With COVID-19 spreading through institutions, community services for people with disabilities can be the difference between life and death. Today, we’re calling on the Senate to pass a COVID-19 relief package to save our community members’ services, and we need YOUR help! Sign up on our Facebook page, and call your Senators today!

Many community-based service providers are facing a critical lack of funding, which means that the people they support are in danger of losing services or facing institutionalization. The House of Representatives has passed a COVID-19 relief package that would give these providers the emergency funding they need to keep our community members out of institutions. But the Senate doesn’t care: they say they may not pass any kind of relief bill. With our community members’ lives on the line, this inaction is unacceptable. Our Senators can save lives just by doing their jobs — but they’re not going to do anything unless we hold them accountable.

To hold your Senators accountable, you can use our script: 

My name is [your full name], and I am from [city]. I’m calling to ask Senator [Name] to pass a coronavirus relief package that includes Medicaid funding for home- and community-based services for people with disabilities. Many people with disabilities rely on these services to do things like get dressed, go to work, and take care of their families. But without emergency funding, agencies that provide these supports are starting to close. People with disabilities risk being forced into institutions, where they would be at much greater risk of catching COVID-19. This is a matter of life and death for my community. We must pass a new relief bill with emergency funding for home- and community-based services. Can I count on the Senator’s support?

After you’ve called in, let us know how it went. 

Have call anxiety, or wondering what to expect from a call to your elected officials? Check out this guide to making a call to your members of Congress. Unable to speak on a phone call due to a disability? Check out our Proxy Calling System here. Want to help someone else make a call? Consider signing up to be a proxy caller.

The COVID-19 crisis is overwhelming, but the disability community is powerful — and when we speak out together, we’re too loud to ignore. Today, let’s make sure our Senators listen to us, do their jobs, and save lives.