COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Information, Response, and Planning for Washingtonians
This page will be updated as more information is made available.
Last Updated: February 17, 2021
It’s important to take steps to protect yourself from COVID-19 and prevent further spread of the virus if you do become sick. Here is a list of other recommendations for staying safe, informed, and prepared.
Know Your Legal Rights
Even in a crisis, people with disabilities have the right to live, work, learn, and access their community without discrimination.
Resources
- Washington Law Help COVID-19 Info
- What You Should Know About the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and COVID-19
- For workers affected by COVID-19 (coronavirus)
- NDRN Statement on Elections Accessibility during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Create a Household Plan of Action
Reach out to your service providers and circles of support to start planning. You may want to discuss a plan with family, roommates, and neighbors. If you already have a plan, review it to make sure it will still work.
Things to Consider:
- Are you signed up for emergency warnings in your county? Do you know how to do that?
- Do you know which phone numbers to call if you feel sick?
- Have you identified people in the community who may provide you with support if you need it? Do you know their contact information?
Resources
- Get Your Home Ready
- Parent and Caretaker Resources and Recommendations
- Talking with children about Coronavirus
- Managing Anxiety and Stress
Stay Informed
Information about how communities and governments are responding to COVID-19 is being regularly updated. It can be a lot of information to take in but it’s important to stay up to date on policies like changes in transportation service or requirements to stay at home.
Resources
- News Release, January 6, 2021: Who goes next: Washington releases next phase of vaccine prioritization
- Simplified graphic of Washington’s COVID-19 Vaccine Phases: Phase 1 Estimated Timeline (Tiers A and B)
- Washington State COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Planning
- Washington State Coronavirus Response (COVID-19)
- Office of the Governor: News & Media
- Sign up for email or text updates from the Office of the Governor or Department of Health
- Washington State Local Health Departments and Districts
- King County Public Health
- Washington Health Benefit Exchange
- Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner
Funding, Mutual Aid, and Support in Washington State
- Betancourt Macias Family Scholarship Foundation – Scholarships are open to ALL undocumented students, regardless of DACA eligibility. No GPA or volunteer/club involvement requirements.
- C19 Emergency Rent Relief – Works with tenants in the Greater Puget Sound area to collectively request an emergency rent reduction from their landlord.
- Chief Seattle Club – Meals, restrooms, hand-washing station, and more.
- COVID-19 South King County & Eastside Mutual Aid
- COVID-19 Mutual Aid – Seattle
- Disability Rights Washington: Reentry Resources for Currently and Formerly Incarcerated Individuals with Disabilities in King County
- Frelard Tamales – Free meals for those impacted by COVID-19. Located in Greenlake, Seattle.
- Green Light Project: Sex-Worker Aid Network Initiative – Supports sex workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in Seattle and the surrounding areas.
- Ingersoll Gender Center: Trans and Gender Diverse Community Financial Assistance Programs
- Mutual Aid Network: Spokane County
- Olympia COVID-19
- Palouse Mutual Aid
- Palouse COVID-19 Mutual Aid
- Palouse/Inland NW Open Source COVID-19 Medical Supplies
- Prison Scholar Fund – Food boxes for formerly incarcerated folks in Washington state.
- Skagit Mutual Aid Support Services
- Snohomish County Mutual Aid Group
- South King County & Eastside COVID/Coronavirus Mutual Aid Facebook Group
- Tacoma Mutual Aid Collective: COVID-19 Grocery Support
- Washington Healthcare Access Alliance: Free and Charitable Clinics
- Washington State Student and Youth Homelessness COVID-19 Response Fund – Accepts applications from nonprofit organizations, school districts, and local tribes in Washington State that serve PK-12 (pre-kindergarten through 12th grade) students and/or youth and young adults (age 13-24) experiencing homelessness.
General Funding, Mutual Aid, and Support
- Access Living: COVID-19 Resources for the Disability Community
- Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence: Survivor Emergency Relief Fund
- The Artists’ Fellowship – Emergency aid to professional visual artists and their families.
- Artly World: Artist Relief Project
- Arts and Culture Leaders of Color Emergency Fund – One-time $200 micro-grants for US-based BIPOC artists and administrators.
- Autistic People of Color Fund
- The Campaign for Disability and Employment: Resources for Job Seekers & Employees
- Circle for Justice Innovations: Strategic Opportunities Support Rapid Response Fund
- Foundation for Contemporary Arts: Emergency Grants COVID-19 Fund – One-time $2,000 grants to eligible artists who have lost income from canceled performances or exhibitions because of the pandemic
- Dramatists Guild Foundation: Emergency Grants
- HEARD: National Deaf in Prison Hotline
- January – March 2021 Hours
Mondays 9 am – 11 am PST, noon – 2 pm EST
Thursdays 10 am – 1 pm PST, 1 pm – 4 pm EST - Videophone number: (202) 436-9278
- January – March 2021 Hours
- Immigrants Rising: Tangible Support for Undocumented Communities During COVID-19 (Spanish)
- Mutual Aid Hub
- Navajo & Hopi Families COVID-19 Relief
- The Radical Database: Mutual Aid
- Sweet Relief Musicians’ Fund: COVID-19 Funds
Other resources
- Disability Rights Washington
- VIDEO: What You Need to Know About COVID-19 produced by Rooted in Rights
- The Arc of King County
Information and resources on COVID-19, including clear and accessible ways of explaining the virus to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. - Washington State Department of Health: ASL COVID-19 Video Series
- Information on Face Coverings for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Blind Community Members
- Plain-Language Guide to COVID-19 For and by Persons with Disabilities
- Información de COVID-19 Por y Para Personas con Discapacidades
- COVID-19 ASL Hotline
- Washington State Deaf Resources on COVID-19
Do you have questions about your legal rights?
Are you unable to access critical information?
Disability Rights Washington is here to help.
Please note that in order to protect the health and safety of our staff and ensure that we will be able to continue to provide high quality legal services, we will conduct meetings remotely and our office will be closed to the general public. Our phone lines will remain open during regular business hours and people in need of legal assistance should call to schedule an appointment for Technical Assistance.
About Rooted In Rights
Rooted in Rights exists to amplify the perspectives of the disability community. Blog posts and storyteller videos that we publish and content we re-share on social media do not necessarily reflect the opinions or values of Rooted in Rights nor indicate an endorsement of a program or service by Rooted in Rights. We respect and aim to reflect the diversity of opinions and experiences of the disability community. Rooted in Rights seeks to highlight discussions, not direct them. Learn more about Rooted In Rights
