UPDATE ON D.C. DDS RESPONSE TO COVID 19

On Friday I wrote about my concern that there wasn’t adequate information coming from DDS or the Bowser administration with respect to contingency planning about COVID 19.  On Saturday I called in for a remote townhall by the mayor’s office about general arrangements, but I was unable to ask my question about getting targeted information out to people with developmental disabilities.

Yesterday I heard from Andy Reese, director of the Department on Disability Services, who directed me to this link:  https://dds.dc.gov/publication/dds-operating-status-during-covid-19-emergency.  He tells me that there will be a letter coming out today for self-advocates and families – I hope that will be distributed widely, including hard copy where needed.  In the call on Saturday I learned there was to be a mailing to people served by the Office on Aging (or maybe to senior citizens generally, I was not sure).  This mailing also should go to those in the community receiving supports and services from DDS and DCOA under the IDD and EPD waivers, and I sincerely hope this message is being heard.

I’ll share information as I get it.  In the meantime, read this and distribute this information from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) widely:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fabout%2Fprevention.html

Please stay safe, and do your best to keep others around you safe as well, by practicing social distancing to the extent possible.