Disability & Special Needs Ministry
April 2020
All are gifted, needed, and treasured!
BI-MONTHLY BIBLE VERSE
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6, NKJV)
Welcome to the Eleventh (11th) edition of the Gulf States Conference “Disability Special Needs & Possibilities Ministry Newsletter”. Future editions will be published on a “bi-monthly” basis unless a special topic requires publication.
This edition will focus on the dreadful Coronavirus (COVID-19) dilemma that is gripping the entire world. We hope our contribution will add to the tools already available to help fight this disease.
Coronavirus Brings Added Worries for People With Disabilities
The coronavirus pandemic has created unique concerns for caregivers and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Individuals with disabilities likely have the same risk factors as the general population — those who are older or have compromised immune systems are most vulnerable to the virus.
But anyone with an intellectual disability, moderate to severe developmental delay, muscular dystrophy or brain disorders may also be more susceptible to severe illness from COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Beyond canceling large events, the federal agency recommends social distancing practices in residential facilities and adult day programs to prevent the spread of the virus. These practices include staggering meals and activity schedules, limits on visitors and daily body temperature screening for residents and staff. In situations where a positive coronavirus case is identified, quarantine or closure may be recommended.
Families should check with their care providers to ensure the guidelines are being followed, experts said.
“People with intellectual and developmental disabilities are a diverse group of people, and so there is no one-size-fits-all approach to keeping them healthy,” said Shannon McCracken, vice president for government relations for the American Network of Community Options and Resources, or ANCOR, a trade group representing disability service providers.
The basic recommendations for everyone are the same — wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, avoid contact with people who are sick and disinfect high-contact surfaces like doorknobs and light switches. Most importantly, do not go out in public if you’re sick. But those guidelines, while universal, become more complicated for people with disabilities and their caregivers.
“Staying home when you’re feeling sick may not be an option if someone with a disability relies on you for the activities of daily life,” McCracken said. “Therefore, the most important thing we can all do is remember that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and the professionals who support them need to be part of the conversation, and that the protocols should be tailored to the unique needs of the person and the situation facing their community.”
It’s important to communicate with family members about coronavirus using facts, but not unnecessary fear, according to a tip sheet from Autism Speaks. Watch for signs of distress that can be caused by changes in routine, the organization advises. If the family member lives in a group home or independently, make sure handwashing and other hygienic precautions are being taken. “Most of the providers we’ve heard from are being extra diligent in following the guidelines,” McCracken said. “We’ve heard that providers are ensuring that visitors to group homes and day programs wash their hands before walking through the front door.”
As more schools and workplaces close down, caregivers might not be able to leave their own homes, worsening the existing staff shortages across the country. People with disabilities who cannot live independently will not be able to follow self-quarantine guidelines, advocates said.
Representatives from ANCOR are lobbying for emergency measures, including flexibility on staffing ratios with government officials to address these unprecedented concerns, McCracken said.
“We can expect that many direct support professionals will call out sick if they have children at home who cannot go to school,” McCracken said. “Although school closures might be the best option for slowing the spread of the virus, these moves may also have unintended consequences for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”
Alabama Governor's Office on Disability (GOOD) Coronavirus Survey
Dr. Graham Sisson, Executive Director, Marlene Word, Deputy Director
The Honorable Kay Ivey, Governor
Following is a survey residents of Alabama would like you to complete prepared by Lakeshore Foundation-NCHPAD.
The survey is to identify what people with disabilities and people with chronic conditions need most during the COVID-19 crisis. The survey will be active through Friday, April 17, 2020, and it can be completed either by survey link or Facebook. Both links are listed below:
• Survey Link - COVID-19 Disability Community Needs Survey
• Facebook survey link - https://survey.app.do/covid-19-disability-community-needs-survey.
Thank you for your assistance and if you have any questions, please send an email to: email@nchpad.org.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this time. Be safe.
Following is a survey residents of Alabama would like you to complete prepared by Easter Seals of Central Alabama.
Easter Seals Central Alabama is trying to develop a respite care program for special needs families and they need your help! To help them achieve their goal of providing low-cost skilled respite care for area families, they need some information from the community to show there is a need for this service. Please take 3 minutes to fill out the anonymous survey using the link below:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SG8VPH2
For additional information, contact information is listed below:
Easter Seals Central Alabama
2185 Normandie Drive
Montgomery, AL 36111
334-288-0240
NAMI COVID-19 Information and Resources, April 2020
Joni & Friends have made available a link to download and purchase an informative tool in our battle against the insidious Corona COVID-19 virus. I encourage each of you to purchase or download a copy at your earliest convenience, because the battle has just begun.
You may request a seminar or training session on the above seven (7) categories, by contacting our office at (334) 272-7493 ext. 120
CREDITS:
DISABILITY SCOOP (The Premier Source for Developmental Disability News)
Alabama Governor's Office on Disability (GOOD)
Easter Seals Central Alabama
North American Division, Disability Ministries Handbook Disability Ministries Handbook
Published by
George Hamilton
Assistant Disability Ministry Director
Gulf States Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
H. 256-883-7751
C. 850-543-1398
Disabilities & Special Needs Ministry Goals
Email: gsc-disability@gscsda.org
Website: https://gscsda.org/disability-ministries
Location: 10633 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery, AL, USA
Phone: 3342727493