Coronavirus Resources for Churches

This post offers resources for churches seeking to address the needs and concerns of people with disabilities during the coronavirus outbreak. Check back, as we expect to make frequent updates. And, as usual, if you find a useful resource, please feel free to contact us.

General Commission on Religion and Race, UMC

• Real Talk: Impact of COVID-19 on People with Disabilities

Disability Ministries Committee of the UMC

• Accessibility in Hybrid Worship and Meetings: Applying Universal Design to Benefit All
• Advocacy actions you and your church can take to ensure health care access during the Covid-19 health crisis: MS Word or Adobe PDF
• Care and Nurture: Living in the COVID Era – from North UMC, Indianapolis
• Accessible Covid-19 information: MS Word or Adobe PDF
• The Arc “Getting a Covid Vaccine“
• Inclusive online worship and group participation: MS Word or Adobe PDF
• Resources for outreach with members with intellectual and developmental disabilities: MS Word or Adobe PDF
• Blog: Living with Love and Covid-19
• UM Disability blog: Face masks (recommendations for Deaf/HOH and sensitivity adjustments)

UM Committee on Deaf and Hard-of-hearing Ministries

• a list of ASL or captioned worship streams (this list is updated weekly)
• UM Disability Blog: Accessibility and Hospitality for Easter
• UM Disability blog: Face masks (recommendations for Deaf/HOH and sensitivity adjustments) (updated 30 July 2020)
• UM Disability blog: Online and Virtual Gatherings: Inclusion for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Members (updated July 2020)
• DHM website, Resources for captioning videos and podcasts
• CDC Covid-19 You Tube channel (ASL)
• UM Disability blog, Deaf communities gather for online services

Mental Health Ministries

• Spotlight, Spring 2021: Mental Health and Coronavirus
• Spotlight, Fall 2020: Suicide, Mental Health, Recovery
• Spotlight, Special 2020: Connecting with Covid-19
• Spotlight, Spring 2020: Mental Health and Coronavirus
• NAMI, Coronavirus Coping Strategies
• Mental Health and the Coronavirus
• Mental Health wellness tips for quarantine

Support for specific conditions:

• National Disability Covid-19 Healthcare Support and Advocacy Hotline: 800-626-4959
• CDC: COVID-19 Materials for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Care Providers
• Free at-home COVID-19 tests for people who are blind or have low vision–these tests work with a compatible Bluetooth-enabled smartphone and a free app to provide users with audible instructions and audible test results. Because supplies are limited, please order the more accessible tests only if you do not have options for using the standard tests (such as someone to assist with the test or assistive technology). Order online (https://special.usps.com/testkits/accessible) or by calling 1-800-232-0233.
• CDC: Toolkit for People with Disabilities
• SAMHSA Disaster Distress Hotline 800-985-5990
• AAHD, Resources for People with Disabilities on COVID-19
• Temple University: Communication assistance card
• OH Domestic Violence Network: Trauma and face masks
• Knowbility, AAC Resources during Covid-19
• Disability Rights and Education Fund, Advocacy and Legal Rights Information