What about COVID-19?

Q: What COVID-19 resources do you recommend?

A: First, let’s acknowledge that coping with COVID-19 can be very difficult, and we hope you’re doing okay with whatever challenges brought you here today. We also want to mention that we don’t give medical or legal advice, so be sure to contact an expert if you need that sort of help. Second, we’ve listed below some training sessions and resources that staff from the Northeast ADA Center have been involved in creating, plus some federal and regional resources.

Training:

• ADA at Work: Considerations for COVID-19 (webinar)
• COVID-19 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Access to programs and services (webinar)

Resources from the Northeast ADA:

• Moving Your Business Outside? (PDF fact sheet)
• Is COVID-19 a Disability? (PDF fact sheet)
• What the ADA Tells Us about Accessibility when Implementing COVID-19 Regulations: This blog post discusses a few frequent areas of ADA-related concern for businesses and schools, as they try to remain open during the pandemic.
• Teaching during COVID—ADA Considerations: Are you a teacher who is concerned about catching COVID-19 at work? This blog post helps you think about how to best approach the situation, especially if you are older or have a pre-existing medical condition.

Federal resources:

• Administration for Community Living: ACL’s pandemic resources focus on people who are disabled and on older adults.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: The CDC has provided a comprehensive resource with updated information on all aspects of the novel coronavirus. The CDC has also posted COVID-19 ASL videos on YouTube.
• Department of Justice: The DOJ site has tips on preventing fraud as wrongdoers seek to profit from the current crisis. It also has an April 2, 2021, statement for civil rights, saying that the DOJ will “vigorously enforce Federal civil rights” as part of our nation’s response to COVID-19, with a long paragraph about the effect of the pandemic on people with disabilities.
• Department of Labor: The DOL offers resources about the COVID-19 virus in the workplace.
• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: The EEOC has created a resource for employees and employers on navigating COVID-19 in the workplace, with considerations for how the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act intersect with the pandemic.
• Federal Emergency Management Agency: FEMA is providing a variety of resources relating to the federal government’s response in safeguarding the US population. 
• Office of Disability Employment Policy: ODEP has compiled resources to help workers and employers understand disability issues during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Resources in New York:

• New York State Department of Health: Visit this site for updates and resources about COVID-19 as it relates to New York State, including essential services and employment protections.
• New York City Department of Health: Look here for information that is specific to the five boroughs.

Resources in New Jersey:

• New Jersey Department of Health: This site offers updates and resources about COVID-19 as it relates to New Jersey, including essential services and employment protections.
• New Jersey 2-1-1: By calling 211 or visiting this website, New Jersey residents can find available resources in their communities.

Resources in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands:

• Puerto Rico Department of Health: Visit this site for information and resources on Puerto Rico’s response to COVID-19.
• Virgin Islands Department of Health: Look here for information and resources on the US Virgin Islands response to COVID-19.

For updates about the novel coronavirus in your community, visit the website for your county’s Department of Health. If you have symptoms and worry that you have COVID-19, please contact your health care provider.