Disability Rights & Resources is proud to announce its partnership with USAging!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
9/14/2023
Contact: John Roper, Chief Executive Officer, john.roper@drradvocates.org, 205-815-6152
Disability Rights and Resources Awarded Funding to Conduct Vaccination Promotion Activities to Older Adults and People with Disabilities
Birmingham, AL — Disability Rights and Resources (DRR) is pleased to announce that it has received funding from the USAging-led Aging and Disability Vaccination Collaborative to conduct activities that will connect older adults and people with disabilities to COVID-19 and flu vaccines. Led by USAging and funded by the U.S. Administration for Community Living, the Aging and Disability Vaccination Collaborative grants are helping communities stay healthy by targeting older adults and people with disabilities, particularly those from historically marginalized and underserved communities in which vaccination rates are low. As part of its grant, DRR will partner with local agencies to host community vaccine clinics, arrange for supportive services such as transportation to vaccination sites, and will conduct outreach and education. Vaccines will be available to all ages.
“This funding will enable DRR to assist residents across central Alabama including some of the state’s most impoverished communities and create meaningful impact for People of Color and individuals who are LGBTQ+, limited English-speaking, of low income, homeless, and those experiencing justice involvement” said John, Roper, CEO, Disability Rights and Resources. “Older adults and individuals with disabilities, especially those from historically disadvantaged groups, are at the greatest risk of severe COVID-19 illness. Now that flu season is upon us, the most effective way to prevent flu-related suffering and complications is through an annual flu vaccine which reduces the risk of contracting the flu, as well as the chances of experiencing severe illness requiring hospitalization.”
“Our 100 Aging and Disability Vaccination Collaborative grantees have hit the ground running,” said Sandy Markwood, CEO of USAging, which leads the Collaborative. “The funding we have received from the U.S. Administration for Community Living will enable us to make significant strides to increase the number of older adults and people with disabilities who are vaccinated. With these resources, USAging anticipates funding more than 200 communities and vaccinating more than two million older adults and people with disabilities. These vaccination uptake efforts are lifesaving for the older adults and people with disabilities who research has shown are the most vulnerable to death and severe illness from COVID-19 and the flu.”
Disability Rights and Resources and other Aging and Disability Vaccination Collaborative grantees expect to deliver vaccines to more than 110,000 older adults and people with disabilities while providing more than 130,000 supportive services over the duration of their grants. The grant period will span the summer months and the fall and winter, as well as the Medicare Open Enrollment period, a time when older adults are encouraged to ensure they are up to date on vaccinations such as shingles, pneumonia and others.
Applications will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis until funding is expended. Organizations interested in grants can learn more at www.usaging.org/ADVC.
About Disability Rights and Resources Disability Rights and Resources (DRR) is a National Center for Independent Living whose mission is to help individuals with disabilities reach their independent living goals and fully participate in their communities. DRR promotes equal access and disability rights through advocacy and public awareness activities. The agency’s purpose includes increasing accessibility and improving services related to the following: (1) independent living; (2) accessibility of community resources; (3) community participation; (4) affordable, accessible, integrated, and safe housing; (5) education and transition opportunities for youth; (6) growth in the disability community; and (7) enhanced leadership opportunities for marginalized people with disabilities. Headquartered in Birmingham, DRR provides services to residents of 20 central Alabama Counties: Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Etowah, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Jefferson, Lamar, Perry, Pickens, Randolph, Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega, Tuscaloosa, and Walker.
About the Aging and Disability Vaccination Collaborative
Led by USAging and funded by the U.S. Administration for Community Living, the Aging and Disability Vaccination Collaborative will distribute funding to enable organizations across the aging and disability networks to perform an array of vaccination promotion activities. Organizations selected for funding will host community vaccine clinics, provide in-home vaccinations, provide transportation to vaccination sites, and will conduct outreach and education to older adults and people with disabilities among other activities. Learn more at www.usaging.org/advc.
