Tell Congress to Include the Disability Community in COVID-19 Relief Bills

Congress has passed several bills to respond to the coronavirus pandemic –
but they have not addressed the critical needs of people with disabilities, their families, and the direct support professional workforce. Ask Members of Congress to pass a bill NOW that addresses the specific and critical needs of people with disabilities, including:

1. Funding for a Medicaid grant program to support access to home and community- based services to limit the risk of people with disabilities being put into institutions and support the workforce. Congress should pass the Coronavirus Relief for Seniors and People with Disabilities Act.
2. Personal protective equipment (PPE) for direct support professionals. This is urgently needed to protect the health and safety of this critical workforce. Direct support professionals must be designated as essential workers so that they can get access to the PPE and medical supplies they need.
3. Paid leave for caregivers. As more people with disabilities lose their usual sources of care, family caregivers are scrambling and need access to paid leave and sick days to help their loved ones. Congress should include all family caregivers in the emergency paid leave provisions.
4. Economic impact payments for all people with disabilities. Tell Congress to pass H.R.6420, the All Dependent Children Count Act, and make sure that adults with disabilities who are claimed as dependents get their $500 economic credit.