LIMITING RISKS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
MOST PEOPLE with disabilities are not inherently at higher risk for becoming infected with or having severe illness from COVID-19. However, some disabilities could put persons at a higher risk of infection or severe illness because of their underlying medical conditions.
Talk with your healthcare provider if you have a question about your health or how your health condition is being managed.
If you have one of the disability types listed below, you might be at increased risk of becoming infected or having an unrecognised illness. You should discuss your risk of illness with your healthcare provider.
· People who have limited mobility or who cannot avoid coming into close contact with others who may be infected such as direct-support providers and family members;
· People who have trouble understanding information or practising preventive measures such as handwashing and social distancing;
· People who may not be able to communicate symptoms of illness.
If you or someone you care for are at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19, take steps to prevent getting sick. In addition to practising everyday preventive actions, people with disabilities who have direct-support providers can help protect themselves from respiratory illness in the following ways:
· Ask your direct-support provider if they are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 or if they have been in contact with someone who has COVID-19.
· Tell your direct-support provider to: – Wash their hands when they enter your home and before and after touching you (e.g., dressing, bathing/showering, transferring,using the toilet, feeding), handling tissues or when changing linen or doing laundry.
– Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces (e.g., counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, bedside tables) and equipment such as wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, canes, oxygen tanks and tubing, communication boards, and other assistive devices.
PROTECT YOURSELF