MODDC has compiled a list of public health resources where you will find reliable information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and what you can do to stay healthy. Below you will find resources and links to specific agencies that are working to ensure that the needs of people with and without disabilities are addressed during the state and national emergency response.

Be sure to bookmark this page and check back often. As we receive information, we will continue to update this page.

New: COVID-19 Vaccine Plain Language Guide
The COVID-19 Vaccine Plain Language Guide includes information for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, and their caregivers.

ACCESSIBLE TOOLS AND RESOURCES FOR ADVOCATES AND FAMILIES:

• Tips for First Responders – This resource provides information and resources for first responders as they assist individuals with disabilities when called upon.
• Successful Communication with People with Disabilities
• Green Mountain Self Advocates Plain Language Guide on COVID-19 | Spanish. A plain talk guide to help make sense of these confusing times. Includes the link to an audio version on YouTube.
• A Self-Advocates Guide to COVID-19 - People with disabilities need accurate, accessible information about COVID-19. The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN) worked with Green Mountain Self-Advocates to create this toolkit.
• Emergency Communication Aid | Spanish 
• What in the World is Going On? A plain talk guide to help make sense of these confusing times.
• Ready, Set, Know: Let’s Talk Covid-19 For families, friends and care providers of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• Pictorial COVID-19 Prevention Recommendations | Spanish  
• Free Communication Tools for Patients with COVID-19 by Patient Provider Communication 
• Guidance for Students with Disabilities created by the Washington DD Council
• COVID-19 Toolkit for supporting individuals with Autism in uncertain times
• Community Service for the Deaf - Free Hotline Brings Deaf Community Information on COVID-19 in American Sign Language (ASL) and English
• People who are at higher risk for severe illness information provided by the CDC
• Hesperian Health Guides developed multilingual resources/fact sheets that are clearly written Coronavirus Fact Sheets. This fact sheet is available in 13 languages: English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Urdu, Bangla, Filipino, Vietnamese, Bahasa Indonesia, Farsi, Sindhi, Telugu, and Hindi on Hesperian Health Guides website. Fact sheets in Shona, Portuguese, Arabic, and Chichewa are on the way.
• Self-care resources compiled by the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Institute.
• COVID-19 Disability Form – Stoney Brook University created health forms specific to every state, where people with disabilities can provide information to medical personnel with information specific to their medical needs. The hyperlink will take you to Missouri’s form. It is recommended that you complete the form and include it with your emergency information so IF you need to go to the hospital because of this virus, you will have your needs and wishes written down in advance.
• COVID-19 Resource Toolkit: Information and Resources to Keep you Healthy, Safe, and Connected – Great resource from our colleagues, the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities.
• PPE Portrait Project – This is information about how to make and apply PPE portraits to PPE to help people feel more comfortable by seeing a portrait of the person providing treatment to individuals. This may be something of interest to others who provide services to individuals with disabilities and other access and functional needs.

VIDEOS:

• COVID 19 Know Your Rights & Prepare
• Coronavirus Tips for Staying Healthy: The Self-Determination Channel of Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities
• COVID-19 Plain Language video: This plain language video was created by the Oregon Office of Developmental Disabilities Services. What is Social Distancing: Plain Language video created in Maine.
• PSA Safe Grocery Shopping in COVID-19 Pandemic
  • CO-VIDSPEAK: Video-Supported Remote Communication – built for people who can't speak but still need to emotionally connection with those at a distance.
  • NDRN Launches “Know Your Transportation Rights during COVID-19” Video
  • What you need to know about COVID-19 – a plain language explanation about COVID-19 developed by the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network. This video is very well done.
  • National Disability Navigator Resource Collaborative (NDNRC) –this link will take you to a series of videos that address COVID-19 and people with disabilities.
• Self-Advocates in California (with supports from our colleagues, the California Council on Developmental Disabilities – thank you Aaron) , created this series of 4 videos that provide information to the disability community regarding COVID-19.
  • • Episode 1 – How to Stay Healthy
    • Episode 2 – What Should I Do If I Think I’m Sick?
    • Episode 3 - What I Should Do If I Get Sick?
    • Episode 4 - What To Do If a Caregiver or a Family Member Gets Sick?
  • Spanish:
    • Episodio 1 - Cómo mantenerse saludable
    • Episodio 2 - Lo que debo hacer si creo que estoy enfermo
    • Episodio 3 - Lo que debo hacer si estoy enfermo
    • Episodio 4 - Lo que debo hacer si mi familiar o persona que me cuida se enferma

PUBLIC HEALTH RESOURCES:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) COVID-19 information includes a 24 hour hotline: 877-435-8411
• Missouri COVID-19 Dashboard – this is a new dashboard that provides information about the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
• Directory of MO Local Public Health Agencies (LPHAs)
• World Health Organization (WHO)

MISSOURI SPECIFIC RESOURCES:

• United Way 2-1-1 - In an emergency situation, United Way 2-1-1 can help locate resources for disaster relief and counseling, including services that benefit people with access and functional needs.  They have a comprehensive database of local community resources that will connect people to needed services, including services for basic needs, such as food, clothing, and shelter, or more complex issues such as health care, mental health, education, and employment.  To call dial 2-1-1 or 800-427-4626.
• The Missouri Food Finder - new online tool developed by University of MO Extension that easily connects Missouri consumers with people growing and selling locally produced food in their region.  The hyperlink will take you to the article for a full explanation of the online tool and please use it and forward it to other stakeholders that may find it helpful.
• Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) Aging and Adult Services – Home Delivered Meals Fact Sheet – MARC contracts with vendors to provide home-delivered meals to older adults who are at home and people with disabilities in Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte and Ray counties in MO.
• PrepareMetroKC – This is a great site with a number of resources including the resource, Your Very Personal Preparedness Inventory.
• Missouri Department of Mental Health (DMH) – COVID-19 information to include Disaster Distress Helpline: Phone: 800/985-5990 Text: "TalkWithUs" to 66746
• Missouri Department of Mental Health/Division of Developmental Disabilities (DMH/DDD) COVID-19
• DMH/DDD Waiver Rule Exceptions and Operational Changes in Response to COVID-19
• Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) COVID-19 includes updates from MO HealthNet (Medicaid), Children’s Division and Family Support Division (Pandemic Food Stamp/Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (P-SNAP))
• Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) – Special Education
• Department of Mental Health/Deaf Services – COVID-19 resources that are deaf friendly.
• Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing – Coronavirus
• ChildCare Aware of Missouri - If you are a first responder, health care employee, or other essential personnel working in response to COVID-19 and are in need of child care, email referralcenter@mo.childcareaware.org or call 866-892-3228 to find child care in your community.

FEDERAL RESOURCES:

• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) COVID-19
• Section 1135 Waiver Flexibilities - Missouri Coronavirus Disease 2019
• Administration for Community Living (ACL) COVID-19 - What do Older Adults and People with Disabilities Need to Know?
• Department of Education (DoE) COVID-19
• Social Security & Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
• Federal COVID-19 websites – ASPR-TRACIE has compiled a listing of federal websites in one place (e.g., CMS, FEMA, CDC, WHO, Food and Drug Administration, etc
• NDI Financial Resilience Center - provides resources to help those with disabilities and chronic health conditions navigate financially through the COVID-19 crisis.

DISABILITY RIGHTS:

• Missouri Protection and Advocacy Services is a federally mandated system in the state of Missouri which provides protection of the rights of persons with disabilities through legally-based advocacy.
• Missouri Attorney General’s Office includes information to report scams/price gouging and Medicaid Fraud Control Unit to report abuse and neglect of seniors and individuals with disabilities
• Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys - COVID-19 resources from Missouri's Elder Abuse & Financial Exploitation Response Coordinating Committee.
• Center for Public Representation
• Health Passport – attached is a resource created by the Ohio Association of County Boards of Developmental Disabilities for individuals and families to use when seeking treatment for COVID19 symptoms. People can use this form to assist health care professionals with the care and treatment of patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities in these extreme circumstances. When sharing the Health Passport, please also share the document, Applying HHS’s Guidance for States and Health Care Providers on Avoiding Disability-Based Discrimination in Treatment Rationing.
• S. Department of Education Releases Webinar, Fact Sheet for Protecting Students’ Civil Rights during COVID-19 Response
• What You Should Know About the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and COVID-19
• Department of Justice/Civil Rights Division
• OCR Issues Bulletin on Civil Rights Laws and HIPAA Flexibilities That Apply During the COVID-19 Emergency – of particular interest, is the information about the civil rights laws for persons with disabilities to include the right to medical care.