‘Freedom’ from mandates, vaccines puts others at risk
Much has been said recently about vaccines, masks and mandates to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
One perspective sometimes overlooked in this discussion is the perspective of those who are among the most vulnerable members of our community – people who might not be able to speak for themselves or engage in debates about “freedom.”
Think about children or adults who have developmental disabilities, serious medical conditions or physical challenges that, when illness strikes, put them at much higher risk of complications.
These are the people we also need to think about when we make personal decisions about masks and vaccines.
The Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities proudly serves and supports more than 20,000 individuals and their families each year – either directly or through our partner organizations – so that people with developmental disabilities can live, learn and work in our community.
Our agency is doing all it can to help keep them safe during the pandemic.
Thanks to the often-heroic work of direct-care professionals, teachers, bus drivers, therapists and so many others, extra efforts have been made to follow safety protocols. We have provided masks, organized vaccine clinics and invested heavily in sanitizing equipment.
Yet more than 500 people we serve have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and 21 of them have died. And until most of the public follows basic safety measures, many with disabilities remain endangered.
The Americans with Disabilities Act, signed by President George H.W. Bush 31 years ago, requires that reasonable accommodations are to be made so that people with disabilities have the opportunity to fully participate in the mainstream of American life. Under current conditions, with a still-raging and deadly pandemic, it seems reasonable for all of us to make simple accommodations on behalf of the vulnerable and immunocompromised: We can wear masks in public and, if we’re not vaccinated, get a free COVID-19 shot to help curb the surge.
During the pandemic, many adults and children with developmental disabilities have spent long stretches isolated in their homes without access to the recreational, vocational and special-education programs they and their families rely on. Some understand the reasons; others struggle to grasp the shrinking of their worlds.
The sadness and loneliness they have experienced can feel not only mysterious, but also cruel.
“The pandemic has been hard on a lot of our people,” one direct-support worker said recently. “Zoom and other tech stuff doesn’t work for some of them. Person-toperson interaction is important.”
This worker, like so many in our field, has logged massive amounts of overtime and put her own life on hold to ease the paths of others during this difficult time.
We are thankful for her and in awe of her compassion and commitment.
As the debates about personal freedom and choice continue, we ask all to consider those who might not be able to protect themselves from this dangerous virus due to their disabilities.
People who choose to ignore the masking and vaccination advice of public-health officials should know that their actions may deeply affect this vulnerable population.
Jed Morison is superintendent/ceo of the Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities, providing educational, employment, housing and support services for children and adults with developmental disabilities.