Bridget Hayman
Director of Communications
UPDATED — May 24, 2021 — Our top priority is the wellbeing of our consumers and staff members. With that in mind, we wanted to update you on the steps Access Living is taking to address COVID-19.
Out of an abundance of caution, our building will remain closed until further notice. Access Living employees will work from home until our building reopens. There will be no meetings held on-site at Access Living during our building closure. Access Living is monitoring the ongoing vaccination efforts of the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois. As the rate of vaccination increases and the risk of spreading or contracting COVID-19 goes down, we will decide how and when to re-open our building in a way that is safe for our consumers and our staff.
We will announce all our reopening plans on our website, social media, and via email. To subscribe to our email list, please go here.
You can also find our page of COVID-19 vaccines and resources for the disability community here.
Even though our in-person group meetings are cancelled and our building is closed, Access Living staff is still be available by phone and online to the greatest extent possible. If you have any questions about services during this time, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us via phone, email, or online via our website:
- Reach us by phone by calling (312) 640-2100
- Reach us by TTY at (312) 640-2102
- Find staff email addresses on our Staff Page
- Contact us online via our website
Some general reminders:
- If you feel ill, or have symptoms such as a fever, fatigue or a consistent cough, please stay home.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Avoid sharing food.
Additional information about the virus and vaccines is available on these websites:
- Chicago Department of Public Health
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- World Health Organization
- Find and schedule a vaccine appointment at ILVaccine.org
- Learn about the vaccine: Here are fact sheets in English and Spanish
- Homebound Vaccination Program for City of Chicago Homebound Residents
We also remind our community to practice kindness during this time. These events can certainly cause anxiety, but they are no excuse for xenophobia or bigotry against Asian community members or others. The impact of our actions may be felt broadly. Check on your neighbors and reach out for support when and if you need to.
We are monitoring the situation daily as it evolves and will update our website. Thank you for your understanding and flexibility.
The Access Living Team