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Disability Dispatch
December 2020
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DHIP Member Spotlight
Kate Farinholt- Executive Director, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Maryland
We've all heard of the "holiday blues." During times of stress, everyone is more susceptible to symptoms of anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and it can be harder to cope with everyday events. Combining the normal holiday stressors with the ongoing pandemic, the holiday season this year will be especially difficult for a majority of Americans. Individuals with mental health conditions have more difficulty with the unexpected change in routine than do others, and they can experience holidays as negative events. Family members may struggle to balance the needs of their relative with a mental health condition with the desires of other relatives and friends. NAMI Maryland is here to help. We provide free support and education for individuals with mental health conditions and their family members. We also offer many resources for coping with the holidays, including a booklet, which can be viewed on our website.
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Special: 2020 Holiday Guidance
Arbor Place Inc.
Tips To Managing Stress and Mental Health During The Holidays
To learn more, please visit here.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Holiday Celebrations and Small Gatherings During The COVID 19 Pandemic
This holiday season may be uniquely stressful and difficult with ongoing isolation. Considering the health risks, some celebrations may need to be altered and creative celebration should be considered. The CDC created holiday celebration recommendations to help families make decisions on how to celebrate safely this year. Some ideas include video chatting during holiday meals, dining outdoors (weather permitting), neighborhood decorating contests, holiday scavenger hunts, homemade gifts/decorations, handwritten cards, holiday movie marathon, holiday package drop-offs for family and friends who are isolating and holiday volunteering (local opportunities). To learn more please visit here.
COVID-19 Masking Do's and Don'ts
The CDC recommends that people wear masks in public settings like on public and mass transportation, at events and gatherings, and anywhere they will be around other people. It is important to wear a mask correctly and consistently to keep you from getting or spreading the virus.
To learn more, please visit here.
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Tools and Resources
Assistive Technology Holiday Survival Guide
This guide for devices/apps to assist you to get through the holidays was created by the Maryland Technology Assistance Program (MDTAP) at the Maryland Department of Disabilities. If you have any questions about the devices in the guide or would like guidance on what other options are out there please contact the AT specialist, James Whitney, at jwhitney@mdtap.org.
MD COVID Alert
MD COVID Alert uses Bluetooth Low Energy technology to quickly notify users who might have been exposed to someone who tested positive. This will reduce the risk of infection and help Maryland stop the spread of COVID-19. This app can be downloaded at no cost to you and can be found on both apple and android user platforms. To learn more, please visit here.
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The HHS Office of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention has released the Healthy People 2030 objectives which are critical to helping community leaders make decisions about their public health priorities and to track the nation's progress toward a healthy society. To learn more, please visit here.
Webinar: Making Social Media Accessible for People with Disabilities
Presenters: Center for Inclusive Design and Innovation, Georgia Tech. Date and Time: Wednesday, January 20, 2021 2:00 - 3:00 PM EST. Register here.
The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) is seeking a qualified consultant to provide technical support and guidance to local health department awardees for the Addressing Needs of People with Disabilities in COVID-19 Local Preparedness Planning, Mitigation, and Recovery Efforts Project. The due date is January 11, 2021. To learn more, please visit here.
Theme: When Crisis is Commonplace: Transforming Your Community's Public Health Preparedness Practices.
Dates: April 12 - 15, 2021
Venue: Atlanta, Georgia.
The conference will focus on how to adapt our preparedness and response infrastructure to public health emergencies such as COVID-19 while highlighting tools, resources, and policies that may help.
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