[community] How can we help?

Wed Mar 18 19:18:01 UTC 2020

Yes, definitely more financial and professional support for families with
children who have special needs.
The professional support systems which were available at schools and other
institutions are not equivalently avilable at home.
There are anecdotes emerging on the impact school shutdown is specifically
having on the childen and families with children with special needs:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2020/03/15/coronavirus-school-closings-closures-kids-quarantine-symptoms-special-needs-illinois/5034633002/

Ushnish

On Wed, Mar 18, 2020 at 3:03 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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