People with disabilities from across Australia are calling for urgent action to make sure they are included in preparations for the current public health emergency.
Eight Australia organisations have come together to outline to all levels of government, the National Disability Insurance Agency, other agencies and the private sector, about the range of concerns that people with disabilities have.
There is a critical need to ensure that people with disabilities can continue to receive support during this crisis, both from workers and services.
People with disabilities need a proactive, phone-based outreach program through existing disability advocacy providers, to check on their wellbeing, see if they need equipment or supplies, and to provide reliable information. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability need to have a specific outreach program, delivered by Aboriginal-run disability organisations.
All emergency communication is to be provided in plain English, Easy Read and Auslan, and translated into community languages. Information must be made accessible and widely available.
People with disability need to have a disability specific package similar to that for older people which includes a suite of health-based initiatives such as:
- accessible clinics and testing
- telehealth resourcing and equal access to telehealth
- priority access to personal protective equipment such as masks and sanitiser
- continuation of chronic care plans
- expand access to home visits by GPs
In addition, all medical guidelines about triage or management of COVID-19 must ensure that people with disabilities will have equal access to health care, including ICU and other intensive treatment.
