As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Administration for Community Living asked Councils to create a goal or objective to address national, state and local emergencies that disproportionately affect people with IDD and their families. The DD Council received federal funding to address Covid hesitancy and enhancing the public workforce.
The Covid hesitancy grant was funded by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Administration on Community Living (ACL) to provide services, information and education to various underserved populations to eliminate barriers for people receiving Covid-19 vaccines. This project funded several grassroots organizations to engage in activities to educate the public and promote getting people with IDD and others to get vaccinated. These projects provided gift cards to people getting vaccinated. Provided transportation for people to get vaccinated, held informational events where vaccines were available and produced an animated video on the importance of vaccines for people with IDD and direct service providers. This project was funded with money under the American Rescue Plan Act distributed by the Administration for Community Living and the Centers for Disease Control. Withing Washington state, the distribution of the funding was collaborative effort between the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UW UCEDD), Disability Rights Washington, the Washington State Independent Living Councils and the Washington State DD Council. The projects funded covered rural areas and BIPOC communities.
