Millions of people with disabilities are unable to get food and medicine during the pandemic emergency in United States, according to the nonprofit advocacy group RespectAbility.
“If you are a person with disability at home alone and you’re under 60 or you live in a part of the country that is not served by a commercial food delivery service, you probably don’t know where your next meal is coming from,” said Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, President, RespectAbility
“Many of these folks are vulnerable to the coronavirus because of health conditions, while people who are blind and those who use wheelchairs are finding it impossible to maintain social distance.”
The problems, include:
- In many states, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), better known as Food Stamps, prohibits SNAP benefits from being used for online food and grocery delivery services.
- The leading home-based meal delivery program, “Meals on Wheels,” does not serve people under the age of 60, even if they are homebound.
- Many commercial delivery services are backed up, don’t serve many areas, and/or are out of food that people who are diabetic or have other health conditions need. Many people who are blind are unable to get food for their service dogs.
“Leaders must make an emergency exception to the Food Stamp program so it can be used for online food delivery, at least during the duration of this pandemic,” Mizrahi said, noting that she already has written to leaders to call their attention to the problem.
“Thankfully, New York is filling the gap with a new program, www.nyc.gov/getfood, and Los Angeles has just implemented a program (by calling 888-863-7411). That shows that where there is a will there is a way, and lives can be saved.”
