Empower News

After over three years needed to complete the repairs to the Tennessee Disability Coalition caused by the March 2020 tornado, we are finally back in our offices in East Nashville.

Here are ways you can keep in touch:

• email us at info@empowertn.org;

• call us at 615-292-5803 or 615-200-6028;

• mail us at 955 Woodland Street, Nashville, TN 37206;

• send a message through the Contact Us page on our website.

Activities Calendar

Upcoming Events

Covid-19 Resources

Centers for Disease Control COVID-19 Resources for People with Disabilities

The CDC has a page dedicated to sharing information about COVID-19 for people with disabilities. 

If you or someone you care for are at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19, take steps to prevent getting sick. In addition to practicing everyday preventive actions, people with disabilities who have direct support providers can help protect themselves from respiratory illness.

More information can be found at this link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-disabilities.html

Independent Living Research Utilization COVID-19 Information and Training

Links to the following resources have been curated by ILRU and are available on the ILRU website along with trainings, publications and other resources that are produced in-house. 

Administration for Community Living (ACL)

• Administration for Community Living (ACL) COVID-19 Resources

• FAQs about Centers for Independent Living and COVID-19 Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act of 2020 (CARES Act) Funding – Updated June 12, 2020

• Policy on CILs and Emergency Preparedness and Response 07.09.18 (docx)

• Emergency Preparedness: Even More Important During COVID-19

Other Federal Government Resources

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

• COVID-19 Resources

• COVID-19 YouTube ASL Videos

• Guidance for Direct Service Providers

• Guidance for Direct Service Providers, Caregivers, Parents, and People with Developmental and Behavioral Disorders

• Guidance for Group Homes for Individuals with Disabilities

• Guidance for People with Developmental and Behavioral Disorders

• Guidance for People with Disabilities

Department of Education

• COVID-19 Resources for Schools, Students, and Families

• Addressing the Risk of COVID-19 in Schools While Protecting the Civil Rights of Students

Health and Human Services (HHS)

• COVID-19 Workforce Virtual Toolkit: Resources for Healthcare Decision-Makers Responding to COVID-19 Workforce Concerns 

• Discharge Planning and Care Coordination during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

• COVID-19 Resources

• COVID-19 Frequently Asked Question

Resources from Centers for Independent Living and the IL-NET T&TA Center

• Disaster Policies and Procedures

• Southeast Kansas IL Resource Center (SKIL) Consumer Survey

• Technology Options During COVID-19: Web-based Platforms Mentioned by CIL Staff

• The Ability Center of Greater Toledo Consumer Survey Assessing Wellness and Technology Need

Resources from Disability Organizations

• American Association on Health and Disability – Resources for People with Disabilities on COVID-19

• Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL) COVID-19 Resources

• National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) COVID-19 Resources & Government Resources

• National Association of the Deaf – COVID-19 Information

• National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) COVID-19 Resources & Information

• National Federation of the Blind – COVID-19 Resources

• RTC: Rural Research & Information – COVID-19 and Rural People with Disabilities

• The Institute for Community Inclusion: COVID-19 Publications and Resources

Resources from Other Sources

• Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF): If You or Someone You Know is Disabled: Know Your Rights to Medical Care – COVID-19

• Emergency Distance Learning for Students Who Are Blind or With Low Vision 

• June Isaacson Kailes, Disability Policy Consultant: ADA Compliance with Visitations in Healthcare Facilities:  Coronavirus Pandemic Guidance for Advocates 

• June Isaacson Kailes, Disability Policy Consultant: Preparing for Hospitalization During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Checklist for People with Disabilities Edition  

• National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC): Stuck at Home? Resources to Stay Active and Engaged 

• Nonprofit Quarterly: A Quick Hands-On Lesson in Teleworking Laws in the Age of COVID-19

• Self Advocacy and Beyond: COVID-19 Plain Language Guidance for Employees with Developmental Disabilities

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Taking Care of Your Behavioral Health – Tips for Social Distancing, Quarantine, and Isolation During an Infectious Disease Outbreak

• The National Academies of Sciences / Engineering / Medicine: Crisis Standards of Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic – Real-time Legal Issues and Solutions

• Verywellmind: How to Cope with Loneliness during the Coronavirus Pandemic 

IL-NET National T&TA Center’s Training on COVID-19

• Operating Independent Living Programs in the Face of Coronavirus: A Q&A Session for CILs and SILCs Webinar (03/20/20)   

• Remote Work and Consumer Connections during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Q&A Session for CILs and SILCs  (04/07/20)

• Rural Conversation Community: Supporting our Communities through COVID-19 (03/24/20)

  • Rural Conversation Community (04/15/20)

  • Rural Conversation Community – Peer Support for COVID-19 (05/12/20)

  • Rural Conversation Community – Reopening Guidelines and CARES Act (06/11/20)

• Statewide and Systemic Responses to COVID-19 and Other Emergencies: A Q&A Session for CILs and SILCs (05/05/20)

• Technology Options During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Q&A Session for CILs and SILCs (04/21/20)

https://www.ilru.org/resources-covid-19

Self Advocates Becoming Empowered COVID-19 Resources

Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE) offers several plain-language guides in both English and Spanish about COVID-19 on their Self Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center (SARTAC) project website.

Topics include:

— Know Your Rights: People with Disabilities Can Have a Supporter in the Hospital during COVID-19

— COVID-19 Vaccine Information in Plain Language

— A Plain Language Toolkit on COVID-19

https://selfadvocacyinfo.org/?s=COVID

Tennessee COVID-19 Prevention Resources

Information about preventing the spread of COVID-19 are found on this page of the State of Tennessee website.

They point out that cloth face coverings (masks) are an important step to help slow the spread of COVID-19 when combined with other everyday preventive actions, including social distancing and frequent handwashing.

https://covid19.tn.gov/prevention/

Tennessee COVID-19 Press Briefings, Community Guides, and Ways to Help out

Visit this page on the State of Tennessee’s website to keep up with the latest information that you need in order to stay informed about how to fight COVID-19.

https://covid19.tn.gov/stay-informed/

Tennessee COVID-19 Screening Tool

Use this tool on the State of Tennessee’s website to assess your next steps if you are concerned about your risk of COVID-19.

Remember: when in doubt, get tested.

https://covid19.tn.gov/screening-tool/

Tennessee COVID-19 Testing Sites

Looking for a testing site close to you? Use this tool on the State of Tennessee’s website to search for testing site options.

https://covid19.tn.gov/testing-sites/

Tennessee COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility Tool

Use this tool on the State of Tennessee’s website to determine your COVID-19 vaccine distribution phase.

While the vaccine supply is limited it is necessary to prioritize who receives it, with people who are at highest risk of getting the virus or becoming seriously ill receiving it first. The state has worked with a group of stakeholders and followed federal guidance to develop a vaccine distribution plan.

https://covid19.tn.gov/covid-19-vaccines/eligibility/

Tennessee COVID-19 Vaccine Phases, Facts and Statistics Dashboard

Information regarding COVID-19 vaccines can be found on this page of the State of Tennessee website. Tennesseans are encouraged to discuss with their doctor if a COVID-19 vaccine is right for them.

https://covid19.tn.gov/covid-19-vaccines/

Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities COVID-19 Resources for People with Disabilities

The Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities (CDD) updates this page frequently with a variety of resources, memos, and information about COVID-19 targeted to Tennesseans with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

 https://www.tn.gov/cdd/training-and-news/covid-resources-disability.html

U.S. Food and Drug Administration COVID-19 Current News and Information

This page of the FDA’s website includes the latest information about COVID-19 including updates about the vaccines, links to additional resources, and a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) in both English and Spanish. 

Some of the topics covered include: Coronavirus Testing, Coronavirus Treatments, COVID-19 Vaccines, Investigational Convalescent Plasma, Information for People with Health Conditions, Fraudulent Products, Food Safety, Innovation, Remdesivir, and Hand Sanitizer Safety.

https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/counterterrorism-and-emerging-threats/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19

US Department of the Treasury COVID-19 Consumer Resources

This page on the Department of Treasury’s website is part of their Personal Finance and Consumer Protection section and offers steps for quicker financial relief. 

There are links on this page to topics such as: General Tips for Protecting Yourself Financially during the COVID Pandemic; General Information for Bank and Credit Union Customers; Mortgage and Housing Assistance; Consumer Credit and Other Loans And Debt; Telephone, Cellphone, and Internet; Utility Bills (Water, Gas/Oil, Electricity); and Five Things You Can Do to Avoid Coronavirus Scams.

https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/consumer-policy/personal-finance-and-consumer-protection-steps-for-quicker-financial-relief

United Nations Resources about Persons with Disabilities and COVID-19

This page on the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs website includes information about how the COVID-19 outbreak is affecting people with disabilities and how policies can improve those outcomes.

https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/covid-19.html