FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact:
New Horizons Un-Limited
811 E. Wisconsin Ave., Suite 937
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Phone: (414) 299-0124
Email: horizons@new-horizons.org

New Horizons Un-Limited - Together We Can Do So Much

Isolation is not exactly a new thing for people with disabilities. For people with disabilities this reality never goes away. The pandemic has made them even more vulnerable to problems already at crisis for them in the U.S.: isolation, loneliness, mental health struggles, poverty and illness. In addition, barriers accessing transportation, housing, communication, education, employment, services, technology, and voting have become even more difficult during the pandemic for people with disabilities.

With the shutdown in March and the speed to accommodate much of the nation’s workforce from their homes; for students to learn remotely, you can imagine people with disabilities are wondering why this was so difficult to imagine, implement and accommodate for them in the decades prior to the pandemic. For some employment and schooling opportunities may have improved, but, unfortunately, the Internet is not free in our country, and unless one has access to technology, one remains disparagingly left out due to disability, poverty or minority.

It is through your help we have continued to reach out to people with our NHU Computer Grant and Support program to bring people access during these difficult times. Thank you for your donations of laptops and your continued support via our fundraising efforts!

We hope you will continue to help us reach out to people with disabilities who need a computer to connect with family and friends, services and health care. You might now better understand due to the pandemic the life challenges for a person with a disability; their social, physical and economic position. We hope you will join us to work together to reevaluate our views and responsibilities to bring opportunities, health, and hope.

COVID-19 has taken a greater toll on people with disabilities

We hope you, your family, and your associates are safe and healthy and remain so during this pandemic. You may have experienced or someone you know has had job loss, loss of income, or family members who have become ill or perhaps even loss of a person that was close to you. We want to express our sincere sympathy and we hope you are finding assistance during these difficult times. We hope you will encourage your Senator to at long last pass this next relief bill.

In October, this fall, the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) reported in their letter to the U.S. Senate that 40% of COVID-19 deaths are people with disabilities. This equals more than 80,000 people. The AAPD, the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) and 50 other organizations for people with disabilities strongly object to the U.S. Senate. Instead of passing needed relief legislation this fall, the Heroes Act, which would protect health care providers and the people with disabilities they serve who are highly at risk for contracting and dying of COVID-19, (the Heroes Act has been before the Senate since June) the Senate rushed and promoted the nomination of Judge Barrett this fall who Senators know will put people with disabilities at risk of losing their health care and/or health insurance during this pandemic. Visit the AAPD letter

"AUCD supports previous Supreme Court rulings upholding the constitutionality of the ACA, and affirms the Court's decisions that any changes to the Act be legislative and not judicial," said John Tschida, executive director of AUCD. "Repeal of the ACA would negatively and disproportionately impact people with disabilities, especially people of color, who are overrepresented in the Medicaid population." Visit AUCD position article

The U.S. Senate has discriminated against 61 million citizens with disabilities and their health care providers during COVID-19 by ignoring the passage of relief legislation and nominated Judge Barrett to strike down the Affordable Care Act when it comes before the Supreme Court here in November. The Affordable Care Act has helped people with disabilities, expanding coverage to people and allowing insurance for pre-existing conditions. In the midst of the pandemic legislators moved to dismiss this safety net in health care.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) states that adults with disabilities are more at risk from adverse outcomes from COVID-19 and those with developmental disabilities are twice as likely to die as those without disabilities, due to preexisting conditions, or their care workers were not considered essential, so ineligible for (PPE) Personal Protection Equipment, less support and resources to stay safe. People with disabilities who have limited mobility or require more care have close contact with their direct support providers and family members, or live in congregate settings with limited resources which also puts them at higher risk of contracting COVID-19 and having serious outcomes as well as risk their health providers and family members. Stay safe, follow CDC COVID-19 guidelines. Visit People with disabilities need extra precautions

There are consequences of society underpaying group home staff and paying less attention to people who live in other care home settings such as group homes. These casualties are the consequences of under resourcing health care and health care providers during a pandemic. With hospitals reaching capacity news of health care rationing has become apparent but this too is not new to people with disabilities and groups have spoken out about this discrimination fear. Who deserves to live? Who deserves to die? The ADA does not cover health care rationing. The pandemic has shined a light on the limited support and resources we give to the most vulnerable in our society

Stay Safe! Follow COVID-19 guidelines so we all are concerned about all of the safer at home practices and more that people with disabilities face as isolated individuals on a daily basis and are concerned others will forget to practice, forget to consider the disabled or discriminate in health care and housing. Will we move forward carelessly, or take responsibility so people can become a little open too and protect those most vulnerable in our population?

What gives you hope through the pandemic?

In this article from UN News, Lindsay Lee, WHO Technical Officer who works on issues related to people with disabilities, was speaking during a Q&A at the UN health agency when she expressed concern for people with disabilities during the pandemic. “Existing barriers that people with disabilities face can be exacerbated during a crisis, but if government and communities are willing to work together, risks might be mitigated.” Visit Preventing discrimination against people with disabilities in COVID-19 response

We at New Horizons Un-Limited hope you will give to help those with disabilities this year, whether it is a donation to New Horizons Un-Limited or helping a person with disabilities you know directly. Reach out and check on family, friends or neighbors you know that are facing the coronavirus with a disability, or lend your voice to advocate and tell the story to others about living with disability.

It is only through your help we at New Horizons Un-Limited have been able to continue to reach out to people with disabilities and offer hope. The pandemic has brought to light the disparaging of safety nets for those who are marginalized thru disability, poverty, and minority. Even the smallest gifts impact lives in realistic ways. Help others through the gift of your donations, time, goods, or your voice.

We hope that among the many worthy causes you are assisting during this pandemic, you would consider giving to New Horizons Un-Limited Limited at NHU Donate

It is only WORKING TOGETHER we can continue to bring hope to each other so we can do more than survive the pandemic, so we can all thrive.