Advocates Address Gov. Ivey In Effort to Expedite Vaccine Rollout for Alabamians With Disabilities
Continued communication with Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey from leaders with Alabama Arise, the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program and Accessible Alabama includes the suggestion of an inter-agency collaboration to help the Alabama Department of Public Health make vaccines available to vulnerable individuals.
Gov. Ivey Responds to Request to Expedite Vaccine Availability
Read Gov. Kay Ivey’s response to a Feb. 25, 2021 letter from leaders with Alabama Arise, the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program and Accessible Alabama, to expedite vaccine availability for Alabamians served by Medicaid through home and community-based service waivers.
Op-ed: Underfunding of public health has devastated Alabama in our time of need
Accessible Alabama, along with our partners from Alabama Arise and the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program, continue to advocate for policies that facilitate community living for individuals with disabilities and our aging population, including priority access to vaccines for individuals participating in the state’s Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver programs.
COVID-19 Vaccination Eligibility Check and Scheduling Portal
While the current vaccine supply is limited, it is necessary to prioritize vaccinations for those who are at the highest risk of getting hte virus or becoming seriously ill. Alabama has thus developed a COVID-19 Vaccination Allocation Plan.
Position Statement on Alabama Health Orders Related to Long-Term Care Facilities
Accessible Alabama has issued a position statement on the implications of state health and social distancing orders related to COVID-19 on individuals with disabilities in long-term care facilities.
Medicaid Policy Recommendations
Accessible Alabama is a contributing author and principal signatory of statewide Medicaid policy recommendations for individuals with disabilities and other special health care needs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 Information By and For People with Disabilities
We have compiled critical information about COVID-19 for people with disabilities. Click the button below to view the information.
Alabama Ventilator Rationing Plan Withdrawn
The Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program (ADAP) filed a disability discrimination complaint over Alabama’s COVID-19 treatment rationing plan. After review by the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights, the State of Alabama withdrew its discriminatory policy, and instructed hospitals across the state that they cannot discriminate against people with disabilities in accessing treatment. See the press release from ADAP below, along with a statement on the original complaint.
View Press Release (PDF) View Statement (PDF)
Essential Worker Letter Template
Regarding Alabama’s statewide shelter in place order, individuals and agencies may use the following letter template to provide verification that select worker classifications are indeed essential employees.
State of Alabama Health Order – April 28
Gov. Kay Ivey released a new state health order implementing a “safer at home” policy statewide, to take effect after the expiration of the previous “shelter in place” order on April 30, 2020 at 5 p.m. Accessible Alabama wants to emphasize that home health workers, care attendants and persons of similar professions are exempted from any business closures in this order. (See section 7 for a list of businesses closed to non-employees.)
Lawsuit Chaallenging Alabama’s Lack of Safe and Accessible Voting During COVID-19 Pandemic
The state’s lack of safe and accessible voting practices amid the COVID-19 pandemic is the subject of a recent federal lawsuit filed against Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey by the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program. Accessible Alabama Executive Director Eric Peebles is a plaintiff in the suit, expressing his dedication to ensuring equitable access to all facets of community life for Alabamians with disabilities. Read more:
State of Alabama Health Order (4/29) Infographic
