Initial Report on COVID-19 by the Disability Action Committee
For the past several months, members of the New Jersey Statewide Independent Living Council (NJSILC) and the Independent Living Community worked other NJ disability advocates to address the gaps, shortcomings, omissions, and faulty planning of the State’s COVID-19 response as it impacted on people with disabilities. We came together as the Disability Action Committee for COVID-19, and collectively we release our Initial Report found here. (click here for report)
The NJSILC strongly endorses the submission of this Initial Report.
Emergency management and preparedness has been a NJSILC priority since 1999. The Council has worked with emergency management professionals for more than 20 years to provide critical, disability-specific input on statewide planning and preparedness procedures. It also works closely with New Jersey’s 11 Centers for Independent Living Centers (CILs) to educate people with disabilities on how to be better prepared for emergencies and disasters.
Thus, the Council is deeply concerned that New Jersey’s response to COVID-19 did not adequately anticipate the needs of people with disabilities. Writing letters to remind government officials that people with disabilities have the civil right to life-saving critical care during emergencies and disasters is an indication that proper planning has not occurred with direct input from people with disabilities.
Additionally, the well documented COVID-19 incidence, prevalence and mortality rates in the state’s long-term care facilities (LTCs) is horrifyingly unacceptable to this Council. It is more horrifying to know that the Section 1135 emergency waiver granted to the state for this emergency has made it easier to send more people with disabilities to these virus-infected facilities simply because access to accessible sheltering/housing and community-based supports are unavailable.
The NJSILC strongly believes that New Jersey has the wherewithal and willingness to do better for its citizens with disabilities before, during and after emergencies and disasters. New Jersey must do this not only as a matter of law but, also, because it is the right thing to do.
NJSILC endorses this submission of this Initial Report with the aforementioned thoughts in mind.
The NJSILC strongly endorses the submission of this Initial Report.
Emergency management and preparedness has been a NJSILC priority since 1999. The Council has worked with emergency management professionals for more than 20 years to provide critical, disability-specific input on statewide planning and preparedness procedures. It also works closely with New Jersey’s 11 Centers for Independent Living Centers (CILs) to educate people with disabilities on how to be better prepared for emergencies and disasters.
Thus, the Council is deeply concerned that New Jersey’s response to COVID-19 did not adequately anticipate the needs of people with disabilities. Writing letters to remind government officials that people with disabilities have the civil right to life-saving critical care during emergencies and disasters is an indication that proper planning has not occurred with direct input from people with disabilities.
Additionally, the well documented COVID-19 incidence, prevalence and mortality rates in the state’s long-term care facilities (LTCs) is horrifyingly unacceptable to this Council. It is more horrifying to know that the Section 1135 emergency waiver granted to the state for this emergency has made it easier to send more people with disabilities to these virus-infected facilities simply because access to accessible sheltering/housing and community-based supports are unavailable.
The NJSILC strongly believes that New Jersey has the wherewithal and willingness to do better for its citizens with disabilities before, during and after emergencies and disasters. New Jersey must do this not only as a matter of law but, also, because it is the right thing to do.
NJSILC endorses this submission of this Initial Report with the aforementioned thoughts in mind.