A Coronavirus Phone Line is available for families to call at 716.817.7445. An afterhours Coronavirus hotline is available for families and people enrolled in our Day Habilitation Programs and Vocational Services to share questions at 716.529.6505. Concerns may also be emailed to COVIDconcern@people-inc.org.
People Inc. also maintains an Emergency Closing Line for program participants, families and staff containing updated information about weather-related program closures. Call 716.817.5700 (Western New York) or 585.441.9393 (Greater Rochester Region) to find out if your program or location is closed.
Note:
On March 7, 2024, People Inc. updated the visitor policy for all residential facilities based on the recent Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) revised guidance on the "Management of Communicable Respiratory Viral Infections." Communicable Respiratory Viral Infections include: seasonal influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), COVID-19, measles, varicella zoster (chicken pox), and herpes zoster (shingles).
- If a person-served in a residence is under investigation (PUI) for or positive for COVID-19 or Influenza or Respiratory Viral Infection: Visitation is limited to outside (if weather permits)/Bedroom.
- If a person-Served is exposed to a person under investigation for or positive for COVID-19 or Influenza or Respiratory Viral Infection: Visitation is limited to outside (if weather permits)/Designated area in the home away from people in isolation.
- Face masks are required under the following circumstances:
- Face Masks are required if a visitor had close contact with someone with COVID-19, wear a well fitted face mask around others for 10-days from last close contact.
- Face Masks are required if a visitor completed a minimum 5-day isolation period as a result of a COVID-19 infection and are required to be worn on days 6-10.
- Face Masks are required if the home has a person receiving services under isolation for PUI or positive COVID-19 or the home is under isolation for a suspected or confirmed influenza.
More information is available at NYS OPWDD and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
April 15, 2020 Important Information from Self-Advocacy Association of New York State (SANYS) Director Arnold Ackerley
Apr 15, 2020
Self-Advocates and Parent Advocates had a recent victory advocating for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) to be allowed to have a support person with them if they are admitted into the hospital. Thank you to all the advocates who worked so hard on this, and to the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) and the New York State Department of Health (DOH) for taking action.
SANYS worked together with professionals at SWAN (Statewide Advocacy Network) on these tools if a trip to the hospital is necessary:
The information in these documents should help self-advocates, family members, staff and others communicate the rights of a person with I/DD should they need to go to the hospital.
“Help with COVID-19 Hospitalization” is a nine-page packet and “Help with Hospitalization – Easy Read” is an easy-to-read summary of what is in that packet. Within the packet is also a COVID-19 disability form created by SUNY Stony Brook which can be filled out in advance to help people have good information prepared, in the event that they enter a hospital.
We are want to be clear that these are tools we are offering as help to people and they are not required for use.
We recommend that self-advocates work with their circle of support and/or teams to determine if support in the hospital will be essential or not. Everyone should recognize that this is specifically about a right to essential support and there are people with I/DD that may not need essential support in the hospital. As always, we are all different and we want to recognize that difference and be responsible in how we exercise our rights.
Additionally, DOH has issued guidance to hospitals, clarifying the right of people with I/DD to have essential support in hospital. That guidance can be found here: COVID-19 Updated Guidance for Hospital Operators Regarding Visitation
We would like to thank OPWDD and DOH for issuing the above guidance. We would also like to acknowledge the work done by SUNY Stonybrook and professionals at SWAN.
People Inc. is a proud supporter of the Self-Advocacy Association of New York State (SANYS).