Introduction: We are creating a report for the PA Department of Health on solutions to COVID-19 health care barriers for people with disabilities. We need your help thinking about solutions.

What are the core (main) recommendations for using a disability-inclusive approach to combat COVID-19 and future healthcare emergencies?​ For the Department of Health, we are especially trying to solve the following four barriers:
 
  • systemic health care barriers - problems that arise about the health care system as a whole
  • physical and mental health issues - handling emotions, stress and trauma, getting food, nutrition and exercise
  • staffing issues -  not being able to hire people to help
  • accessibility barriers – not being able to get transportation, get into a building, information you can understand, health care that meets your sensory needs, technology supports
Directions: Please rate the level of importance for each preliminary core recommendation. On question 10, please offer missing core recommendations for the Department of Health.
 
Note: There will be many additional recommendations included in the back of the report that may call for interagency collaboration. On this survey, we are asking you for core recommendations that are targeted to the purview of the Department of Health.

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* 1. Prioritize individuals with disabilities as vulnerable population(s). Designate people with disabilities as a Medically Underserved Population/Area (MUP/A) and Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA).

Identify people with disabilities as a group with high health risks. This would provide funds and attention to the needs and experiences of people with disabilities.

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* 2. Ensure decision-making and oversight of disability rights and healthcare access. Establish a Disability Officer within the Governor’s Cabinet and Office of Health Equity’s Advisory Committee to ensure people with disabilities are being included in decision making.

Hire a Disability Officer(s) at the state level to make sure people with disabilities are being represented in healthcare decision making.

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* 3. Enable flexible healthcare delivery methods (such as in person, telehealth, mobile healthcare.) Build robust contingency plans for services that are delivered in-person.

Be able to get healthcare at in-person, in the home, over the internet or the best way for you, with plans that work when you cannot be in-person.

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* 4. Prepare for future emergencies. Maintain legislative and policy changes accelerated by COVID-19 that supported enhanced expanded services and participation.

Plan for future emergencies by keeping rules in place that let people get supports and kept them involved and healthy during the pandemic.

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* 5. Provide disability and cultural diversity training to medical professionals, mental health providers, support staff, government officials, leaders, employers, law enforcement, community organizations, etc.

Teach community helpers how to interact with people with disabilities and other cultures

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* 6. Provide mental health and disability training to medical professionals, mental health workers, educators, direct support staff, care givers, individuals, and the community.

Teach community helpers about mental health needs and supports for people with disabilities.

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* 7. Promote central participation of people with disabilities.

Make sure that people with disabilities help make decisions about how to provide health care.

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* 8. Provide plain and multi language resources.

Communicate in ways that people understand and the languages that people speak.

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* 9. Amplify the voices and experiences of individuals with lived experience of disability.

Make sure people with disabilities life experience guides all planning.

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* 10. What, if any, core recommendations are missing from this list?  Keep in mind these should be solutions that are targeted to the purview of the Department of Health.

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* 11. What is your role?

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* 12. What is your organizational perspective?

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* 13. Your name

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