[IL-Talk] Updated Illinois COVID-19 Resource list

Thu Apr 9 17:19:39 UTC 2020

Thanks very much, denise

Sent from my iPad

> On 9 Apr 2020, at 9:34 AM, Denise Avant via IL-Talk <il-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> 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 channel and the breaking
> news sections for useful 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> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> OTHER RESOURCES 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 or 2 if you wish to reach data provided by Johns
> Hopkins University.
> 
> 
> 
> ***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, we ARE 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 from July 14-19.
> The pre-registration form, which has been down solely due to technical
> difficulties, is expected to be up SOON. 
> 
> 
> 
> 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 
> 
> 
> 
> Illinois Bureau of Blind Services
> 
> If you need assistance with blindness rehabilitation services, you may call
> the Division of Rehabilitation Services at (877)-581- 3690.
> 
> While BBS offices as well as ICRE-Wood are closed, all staff are still
> available to assist you with your case. You can contact them electronically.
> 
> 
> 
> 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 as your store may not be listed hear or the
> listed stores may change their hours.
> 
> One hour before stores open
> 
> Walgreens- Tuesday
> 
> Walmart: Tuesdays
> 
> 
> 
> Between 8 am and 9 am 
> 
> Costco Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays
> 
> 
> 
> First Hour that the store is open
> 
> Target - Wednesdays
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> GROCERY DELIVERIES
> 
> Instacart instacart.com 
> 
> Amazon Fresh - Amazon.com
> 
> Postmates is delivering Walgreens essential items and groceries
> 
> 
> 
> You can also access Instacart, Amazon Fresh and Postmates 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
> 
> Chicago'sfoodbank.org
> 
> 
> 
> Northern Illinois Food Bank: - 630-443-6916
> 
> Solvehungertoday.org
> 
> 
> 
> Central and Southern Illinois Food Bank: 217-522-4022
> 
> 
> 
> Eastern Illinois Food Bank:217-328-3663 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> HELP WITH FOOD 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 ANDROID AND iOS platforms
> 
> 
> 
> 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 all
> households ending  on June 30. Go to Freedomscientific.com.
> 
> 
> 
> LEGAL RESOURCES
> 
> 
> 
> Equip for Equality has developed a fact sheet to address common workplace
> issues for people with disabilities in the context of COVID-19. The fact
> sheet can be accessed at: www.equipforequality.org/covid-work/
> <http://www.equipforequality.org/covid-work/>  
> 
> 
> 
> Equip for Equality's Employment Rights Helpline is still open for business.
> To access the Helpline, call toll-free: 1-844-RIGHTS-9 (or 1-844-744-4879)
> and a trained attorney will respond to the call.  You can also email the
> Helpline at: employment at equipforequality.org
> <mailto:employment at equipforequality.org>  
> 
> All Helpline resources can be found at:
> 
> www.equipforequality.org/issues/discrimination-ada-rights/employment/employm
> ent-rights-helpline/helpline-resources/
> <http://www.equipforequality.org/issues/discrimination-ada-rights/employment
> /employment-rights-helpline/helpline-resources/>  
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 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 HELP 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
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE
> 
> IDHS has created a plan to increase the capacity of its current statewide
> network of services and to streamline access to emergency shelter. The role
> of the Domestic Violence Helpline is being expanded in order to create a one
> stop access point for shelter needs. Victims may directly call the Helpline
> at 1-877-TO END DV (1-877-863-6338 voice or 1-877-863-6339 TTY) and be
> connected to shelter through existing local domestic violence shelters or
> they will be connected to emergency shelter through available hotels and
> motels. Transportation assistance is being offered as well.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 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
> 
> 
> 
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