Having Trouble Getting Your COVID-19 Vaccination or Booster Shots?

Through a grant from the Centers of Disease Control Foundation and Able South Carolina, ACI is partnering with the Disability Vaccine Access Opportunity Center (DVAO) to increase access to the COVID-19 vaccinations among NJ residents with disabilities. Efforts include removing barriers that prevent individuals from obtaining vaccinations and combating vaccine hesitancy.

ACI is working with the Middlesex County Health Department to organize mobile vaccination units and pop up vaccination sites at events throughout the area. If your organization is interested in having a mobile vaccination unit or pop up unit at your event, contact ctonks@adacil.org

Is the lack of accessible and safe transportation preventing you from getting your COVID vaccine or booster shot? ACI may be able to assist. Call us at 732-738-4388

For more information about vaccinations, including where to get your vaccine, contact:

• Disability Information and Access Hotline at 888-667-1199 or acl.gov/dial

• NJ COVID-19 Information Hub: covid19.nj.gov

• Alliance Center for Independence at adacil.org or the ACI helpline at 732-738-1941

COVID-19 Vaccine Survey for People with Disabilities

The Alliance Center for Independence is planning a panel discussion on COVID-19 vaccines that is open to the disability community. The purpose of the event is to provide the disability community with information so that individuals can make an informed choice about getting or not getting a vaccine.

To help in the planning process, ACI is asking our consumers to fill out the following survey.

CLICK HERE TO FILL OUT THE SURVEY

COVID-19 Vaccine Survey

ACI Food Pantry is Still Operating During the Coronavirus Pandemic

If you are a low income person with a disability or are impacted by the pandemic and need food…we can help!

The ACI Food Pantry is open Monday and Wednesday from 9 AM to 5 PM during the coronavirus pandemic. We still continue to get donations of food and are fully stocked with canned vegetables, fresh milk, peanut butter, bread, water, and other essential items. We also have a limited number of masks and gloves.

Please call 732-738-4388 to schedule an appointment for curbside pickup outside of the ACI office, located at 629 Amboy Ave, Edison, NJ.

The ACI Food Pantry is a proud member of the Middlesex County Food Organization and Outreach Distribution Services (MCFOODS).

ACI strictly adheres to CDC and state health department guidelines regarding social distancing and maintaining virus-free environments.

Hospital Visitation Policy

The NJ Department of Health (DOH) issued the hospital visitation policy for people with disabilities effective April 25, 2020.

DOE now considers a designated support person essential to patient care people with disabilities. As a result, hospitals must allow a designated support person to be with the individual during hospitalization. The policy needs to be broader including all disabilities that may require a support person. Please send your concerns to jean.devitto@doh.nj.gov

ACI, as well as many other advocacy groups and individuals, have been advocating on this issue for the past month. Thank you to all of those who sent letters to the Governor. Thank you to Paul Aronsohn, Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and Their Families and Christine Bakter, Associate Director who ensured our emails made it to the Governor's desk. We appreciate your efforts!

Be sure to read the letters that ACI sent out regarding this policy at the links below.

ACI and Advocates Provide Input on COVID-19 Policy

ACI was given the opportunity to provide comment on the document entitled, "Allocation of Critical Care Resources During a Public Health Emergency" issued by the NJ Department of Health on April 11, 2020. As the Health Department is finalizing its policy on how critical care resources are distributed during the coronavirus crisis, ACI and its partner advocates provided needed input to ensure that the rights of people with disabilities and their families/guardians are included.

Below is the letter that ACI sent to the Department of Health.