Disability in the Time of COVID-19

While COVID-19 has impacted the lives of every American, the pandemic has amplified and exacerbated existing disparities faced by people with disabilities, communities of color, women, communities lacking adequate internet and more often with dire consequences. With support from the New America Foundation and Blue Meridian Partners,  American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) conducted interviews with disability advocates and captured stories of people with disabilities impacted by COVID.  We compiled these interviews and stories in a storybook, Disability in the Time of COVID-19. Key recommendations that emerged from the interviews include:

• Increase funding for Home and Community Based Services (HCBS).
• Sustain and expand the Emergency Broadband Benefit established under the CARES Act to build towards inclusive digital infrastructure.
• Reform public benefits to promote financial security and resilience, not poverty.
• Provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and secure higher wages for Direct Support Professionals.

Read the stories in Disability in the Time of COVID-19 on our interactive online storybook or in our pdf storybook.