Memos from Executive Staff at WRC

Every week there are new updates from the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) and the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) that the regional center uses as guidelines on how to run the agency and how to keep the public safe. Please view the table below to read any updates or changes to how we run our agency.

WRC Director’s Weekly Update

The Interim Executive Director provides weekly updates on recent positive COVID-19 cases (among the individuals we support and direct service providers), changes in how WRC or vendors provide services and highlights special events occurring at WRC or in the community.

1. July 13 – July 17, 2020
2. July 20 – July 24, 2020
3. July 27 – July 31, 2020
4. August 10 – August 14, 2020
5. August 17 – August 21, 2020
6. August 24 – August 28, 2020
7. September 21 – September 25, 2020

What you need to know about the COVID-19 vaccine: A town hall for underserved communities

This town hall was originally recorded on Thursday, March 4, 2021.

• Download the English presentation
• Download the Spanish presentation
• Listen to the Spanish audio recording–>Password: #dEfQ7R​+

TESTING RESOURCES

Finding a testing site:

• City of Los Angeles – COVID19 Testing
• Los Angeles County – COVID19 Testing
• VaccineFinder.org
• California For ALL

VACCINE RESOURCES

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE VACCINE?

Every Californian can sign up at myturn.ca.gov or call (833) 422-4255 to see if it’s their turn to get the COVID-19 vaccine. If you’re not currently eligible or if there are no open appointments, you can sign up to be notified when it’s your turn.

As of Monday, March 1, 2021, the following individuals are eligible to receive the vaccine:

Phase 1A:

• Healthcare workers
• Staff & Residents at Skilled Nursing Facilities
• Staff & Residents at Long-Term Care Facilities

Phase 1B: 

• Individuals 65 and older
• Agriculture and food
• Education and childcare
• Emergency services

Beginning March 15, healthcare providers may use their clinical judgment to vaccinate individuals’ age 16-64 who are deemed to be at the very highest risk for morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 as a direct result of one or more of the following severe health conditions:

• Cancer, current with debilitated or immunocompromised state
• Chronic kidney disease, stage 4 or above
• Chronic pulmonary disease, oxygen dependent
• Down syndrome
• Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
• Pregnancy
• Sickle cell disease
• Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies (excludes hypertension)
• Severe obesity (Body Mass Index ≥ 40 kg/m2)
• Type 2 diabetes mellitus with hemoglobin A1c level greater than 7.5%

OR

If as a result of a developmental or other severe high-risk disability one or more of the following applies:

• The individual is likely to develop severe life-threatening illness or death from COVID-19 infection
• Acquiring COVID-19 will limit the individual’s ability to receive ongoing care or services vital to their well-being and survival
• Providing adequate and timely COVID care will be particularly challenging as a result of the individual’s disability.”

Letters from DDS Clarifying COVID-19 Vaccination Eligibility for Phase 1A

• For Direct Service Employees
• For Family Members
• For Certain Regional Center Employees

HOW TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT – PHONE

• LACDPH: Residents with disabilities or without computer access can call 833-540-0473 between 8:00 am and 8:30 pm, seven days a week for assistance with appointments.
• Disability Community Resource Center: Call Jay Aquino at 310-390-3611 or email Jay@dcrc.co to sign up for shots available to people eligible in the current phase the week of March 8th or the new phase available to people with disabilities launching March 15th.

HOW TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT – ONLINE

Use the following websites to schedule your appointment:

• City of Los Angeles – COVID19 Vaccine Registration
• VaccinateLACounty.com

TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE

Access Los Angeles, (626) 532-1616 Option 2

Access riders can book next-day trips to COVID-19 vaccination appointments to the following drive-thru vaccination sites:

• California State University, Los Angeles
• Pomona Fairplex
• The Forum
• Magic Mountain
• Los Angeles County Office of Education
• California State University, Northridge
• Dodger Stadium
• Long Beach Convention Center

ABOUT THE COVID-19 VACCINE

Pfizer Vaccine FAQ for Recipients (English, Spanish)

Moderna Vaccine FAQ for Recipients (English, Spanish)

Janssen Vaccine FAQ for Recipients (English, Spanish)

Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions (English, Spanish)

Vaccine Misinformation (English, Spanish)

After You Get the Vaccine (English, Spanish)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Pfizer
• Moderna
• Johnson & Johnson
• Access Los Angeles
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• The Center
• Welcoming America
• National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants (NRC-RIM)
• Greater Than COVID 

The following are websites, publications and videos that offer information for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities as well as their family members and caregivers.

The Arc

The Arc has made COVID-19 resources for disability advocates.

• Free Plain Language COVID-19 Resources

Autism Little Learners

For additional short stories, please click here

• Coronavirus Test (story)
• Getting A Haircut During COVID (story)
• Schools Staying Closed (story)
• What Is Social Distancing (story)
• When Can I Stop Wearing A Mask (story)
• Why Does My Doctor Look Different? (story)
• Why Does My Therapist Look Different? (show)

California Parent & Youth Helpline

• Emotional support for families challenged by the pressures of COVID-19

Disability Rights California

• If You or Someone You Know is Disabled: Know Your Rights to Medical Care – COVID-19

Easterseals

• Planning A Routine During COVID-19 , Planeacion de una Rutina Durante el COVID-19

Green Mountain Self-Advocates

• Plain Language Information By and For People with Disabilities
• Información de COVID-19 por y para Personas con Discapacidades

The Learning Community for Person-Centered Practices

Resources provided in this section were shared by individuals for public use

• My Book About Coping with COVID, Mi Libro Acerca de Como Lidiar con COVID
• Preparing Individuals with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities for Medical Treatment at Hospitals
• Stay Safe: A Quick Course for People with Disabilities
• Why your doctor looks different during Covid-19 (By Quillo)

Listos California

• COVID-19 Tips for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
• COVID-19 Tips for Caregivers of People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
• Health Profile Form for People with Disabilities

National Down Syndrome Society

• COVID-19 Resources for Caregivers
• View upcoming and past NDSS COVID-19 webinars here.

North Star Services

• My Personal Plan for Staying Healthy During the COVID-19 Pandemic

OCALI

• Social Narratives to Support Families During the COVID-19 Crisis

State Council on Developmental Disabilities 

For additional resources and in several languages, click here to visit their website.

• 10 Tips to Support Someone During Times of Change, 10 Consejos para Apoyar a Alguien en Tiempos de Cambio
• Create a COVID-19 Health Passport 
• Fighting Isolation Among People with Disabilities (ENGLISH) (SPANISH)
• How to Stay Healthy from COVID-19, Cómo Mantenerse Saludable de COVID-19
• Safety Tip Videos from Self-Advocates – Video Series:
  • Episode 1: How to Stay Healthy (ENGLISH ) (SPANISH)
  • Episode 2: What Should I Do If I Think I Am Sick? (ENGLISH ) (SPANISH)
  • Episode 3: What I Should Do If I Am Sick? (ENGLISH ) (SPANISH)
  • Episode 4: What I Should Do If A Caregiver Or A Family Member Gets Sick? (ENGLISH ) (SPANISH)
• Top Questions from Family Advocates, Preguntas Frecuentes que SCDD recibió de Padres y Miembros de Familia
• Top Questions from Self-Advocates, Preguntas Frecuentes que SCDD recibió de Personas con Discapacidades
• Virtual Meetings: Getting Started, Reunión Virtuales: Empensando
• Virtual Meeting Tips, Reunión Virtuales Consejos