The COVID-19 pandemic poses a severe risk to the health and well-being of individuals with disabilities. Here are some tips on how to protect and advocate for yourself during this unprecedented crisis.

COVID-19 is upending the lives of every American. Many public health officials remain cautious, anticipating the need to continue prevention efforts for an extended time. For people with disabilities, the impact can be severe, increasing barriers to accessing critical public health information, healthcare and support services. The coronavirus brings new challenges as well such as difficulty engaging in preventative measures such as physical distancing and frequent hand-washing. Although many people with disabilities are healthy, some have secondary conditions that increase their risk for contracting COVID-19. All of these factors can contribute to stress and anxiety.