Deadly Discrimination - Covid 19 Impacts Disabled People
According to Marcie Roth, CEO of World Institute on Disability, “of the 43% of COVID-19 deaths attributed to congregate facilities (such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities), almost 100% are disabled people.”
According to a Forbes article by Stephen Frost dated July 6, 2020, at least 50,000 Americans with disabilities have died in the last 120 days without being on the radar. Those in nursing homes are referred to as ‘elderly,’ with ‘underlying conditions,’ or ‘vulnerable.’ These are euphemisms that avoid using the word “disability”. This deadly discrimination ignores civil rights protections for millions of disabled people.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) clearly states civil rights must not be waived in a disaster.
According to Roth, disabled people and personal care attendants often lack adequate personal protective equipment (PPE). Workers are often encouraged to hide their testing results, or don’t get tested for fear of losing their job. This all adds up, exposing people with disabilities who may be reliant on others. It’s “gross mismanagement” says Roth.
Roth summarizes by saying “Personal Care Attendants wearing PPE, mental health support to counter social isolation, and COVID-19 content in “plain language” would help people with learning and cognitive disabilities most. And all of us can increase our own awareness, education and commitment to disability rights by listening to and funding disability-led organizations.”
Another important way to avoid this deadly discrimination is through aging-in-place home modifications. Individuals who have their residence modified to better accommodate disabled people may be able to delay or avoid altogether the need to move into a nursing home or assisted living facility.
Aging in Place home modifications incorporate Universal Design changes or additions that make a home safer and more accessible, especially for those with disabilities, regardless of their age.
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