Titled, “COVID-19 Vaccine Access and Confidence for People with Disabilities,” this initiative will educate the safety of the vaccine and the importance of being vaccinated to those in the disability community. A variety of public outreach tools will be used to convey this information.

“This work builds upon our efforts pursued throughout the COVID-19 crisis to support vaccination efforts for individuals with disabilities, their families and direct support professionals. It is critical we promote accessibility during all steps of the vaccination process to ensure that all people with disabilities can access a vaccine,” said Eric Kurtz, Ph.D., executive director of the Center for Disabilities.

One especially important component of the program is to engage family members of people with disabilities. “Family members are important influencers in the lives of people who have a disability,” said Kurtz. “Providing the tools and resources to support those family conversations around vaccines will get us one step closer to our goal.”

The project will engage numerous strategic partners across South Dakota, including state Departments of Health, Human Services and Social Services, along with the Council on Developmental Disabilities, Disability Rights South Dakota, Community Support Providers of South Dakota, Communication Services for the Deaf, the Centers for Independent Living and other organizations and health partners.

The program is made possible through a cooperative agreement with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

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