[community] How can we help?

Wed Mar 18 19:11:04 UTC 2020

How can people help design accessible resources about COVID-19?

I hope the government has been making their resources accessible to WCAG
standards.  But as we all know, accessibility is much more than that.

On Wed, Mar 18, 2020 at 3:02 PM <pina.dintino at gmail.com> wrote:

> Here is one for you, create a program specific to children on the autism
> spectrum and provide some level of respite for parents who have the
> children
> 24 hours. In these particular cases, frequently  children go to school  or
> therapy, but given everything is closed, there is no respite for those
> parents dealing with difficult situations.
> Imagine a single parent with a child with severe autism . Where do they get
> help?
> The government increased financial support  through the child credit, but
> again what about for children who are on the spectrum. Parents will need to
> see how they can hire external resources to help antieducational and
> awareness campaigns on TV, radio and other channels needs to be more
> relatable and in different languages with diverse demographics so people
> can
> better relate to this situation.**There was a report yesterday on how
> difficult it was in Italy for example, a nation where hugging, kissing and
> touching is so normal. So how and why  the change in  interaction "social
> distancing" is needed and not offensive It is about loving each other.
>
> Pina
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: community <community-bounces at lists.idrc.ocadu.ca> On Behalf Of
> Cybele
> S
> Sent: March 18, 2020 2:48 PM
> To: Jutta Treviranus <jtreviranus at ocadu.ca>
> Cc: Inclusive Design Community <community at lists.idrc.ocadu.ca>
> Subject: Re: [community] How can we help?
>
> Hello Inclusive Design Community.  Jutta asked how we could help.  I
> offered
> to start working with whoever else is interested on a list of policy ideas
> that could be fed to levels of government, to better meet the needs of
> those
> who are especially vulnerable at this time.
>
> In the spirit of this, I have started a list, which I would appreciate
> commentary on - what works and what doesn't, what else should be
> considered,
> and any additional resources you have to share.  This is a very early
> brainstorm list, just to get us started.  While I appreciate feedback, I
> hope and trust that we can remain constructive about this.  All ideas are
> worth considering.  So please share whatever comes to mind, if you have
> some
> thoughts on how we might move this forward.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Some policy suggestions that I've been thinking about:
>
> For Testing:
>
> 1 - More tests - for people who haven't travelled and don't know someone
> diagnosed with it, especially for those who are vulnerable (seniors,
> pre-existing conditions)
>
> 2 - Rectal swabs should be considered, as the virus stays in stool longer
> than oral secretions, and could give us a better sense of how long to
> isolate. It sounds gross, but they are actually less invasive, and possible
> to use with children. (rectal swabs are already currently used for C. diff
> and other super bugs, and are on the list of acceptable swabs to use by the
> WHO for COVID-19)
>
> 3 - Developing a test for antibodies, to know who has developed immunity.
> If people know they've acquired it and can't catch it again, they will be
> more free to support others. They will still need to handwash, etc., but at
> least they won't be carrying it inside their bodies.
>
> 4 - Create a mobile testing service as well as drive-through testing
> services. Because rectal swabs may be better, don't trust the results of a
> single drive-through test (can be false negative). The drive-through is
> also
> an education point.
>
> For Parents, Families and Other in Need:
>
> 1 - More resources for parents - food options for those who don't have
> enough, dietician advice, ways to keep your kids busy, online educational
> resources, and access to mental health supports online for children and
> parents. Also emergency supports in the case of child abuse and domestic
> violence, including shelters and temporary removals.
>
> 2 - Coordinating with grocery stores to make sure that no food is wasted.
> That all the extra food is shared directly with food banks and that food
> banks have a way to quickly disperse that food to those in need, and that
> those in need know where to get access to it.
>
> 3 - Creating new ways for those without the tools to access supports online
> to get it. Could be print-outs, could be mobile vehicles, could be phone
> calls from lists that organizations have. Everyone deserves a call or a
> pamphlet in their mailbox.
>
> For Social Distancing:
>
> 1 - Suggesting no gatherings over 10 people, and better not to gather at
> all.
>
> 2 - Putting hand sanitizer stations EVERYWHERE. Also encouraging the use of
> masks by sick people, even while home, so they don't infect their families.
>
> 3 - Working with other provinces to reduce inter-provincial travel. But
> also
> coordinating with other provinces so that patients who need help can be
> moved across borders if needed. Same within different communities. Maybe
> clean communities should be places for patients who have tested negative
> and
> need support, while the already infected places take the infected people.
>
> 4 - Being super clear about what self-isolation means. Travellers should
> not
> be going outside to get groceries.
>
> 5 - All homeless shelters should practice social distancing NOW, with hand
> sanitizers and masks available for anyone who is sick. Anyone with cold
> symptoms should be quarantined in a separate facility. University and
> college residences should be converted into temporary shelters for those
> without housing, with appropriate quarantine facilities.
>
> 6 - Ensure grocery stores and pharmacies are creating social distancing.
> Only 10-50 people in the store at once, 2 metres apart (or 6 feet, the
> length of a tall person), and that there is hand santizer everywhere and
> that there are signs telling sick people to go home with pamphlets on how
> to
> order food for delivery.
>
> For Health Supports:
>
> 1 - Creating more mental health supports, and expanding the mental health
> capacities of current mental health providers, to do their work online and
> by phone. That means that all mental health agencies should get supports to
> do this, as well as mental health hospitals.
>
> 2 - Telehealth needs way more resources. Include pharmacists on the lines
> too. It should be nurses, nurse practicioners, pharmacists, dieticians, and
> mental health professionals. Expand telehealth to cover a wider range of
> services.
>
> 3 - Provide proper protective equipment for all waste management workers,
> as
> well as all health care professionals, including full protective gear for
> companies like Medvisit, which visit seniors.
>
> 4 - Change the rules for Medvisit so that they can visit people who are
> vulnerable to this virus and not just seniors and housebound
>
> Other?
>
> On Mon, Mar 16, 2020 at 11:29 AM Cybele S <cybele.sack at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Sorry rewritten below with typo correction.  Was typed on my phone.
> >
> > On Mon, Mar 16, 2020 at 11:28 AM Cybele S <cybele.sack at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >> How can we put together a list of things the various levels of
> >> government should be doing to support people with disabilities,
> >> especially those with chronic conditions (including mental health),
> >> seniors and those living in poverty, at this time?
> >>
> >> A very clear bulleted list would help.
> >>
> >> And once that list is ready, some design for it would be good too.
> >>
> >> Also some signs and memes that communicate these needs that can be
> >> shared to encourage people to think more inclusively at a time when
> >> ableism is heightened.
> >>
> >> I am happy to help with this, from a content perspective.
> >>
> >> Best wishes and stay safe.
> >>
> >>
> >> On Mon, Mar 16, 2020 at 11:20 AM Jutta Treviranus
> >> <jtreviranus at ocadu.ca>
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >>> Please feel free to use this list to reach out to the Inclusive
> >>> Design community for help, advice or simply to connect during this
> >>> period of social distancing. Social distancing only means physical
> >>> distancing, use whatever you can to maintain social cohesion and
> >>> social connection especially to people who may feel socially isolated.
> >>>
> >>> take care,
> >>> Jutta
> >>>
> >>>
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> >>
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