Expanding Disabilities Networks (UCEDDs) Access to COVID 19 Vaccines - Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University

Abstract

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) at the U.S. Department of Health and Huam Services announced a new funding opportunity to increase vaccine access for people with disabilities. With funding and partnership support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ACL is providing grants to disability networks to provide critical services to help communities combat COVID–19. The primary purpose of this grant is to ensure vaccines are equally accessible to the disability population.

The Center on Disability and Development (CDD) at Texas A&M University is submitting a proposal in response to this call for proposal. We proposes to hire graduates from the CDD’s PATHS postsecondary education program who are working as direct support professionals across Texas to assist other Texans with disabilities for access to the COVID-19 vaccine. Specifically, the Project Coordinator will coordinate with these former students of the PATHS program to engage in the following activities (as directed by the funding agency): • Education about the importance of receiving a vaccine, • Identifying people unable to independently travel to a vaccination site, • Helping with scheduling a vaccine appointment, • Arranging or providing accessible transportation, • Providing companion/personal support, • Reminding people of their second vaccination appointment if needed, and/or • Providing technical assistance to local health departments or other entities on vaccine accessibility.

More details of these activities will be developed in the next few weeks while this emergent fund is being applied for.