – Frequently Asked Questions: COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Considerations for the Disability Community
network_covid_FAQ 11.22.30.pdf (aucd.org)

September 28, 2020 – US Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, Q & A Document
https://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/memosdcltrs/qa-provision-of-services-idea-part-b-09-28-2020.pdf

September 28, 2020 – US Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, Questions and Answers for K-12 Public Schools In the Current COVID-19 Environment
https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/qa-covid-20200928.pdf

The Arc – COVID-19 Resources for Disability Advocates
https://thearc.org/coviddocuments/?utm_source=cc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=covid

Information for Families of School Age Children During COVID-19
https://www.illinoislifespan.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Information-for-Families-of-School-Aged-Children-During-COVID-Final-081320.pdf

Resources for Education and Parenting During COVID-19 from Family Matters Parent Training & Information Center
https://www.fmptic.org/node/4453

US Department of Education – Q & A Document on IDEA Part C Evaluation and Assessment Timelines in the COVID-19 Environment July 6, 2020
https://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/memosdcltrs/qa-evaluation-timeline-idea-part-c-07-06-2020.pdf

US Department of Education – Q & A Document on IDEA Part B Procedural Safeguards During COVID-19
https://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/memosdcltrs/qa-procedural-safeguards-idea-part-b-06-30-2020.pdf

US Department of Education – Q & A Document on IDEA Part C Procedural Safeguards During COVID-19
https://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/memosdcltrs/qa-procedural-safeguards-idea-part-c-06-30-2020.pdf

Social Security Administration Update on Economic Impact Payments for SSI Recipients – Social Security Administration
https://www.ssa.gov/coronavirus/#anchor6

Guidance Relating to Non-Discrimination in Medical Treatment for Novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) – Illinois Office of the Governor, IDPH, IDHS, IL Department of Human Rights, IDOA
https://coronavirus.illinois.gov/sfc/servlet.shepherd/document/download/069t000000AiOFZAA3?operationContext=S1

Healthcare Advocacy: Inpatient Care and Family/Support Professional Participation During COVID-19 – The Arc of Illinois
https://www.thearcofil.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Healthcare-Family-Support-and-Participation-During-Covid-004-002.pdf

Frequently Asked Questions by Guardians about the COVID-19 Pandemic – The National Guardianship Association, American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging and the National Center for State Courts.
https://www.guardianship.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/FAQ_FINAL_04162020.pdf?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=a02bc363-b4fb-4b48-8151-0196e5fad0cd

SSA Press Release: Supplemental Security Income Recipients Will Receive Automatic COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments
https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/releases/2020/#4-2020-3
In Spanish: https://www.ssa.gov/espanol/noticias/prensa/comunicados/2020/#4-2020-3

Information from the IRS – Coronavirus Tax Relief and Economic Impact Payments
https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus-tax-relief-and-economic-impact-payments

COVID-19 and Unemployment – Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES)
https://www2.illinois.gov/ides/Documents/Learn-about-PUA.pdf#search=covid%2019%20and%20unemployment%20benefits

Illinois Department of Labor – FAQs Regarding COVID-19
https://www2.illinois.gov/idol/Pages/default.aspx

US Department of Labor – Employee Rights – Paid Sick Leave and Expanded Family and Medical Leave Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act – Information Poster
https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/posters/FFCRA_Poster_WH1422_Non-Federal.pdf

UIC Division of Specialized Care for Children – COVID-19 Resources and Supports for Families of Children with Special Needs
https://dscc.uic.edu/browse-resources/covid-19-resources-and-supports-for-families/

Illinois DHS Division of Rehabilitation Services – Home Services Program Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates
http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=123225&fbclid=IwAR02AX7diAfDvz83i16dVKWvCtPDIIH1E78MehgWb3KrU7UWXGnSga9h-7c

Illinois DHS Division of Rehabilitation Services – COVID-19 Toll-Free Number
https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=123671

Illinois State Board of Education COVID-19 Resources – The ISBE is Illinois’ lead education agency.
https://www.isbe.net/covid19

Coronavirus Information and Resources from Family Voices – Family Voices is a national organization for families of children with special health care needs.
https://familyvoices.org/coronavirus/

Preparing Individuals with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities for Medical Treatment at Hospitals – from Ballan, M. & Perri, C. (2020). COVID-19 Disability Form. Stony Brook, NY: NY.  If you have questions, please contact Michelle Ballan, PhD at michelle.ballan@stonybrook.edu. Or go to Dr. Ballan’s Faculty Profile
https://cpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/you.stonybrook.edu/dist/a/4436/files/2020/04/COVID-19-Form_IL_Fill.pdf

National Down Syndrome Congress: People with Disabilities Have the Right to Bring a Support Person with Them to the Hospital or Doctor’s Office
Microsoft Word – NDSC one pager on hospital visitation.docx (ndsccenter.org)

My Health Passport: Perkins, E.A. (2011). My Health Passport for Hospital/Clinic Visits. Florida Center for Inclusive Communities, http://flfcic.fmhi.usf.edu/docs/FCIC_Health_Passport_ Form_Typeable_English.pdf.

Access Living COVID-19 Resources for the Disability Community – Chicago’s Center for Independent Living has gathered a lengthy list of resources for assistance for people with disabilities.
https://www.accessliving.org/our-services/covid-19-resources-for-the-disability-community/

National Down Syndrome Society Fact Sheet on Down Syndrome and COVID-19 – Information specific to individuals with Down syndrome.
https://www.ndss.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Coronavirus_Fact_Sheet_-1.pdf 

Autism Society of America and COVID-19 – Information specific to Autism.
https://www.autism-society.org/covid-19/ 

Information on COVID-19 designed for individuals with i/dd from Green Mountain Self-Advocacy Group – A visual guide designed for, and by, people with i/dd.
https://selfadvocacyinfo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Plain-Language-Information-on-Coronavirus.pdf

Resilience Materials for COVID-19 – from the Ohio Division of Developmental Disabilities
https://dodd.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/dodd/about-us/resources/resource-resilience-for-covid-19?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=b1c754e3-6f83-4b6e-9cfe-f5073739f71e

Managing Stress and Coping – COVID 19, from CDC
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/managing-stress-anxiety.html

Illinois Early Intervention Clearinghouse Family Resources
https://eiclearinghouse.org/ 

National Association of School Psychologists – “Talking to Children About COVID-19: A Parent Resource” https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-climate-safety-and-crisis/health-crisis-resources/talking-to-children-about-covid-19-(coronavirus)-a-parent-resource