[IABS-Talk] Updated COVID-19 Resource List

Mon Mar 30 01:44:34 UTC 2020

National Federation of the Blind of Illinois 

Illinois Coronavirus COVID-19 Resource list 

The National Federation of the Blind and its Illinois affiliate knows that
the COVID-19 crisis is presenting some changes in our lives, but there are
unique challenges to blind people. The health and safety of our members,
colleagues and friends is a top priority. We in the NFB are monitoring the
COVID-19 emergency. The below updated list is simply some resources that may
be helpful to you during this time of the Covid-19 crisis and social
distancing. Please feel free to explore and submit other helpful resources.
If you need any assistance please reach out to me, Denise Avant, President,
National Federation of the Blind of Illinois at 773-991-8050 or
davant1958 at gmail.com <mailto:davant1958 at gmail.com> . Please feel free to
share this list with others who do not have e-mail. Also please direct NFB
Newsline subscribers  to the Illinois information and the breaking news
sections for information on COVID-19. 

For general information about COVID-19:

Go to Center for Disease Control - CDC.gov.

Or call the CDC 1-800-232-4636 option 4

World Health Organization - www.who.int <http://www.who.int> 

Another resource for frequently asked questions:

Walgreens.com

CVS.com or 

CVS Coronavirus Hotline 1-888-300-4419

National Federation of the Blind Resources

Website - nfb.org/COVID19

Here you can find national resources about COVID-19, advocacy and education
issues related to blindness. 

Parents of blind children and blind students may wish to note in particular
the blog post by Stephanie Flynt, "Don't Be a Barrier, Be Accessible Now."
This post deals with the right of blind students to receive accessible
online educational materials for schools shifting to remote online learning

NFB Newsline

All subscribers, for the most up to the minute information about COVID-19,
you can read national and local newspapers. 

If you wish to become a subscriber, the channel administrator is David
Meyer, (708-606-7091

All subscribers can access NFB Newsline by phone, an app on your iOS device,
Amazon Echo line of products, the Victor Reader Stream or
nfbnewslineonline.org.

You can locate specific information about COVID-19 under the breaking news
section. For phone users, once you have dialed in, have been logged in,
press option 5, then 1.

***Note: The National Federation of the Blind office in Baltimore is closed
due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Therefore, the Independence Market is closed.
However, starting this Tuesday, we will start shipping free white canes.
Shipments will go out once a week. 

So please order your cane using the order form on the nfb.org website or
call 410-659-9314. You can leave your contact information, and your order
will be processed as soon as possible.

***National Federation of the Blind Convention

We are still planning to have our 80th national convention in Houston Texas
from July 14-19. The pre-registration form, which has been down solely due
to technical difficulties, is expected to be up on Wednesday, April 1. 

General information in Illinois 

www.covid19.Illinois.gov <http://www.covid19.Illinois.gov>  

Illinois Department of Health 

IDPH.Illinois.gov/covid-19

IDPH Hotline

1-800-889-3931 

Transportation:

All public transit systems are deemed essential and should be running in
your area. But please call your local transportation authority to check for
scheduling.

Chicago Ventra Card Users

If you have a 7-day or 30-day pass, you can request a one-time credit for
any balance left on the pass. The prorated credit will be based on when the
pass was last used. To receive your credit, you must send an e-mail, and
type of credit. Your request for the prorated credit must be sent by April
13.

to customerservice at ventrachicago.com
<mailto:customerservice at ventrachicago.com>  with your name and Ventra
number. Prorated credits will be issued as Transit Value that is added to
the cardholder's Ventra account. Transit Value can be used to purchase
passes in the future or for rides paid for individually from your value
balance.

Paratransit 

Paratransit is available in your area for transporting you to essential
activities, grocery shopping, pharmacy trips and doctor visits

PACE Customers

If you use Paratransit in the city of Chicago, and have the TAP (Taxi
Access) Card, you will not be charged for your rides. You simply swipe your
card at the end of your trip. No money will be taken from your card.

Quad Cities

Bus rides are free

Rideshare Companies

Uber and Lyft are running but you may experience some delay in pickup

Restaurant Deliveries

Uber eats is offering 0 delivery fee, but there are other normal service
fees.

Door Dash is doing the same.

Grubhub is offering $10 off any order over $30 at selected restaurants if
you order between 5 pm and 9 pm 

Grocery Stores offering special hours for Seniors/vulnerable guests:

Please call your local store

One hour before stores open

Walgreens- Tuesday

Walmart: Tuesdays

First Hour that the store is open

Target - Wednesdays

Grocery Deliveries

Instacart instacart.com 

Amazon Fresh - Amazon.com

You can also access Instacart and Amazon Fresh through apps on your
smartphone, which are accessible with Voiceover in iOS and Talkback under
Android. 

Mariano's (Free grocery delivery for orders over $35, but you must be using
the Mariano's app)

*please note that several of our members have volunteered to help people use
apps on the iOS platform to order groceries. If you need such assistance,
please call Michal Nowicki at 847-361-9403 or e-mail him at
mnowicki4 at icloud.com <mailto:mnowicki4 at icloud.com> , and he will put you in
touch with someone to help you.

Information for Food Banks 

Greater Chicago Food Depository: 773-247-3663

Northern Illinois Food Bank: - 630-443-6916

Central and Southern Illinois Food Bank: 217-522-4022

Eastern Illinois Food Bank:217-328-3663 

Need help with meal preparation?

Directions for me website: www.directionsforme.org.

Great resource for directions on most store-bought packaging, includes
frozen foods, cans, etc.

Prairie Grass Cooking Hotline - Available from 2-4 pm 847-920-8437

This hotline will help people with cooking ideas and using ingredients to
prepare meals.

Blindness Apps On both Android and iOS

Aira is still fully operational and is offering its service free of charge
for students engaged in distance learning.

BE My Eyes is also operational

Vispero is offering a free JAWS, ZoomText or Fusion home license to everyone
ending  on June 30.

Twelve Step Program Help and Support

If you are part of any programs for alcohol and drug dependency, you will
still be able to continue meetings. For online or phone meetings

Go to www.chicagoaa.org <http://www.chicagoaa.org>  or 

Or call 312-346-1475

Mental Health Intervention

PATH (Providing Access to Help)

(309) 827-4005. 

Web address:www.pathcrisis.org <http://www.pathcrisis.org> .  They offer
services for home insecurity. suicide, mental health etc.

National Suicide Prevention Hotline 

1.	1-800-273-8255

Denise R. Avant, Esq.

President,

National Federation of the Blind of Illinois

773-991-8050

Live the life you want.

For more information about NFBI,

Go to www.nfbofillinois.org