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Need help getting vaccinated?

Trained staff are standing by to help you find vaccine locations, make appointments, and connect to  local services and supports if you need them to access vaccines. They also can connect you to information to answer questions or concerns you may have about the vaccine. 

  • For people with disabilities: The Disability Information and Assistance Line (DIAL) can be reached by calling 888-677-1199 or by emailing DIAL@n4a.org any time.
  • For older adults:  Call the Eldercare Locator at 800-677-1116 or visit the website to chat live or browse resources. 

Both phone lines are staffed Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Eastern). Use this new infographic to help spread the word about DIAL.

New resources for people with COVID-related disabilities

On July 26, the White House published this comprehensive package of resources for people with disabilities, including people with COVID-related disabilities. The package includes information about HHS's work to:

  • In June, ACL announced the launch of the Disability Information Assistance Line, the first national hotline to help people with disabilities access vaccinations in their communities and connect to information and services that promote independent living and address fundamental needs, such as food, housing, and transportation. This new infographic makes it easy to spread the word about this resource. (Posted July 30)
  • Help people with long COVID and other COVID-related conditions, such as this guidance from the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the Department of Justice that explains when long COVID can be a disability under various civil rights laws, and how those laws protect people with disabilities due to COVID-19, and ACL’s guide to the community-based resources that can help people if they need assistance to live in their own home, go to work or school, or participate in the community. Find more resources on "Long COVID."
  • Expand Opportunities for Accessible, Affordable Housing. The Departments of Health and Human Services and Housing and Urban Development are partnering to increase access to accessible, integrated, affordable housing and the services that support community living for people with disabilities. One focus of the collaboration is working with states participating in the Money Follows the Person program and public housing authorities that have unused housing choice vouchers for people who are leaving, or at risk of entering, nursing homes and other institutions, which can include people experiencing homelessness. HHS and HUD also are working to strengthen partnerships between housing and service networks at the state and local levels to streamline access to both housing and community services for people with disabilities.

What's New (July 27 - July 30)

Here are the latest additions to this page. Sign up for ACL Updates to receive these and other updates via e-mail.

  • The American Rescue Plan includes billions in federal rental assistance for renters who are behind on housing costs, as well as landlords who have struggled during the pandemic. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has developed a new look up tool that allows renters and landlords to find information on rental assistance in their area as well as a new toolkit to help you spread the word about the program. In addition, a new training and chapter summary from ACL's National Center on Law and Elder Rights can help advocates learn more about how to help older adults navigate rental assistance programs. (Posted July 29)

  • The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services have published a new resource, Long COVID under Section 504 and the IDEA: A Resource to Support Children, Students, Educators, Schools, Service Providers, and Families. (Published July 28)

  • The US Small Business Administration is hosting seven sessions of a webinar that is open to nonprofit organizations. The webinars run from July 27 to August 2 and will explain how your organization may be able to access COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loans. The majority of the information in each webinar will be the same. For more information and to register, CLICK HERE. (Posted July 27)

Additional recent additions

  • HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra renewed the determination that a public health emergency exists, and has existed since January 27, 2020, nationwide. For more information, CLICK HERE. (Posted July 21)

  • Upcoming Webinar: The Impact of the Pandemic on the Direct Support Professional’s (DSP) Workforce. Wednesday, August 11,1:30 - 3:00 PM ET. This CMS training will explore DSP experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic using information gathered through the National Core Indicators (NCI) Staff Stability Survey, (Posted July 21)

  • ACL posted a new FAQ document on the use of Older Americans Act funding for Incentives such as gift cards, vouchers, giveaways, or prize items. (Posted July 21)

  • Upcoming Webinar: Social Isolation and Loneliness Among Adults with Serious Mental Illnesses. Thursday, August 5, 2021, 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET. This is the second of a four-part national webinar series on research related to social isolation and loneliness for people with disabilities hosted by ACL'sNational Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). (Posted July 16)

  • The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued an enforcement compliance bulletin and policy guidance related to issues that may arise with inaccurate consumer reporting of rental information. As government interventions established during the pandemic (e.g., CDC moratorium, CARES Act funding, rental assistance) begin to expire, CFPB notes that renters are at increased risk of eviction. CFPB has created a one-stop housing insecurity landing page for renters, homeowners, and struggling landlords in collaboration with other federal housing agencies and a housing insecurity media toolkit to assist organizations with the dissemination of relevant information. (Posted July 9)

  • The CDC recently issued updated mask guidance. (Posted July 6)

  • FEMA is providing financial assistance for COVID-19 related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020. FEMA recently amended the funeral assistance policy to assist with COVID-19 related fatalities that occurred in the early months of the pandemic. This policy change will allow applicants to submit a statement or letter from the death certificate’s certifying official, medical examiner, or coroner, that attributes the death to COVID-19 fatalities that occurred between Jan. 20 and May 16, 2020. (Posted July 1)

Vaccination Information

Vaccinations will help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and are helping bring the COVID-19 pandemic to an end. Find the latest vaccine-related information, guidance, and resources from ACL and our partners.

 

For Older Adults, People with Disabilities, Families, and Caregivers

  • Vaccine info
  • Staying safe
  • Your rights

Click here to learn more
Find resources on "Long COVID"

For the Aging and Disability Networks

  • ACL Program Guidance
  • Promising Practices: Innovative approaches that may work in your community
  • Guidance from other federal programs
Find more resources hereFind a listing of upcoming and archived webinars

Ensuring Equity and Inclusion

Resources for

  • State and local COVID-19 response planners
  • Healthcare professionals
  • Educators
  • Businesses
  • others who need to understand the needs and issues of older adults and people with disabilities

Click here to find more helpful tips

National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness

The National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness provides detailed information about the seven goals of Biden Administration's coordinated pandemic response. The 198-page strategy document begins with an overview of the goals, followed by details on a variety of topics, many of which intersect the core missions of the aging and disability networks. Among the topics covered are home and community based services, vaccination communication, impact on at-risk groups, equitable access to PPE, and community-based, multi-sector efforts to align health and social interventions. The strategy reflects the White House's priorities for addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Follow your state's guidance

Decisions about community measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, as well as vaccine prioritization and distribution, will be made by local and state officials, The links in this section will connect you to some state resources.

Links to state resources

Last modified on 07/30/2021


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