Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service

The UConn UCEDD is completing local vaccine outreach in the disability community through a cooperative agreement with the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD). AUCD’s National Center on Disability in Public Health and Prepared4All created the resources below to provide reliable and accurate information on the COVID-19 vaccines. If you have any questions or would like additional information contact Tara Viens at viens@uchc.edu or call our center at 860-679-1500.

• Vaccine Confidence Talking Points - English
• Vaccine Confidence Talking Points - Spanish
• Vaccine Confidence Talking Points - Chinese
• Vaccine Confidence Talking Points - Korean
• Vaccine Confidence Talking Points - Bengali

• Vaccine Variants Update - English
• Vaccine Variants Update - Spanish

• Preparing a Child for a COVID-19 Vaccine - English
• Preparing a Child for a COVID-19 Vaccine - Spanish

• COVID-19 Booster Shots - English
• COVID-19 Booster Shots - Spanish

• How to Advocate for Your Safety During COVID-19 - English
• How to Advocate for Your Safety During COVID-19 - Spanish

• Fear of Needles & the COVID-19 Vaccine: A Guide for People with Disabilities
• Fear of Needles & the COVID-19 Vaccine: A Guide for Caregivers
• Fear of Needles & the COVID-19 Vaccine: A Guide for Professionals When Working with People with Disabilities

• Addressing Health Misinformation

• Improving Access to COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing for People with Disabilities

• What Type of Mask Should I Wear?

• UConn Health COVID-19 Updates
• CT.Gov - Coronavirus Disease 2019
• Things to Know About the COVID-19 Pandemic
• CDC COVID Factsheet (Spanish)
• CDC COVID Factsheet (Simplified Chinese)
• Center for Dignity in Healthcare for People with Disabilities' New Resource on Safeguards Against Disability Discrimination During COVID-19
• Hesperian Health Guides website Coronavirus Fact Sheet - Available in multiple languages English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Urdu, Bangla, Filipino, Vietnamese, Bahasa Indonesia, Farsi, Sindhi, Telugu, and Hindi. Fact sheets in Shona, Portuguese, Arabic, and Chichewa are on the way.

• Questions and Answers on Disability Nondiscrimination in Health Care and Community Life During the COVID-19 Pandemic - Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF)
• Ensuring Civil Rights During the COVID-19 Response - Federal Emergency Management Agency
• Special ADA Audio Conference Session: COVID-19 and the ADA: Access to Programs and Services - Pre-recorded, no cost. Includes a resource document and a copy of the presentation handout. ADA National Network
• No Mask, No Service? ADA Considerations for Business Owners Requiring Face Masks in Retail Stores - The National Law Review
• Title III Coronavirus FAQs: Tips for Addressing Common ADA Title III Issues During the COVID-19 Pandemic - Ogletree Deakins
• What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws - Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
• Pandemic Preparedness in the Workplace and the Americans With Disabilities Act - Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
• EEOC Webinar on COVID-19, Employment, the ADA, GINA and the Rehabilitation Act(- Transcript -) - JDSUPRA
• Hospitals Must Consider Accommodation Requests in Pandemic - Bloomberg Law
• BULLETIN: Civil Rights, HIPAA, and the Coronavirus Disease - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Questions and Answers on Providing Services to Children with Disabilities During the COVID-19 Outbreak - U.S. Department of Education
• Addressing the Risk of COVID-19 in Preschool, Elementary and Secondary Schools While Serving Children with Disabilities - U.S. Department of Education
• Resources to Support Students with Disabilities During the COVID-19 Crisis - National Center for Learning Disabilities
• Accessibility at Drive-Thru Medical Sites - ADA National Network

• ICI's COVID-19 Publications and Resources
• People First of CT: Things to Know about COVID 19 - This video stars members of People First of Connecticut, our statewide self-advocacy group. The video addresses safety tips as well as what to do to avoid boredom.  It also reminds all self-advocates that they are not alone.
• COVID-19 Facts for People with Disabilities to Information Sheet for Self Advocates
• Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies
• COVID-19 Information By and For People with Disabilities (English)
• COVID-19 Information By and For People with Disabilities (Spanish)
• State of Connecticut Department of Developmental Services - COVID-19 Updates for DDS Providers
• CSD.org - Sign Language Resource
• COVID-19 Communication Rights Toolkit
• COVID 19 and People with Down Syndrome
• Let's Talk About the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Video (3.5 min) - The video uses a drawn Whiteboard technique to tell a social narrative. It was developed by the University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (UM-NSU CARD).
• Things to do During COVID-19 - For the Disability Community, or Anyone!
• The Arc COVID-19 Resource Page
• CDC American Sign Language COVID-19 Informational Videos - Five videos featuring a certified Deaf interpreter deal with managing COVID-19 at home, symptoms of the virus, prevention tips, risk factors, and what older adults need to know about COVID-19. Videos include closed captions.
• Mental Health and COVID-19 Resources
• Q&A for families and others about COVID-19 and persons of all ages with Down syndrome
• How to Join a Zoom Meeting, Instructions in Plain Language
• Information Form for you to Give to Health Care Providers
• Why is my life different because of COVID 19 - A Social Narrative.pdf - Large Print

Safety Tips Videos from Self-Advocates

• 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
• Bonus: Bloopers and Extra Clips

• COVID-19 Toolkit For DSPs
• Action Steps for Attendant Service Users in Response to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• Center for Disability Rights - Letter for Attendants
• Tips for Direct Support Personnel

• Emergency Communication Resources for First Responders

• Questions & Answers on Providing Services to Children with Disabilities During COVID
• Responding to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak through PBIS
• New Guidance on Special  Education  3/20/2020
• CSDE - Bureau of Special Education - Continued Educational Opportunities and Special Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic
• ​April 6, 2020 Guidance from the CT State Department of Education related to Due Process Activities under IDEA during the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Tips for Parents to Participate in Virtual IEP's and other Meetings.

• AFIRM - Supporting Individuals with Autism through Uncertain Times

• Health and Safety for Families
• Emergencies and National Disasters: Helping Children and Families Cope
• Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope With the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• National Association of School Psychologists – Talking to Children about COVID: A Parent Resource
• Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center (CPAC)
• Special Edition PATH Newsletter - Coronavirus Update
• COVID-19: Information for Families of Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs
• To-Do Tips For Families: Adolescence through Adulthood
• Tips for Parents: Cool (Free) Websites to Teach Academics
• How to Join a Zoom Meeting, Instructions in Plain Language
• "When it Builds Up, Talk it Out"

Parents who wish to access supports are invited to call 833-258-5011 and speak with trained professionals who will listen and speak with them about their concerns and, if additional help is needed, refer them to responsive services. They can also utilize their phones to visit www.talkitoutct.com and click on the link to be connected to the same caring professionals.

• Zero to Three Tips for Families on COVID: Age Appropriate Responses to Common Questions