COVID-19 and Education of Students with Disabilities Resources Click here for educational resources related to COVID-19 that were collected by members of the P&A Network and our local/national partners. Periodic updates and revisions will be made to this page as we collectively strive to protect the rights of students with disabilities throughout the Coronavirus pandemic. NDRN Urges Self-Response to the 2020 Census During COVID-19 Pandemic The same week COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, most households across the United States started receiving letters from the U.S. Census Bureau inviting them to self-respond to the 2020 Census. Self-response is still ongoing and can often be done in the comfort of one’s own home... read more. Children Should Not Remain Incarcerated Simply Because of a Disability NDRN calls on state and local officials to ensure that children with disabilities are not left behind in crowded and unsanitary conditions while others are being released. Federal and state laws require nondiscrimination in such decision-making, and NDRN calls on local officials to comply with the law. No one who can be released should remain incarcerated simply because they have a disability. NDRN Calls on USDA to Expand the SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot Program The National Disability Rights Network sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) urging USDA to expand the SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot program to all states and territories and extend eligibility for the program to more retailers. This expansion will help ensure beneficiaries with disabilities are not unnecessarily put at risk of contracting COVID-19 simply because administrative rules prohibit online delivery of groceries purchased with SNAP benefits. NDRN and Over 300 Organizations Say No to Education Waivers On April 9, 2020, the National Disability Rights Network joined over 300 national, state and local organizations on a letter sent to Congressional leadership with the clear message that no additional waivers are needed under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), or the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehab Act). This letter goes into Congress in anticipation of the Secretary of Education’s report on waivers and negotiations around the fourth stimulus bill in the wake of the COVID- 19 pandemic. Public Transportation Can be Lifeline for People with Disabilities NDRN has launched a social media campaign to protect public transportation for people with disabilities during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Help us out by sharing these posts on Facebook and Twitter. Make sure you follow us to get more content on this and other important issues. NDRN Outlines Funding and Policy Priorities in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic The National Disability Rights Network outlined its funding and policy priorities for Congress’ fourth COVID-19 relief bill which asks for a $30 million overall increase for the nationwide network of disability rights agencies. The network is working to ensure the rights and well-being of people with disabilities living in group homes and in the community, students displaced from special education services, and people who have lost their jobs or access to public transportation during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can tell your Senators and Representative to support the important work of the network here. |