Advocacy Team
Updates from Access Living: Michael Grice Speaks Out, SSI, Paid Leave Action, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Guidance
Dear Access Living friends and allies,
Today, we have some more important updates for you all! Read on.
Michael Grice Speaks Out: Access Living consumer and grassroots advocate Michael Grice was featured in this news segment from Chicago Tonight. Grice belongs to multiple categories of the people who are most at risk of COVID-19 infection: he’s black, has a disability and is a senior citizen living. Grice is also one of the very first people to receive services from Access Living, back when we started in 1980. Among other things, Grice talks about the crisis of COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes.
SSI Update: Yesterday, the U.S. Treasury released an announcement that people who have SSI will in fact get an economic impact check (recover or stimulus check) automatically. The exception is those who have SSI and also have kids; these persons should use the form at this link to file ASAP.
Have You Taken Action Today? We’d like to remind you, please send your members of Congress an email to advocate for paid medical leave for people with disabilities and support workers. You can take action at this link. As Congress works on more funding for our economy, we cannot afford to see disabled workers and support workers left out.
Deaf and Hard of Hearing COVID-19 Access: The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) has been writing papers on guidance for access for Deaf and hard of hearing people of all ages. The first two papers in a six-paper series have been posted. The NAD paper on communication access recommendations for hospitals is at this link. Online guidance in English and ASL for Deaf/hard of hearing persons who need to go to the hospital is at this link. Expect more to come so check back over the coming weeks!
Thank you for your advocacy today. Stay safe.