The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced that fully-vaccinated people can discontinue masking. However, the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities (MCDD) encourages continued care and attention with regard to COVID-19 masking and hand-washing. Continue to practice social distancing, avoid large groups and use hand sanitizer when you leave home. I hope you will find these resources helpful.

U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights: Questions and Answers on Civil Rights and School Reopening in the COVID-19 Environment

National Center on Disability in Public Health: Addressing COVID-19 Vaccine Access and Confidence Among People with Disabilities

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights: Disability Access in Vaccine Distribution

DisabilityScoop: Feds Issue New Rules For COVID-19 Vaccines At Facilities Serving Those With IDD 

U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, and the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights: Confronting COVID-19-Related Harassment in Schools (Also available here in Burmese, simplified Chinese, traditional Chinese, Hakha Chin, Japanese, Karen, Khmer, Korean, Lao, Tagalog, Thai and Vietnamese.)

Psychology Today: In-Person Life is Exhausting: Post-Pandemic Socializing

Center for Dignity in Healthcare for People with Disabilities: Does it matter that the COVID-19 Vaccine is for Emergency Use Authorization Only and not Full-FDA Approval?

HuffPost: What Your Disabled Friends Want You To Know About ‘Going Back To Normal’ Post-Vaccine

National Immigration Law Center: Answers to Common Questions about Immigrants’ Access to the COVID-19 Vaccines

Psychology Today: 5 Daily Practices to Lose Your Pandemic Pounds

KidsHealth: Coronavirus (COVID-19): Home Care & Precautions

Psychology Today: Hope for COVID-19 Long-Haulers

CDC: COVID-19 Communication Toolkit for Migrants, Refugees, and Other Limited-English-Proficient Populations

Association of University Centers on Disabilities: Creating an Accessible Vaccine Experience for People with Disabilities and Older Adults

International Rescue Committee (IRC): IRC launches multilingual vaccine line in partnership with Baltimore City (As a result of this partnership, Baltimore City has set up cell centers for vaccine sign-up for speakers of more than 40 languages.)

Baltimore City vaccine infographic EnglishBaltimore City vaccine infographic Spanish. Baltimore City vaccine infographic Arabic

Other Resources

Autism Awareness event graphic.

Did you know? A new law just passed in Maryland: Changing facilities for the personal care needs of adults may be coming to a public building near you! 

The Center for Dignity in Healthcare for People with Disabilities (CDHPD) published two fact sheets created by Tracy Waller, Esq., MPH, an attorney working with the MCDD to develop the CDHPD. The center designs these fact sheets as a resource for people to quickly find their state’s statutes, and where statutes do not exist, their state’s legislative history.