[IL-Talk] FW: Disability Vaccine Working Group update

Tue Mar 9 19:07:44 UTC 2021

Hello all,

I received the following information from MOPD. See below.

Denise Avant, ESQ

1st Vice President

National Federation of the Blind of Illinois

For more information about NFBI,

Go to www.nfbofillinois.org

From: Rachel Arfa <Rachel.Arfa at cityofchicago.org> 
Sent: Monday, March 8, 2021 7:40 PM
To: Nafia Lee <nafia at thearcofil.org>; Katelyn Yoshimoto
<katelyn_yoshimoto at jtpr.com>
Cc: Christina McGleam <christina.mcgleam at cityofchicago.org>;
bhayman at accessliving.org; amiles at accessliving.org; jjpak at uic.edu; Barry
Taylor <BarryT at equipforequality.org>; davant1958 at gmail.com;
dbekiri5 at gmail.com; kaguilar <kaguilar at anixter.org>; villalobosr at me.com;
eblum at ada25advancingleadership.org; roosheyh at uic.edu;
rhychell_barnes at att.net; yowolf24 at gmail.com; Michele Lee
<michele.lee at aon.com>; Greg.Polman at chicagolighthouse.org;
wflanigan at envisionunlimited.org; knightdahla at gmail.com; Gabriela
Wagener-Sobrero <Gabriela.Wagener-Sobrero at cityofchicago.org>; Rachel Bernard
<Rachel.Bernard at cityofchicago.org>; Tamara Mahal
<Tamara.Mahal at cityofchicago.org>; Ivonne Sambolin
<Ivonne.Sambolin at cityofchicago.org>; linneawilliamson54 at gmail.com; Megan
Cunningham <Megan.Cunningham at cityofchicago.org>; Laurie Dittman
<Laurie.Dittman at cityofchicago.org>; tara.advocacy at gmail.com;
krescenebeck at gmail.com; meg at thearcofil.org; Faye Thanas
<Faye.Thanas at cityofchicago.org>; VOC <VOC at cityofchicago.org>;
kmeskin at progresscil.org; Kimberly.Mercer-Schleider at illinois.gov; Daniel
Anderegg <Daniel.Anderegg at cityofchicago.org>; Alyse Kittner
<Alyse.Kittner at cityofchicago.org>; Antonio King
<Antonio.King at cityofchicago.org>; Sandi Brown
<Sandi.Brown at cityofchicago.org>; Hamer-Sinclair, Mariel
<mariel.hamer-sinclair at illinois.gov>
Subject: Disability Vaccine Working Group update 

Hi all - 

Our next vaccine working group meeting is on March 18, from 12-1pm.  We had
hoped to re-schedule for this week but ran into several scheduling
conflicts.   ASL interpretation and captioning will be available - please
contact me with any other accessibility requests for the meeting.  

Update on United Center vaccine site: 

United Center's vaccine site opens up tomorrow.   Currently, there are  6100
vaccine appointments available per day, and the Pfizer vaccine is being
administered.  The first two weeks require navigating through different
stations, and in approximately two weeks, a drive through option will become
available.  Both options are currently scheduled to open through the end of
June. 

MOPD's Accessibility Compliance Unit did a site visit this morning to assess
physical accessibility of the vaccine site, and the vaccination crew is
already working on implementing our team's recommendations.  For example,
there were some potholes near the accessible parking - the crew is already
filling in the potholes as of this afternoon.  I, along with other members
of our MOPD team, did a site visit this afternoon and assessed communication
accessibility.  There are several measures in place to meet accessibility
needs.   Some general information to highlight: 

*	Entrance and drop off point is the entire block of Madison, east of
Wood Street. 
*	An ADA assistance area is set up in the front entrance tent.  This
ADA assistance area has significant capacity to be expanded based on need.
If an individual prefers not to move from station to station when inside the
tent, the ADA assistance area is a fixed location. 
Tip: ask to receive the vaccine in the ADA assistance area if your
disability makes it more difficult to move from station to station.  In this
area, there are sets of two chairs, so that a companion can sit with you.  
*	The alternate option is to move from station to station in the
subsequent (very large) tents.  The stations are:  (1) main registration
check in, (2) vaccine station and (3) post-vaccine resting room.
individuals will be assigned to the 15 minute post-vaccine room, unless on
their registration, they check that they have had adverse side effects in
the past and will then be assigned a different area, to rest for 30 minutes
post receiving the vaccine.  
*	When you arrive, you will need to show your appointment
confirmation, by presenting the QR code in your confirmation email.   If you
do not have access to email or a phone, there will be two printers and staff
will assist you in printing your appointment confirmation.  You will not
need to present any other information, and do not need to present any
paperwork verifying your disability.  The only document needed is your QR
code or paper print out of the QR code verifying your appointment.   
*	The advance registration process now asks for any accessibility
needs; prior to a visit, the accessibility request is reviewed, and will
also be flagged the morning of the visit for the onsite staff to ensure
preparation. 
*	Clear masks are available by request.  
*	ASL interpretation will be provided via two ways: (1) Video Remote
Interpreting, through a FEMA VRI contract with a nationwide ASL interpreting
agency.  To access VRI, go to www.FEMAVRI.com <http://www.femavri.com/> ,
using a smartphone or tablet.  There are tablets set up on every table for
VRI, and also available to connect with foreign language interpretation.  An
onsite ASL interpreter is available, and based on need, additional onsite
ASL interpreters can be requested.   
*	There is a wheelchair valet available just past the entrance for
anyone who needs a wheelchair, and also includes a wheelchair escort. 
*	Staff are available to provide wayfinding assistance.  
*	Accessible parking is available, and there are shuttle buses from
the parking lots to the entrance.  The shuttlebus is accessible and has a
ramp.   
*	Service animals are welcome, and staff are aware to permit service
animals.  
*	Right now, it is estimated the entire experience will take
approximately 45 minutes, which can vary on if you need 30 minutes instead
of 15 minutes to rest after receiving the vaccination.    This number may
vary, but wanted to give you a general idea.  It is recommended you bring
your own snacks or water if needed.  
*	If an individual is taking Pace paratransit, be sure to let the team
providing assistance know.  There are a number of options available,
including being able to stay in their seat (where they received the
vaccine), until Pace Paratransit arrives.  If for some reason, that is not
available, there are some additional options available.   
*	An accessible restroom is available; it is recommended you use the
restroom prior to your visit.  

Information is available here about who is eligible to make an appointment -
senior citizens or those who qualify under 1b+, and also about
accessibility. 

https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/covid19-vaccine/home/united-center.htm
l

CDPH and  the Chicago Fire Department are working together to provide in
home vaccination for senior citizens 65+ and also to individuals with
disabilities who are not able to travel to a vaccine site.   To sign up,
fill out this attached survey, and please feel free to share with your
networks: https://redcap.dph.illinois.gov/surveys/?s=NC9XC3889P 

We are working on getting a map of the set up at United Center and will pass
that along.   

We will keep you posted as more information becomes available, and as
always, please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns.  

Thanks, 

Rachel 

Rachel Arfa

Commissioner, Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities

City of Chicago

Phone: (312) 744-7209

Fax: (312) 744-3314

 <http://www.cityofchicago.org/Disabilities>
www.cityofchicago.org/Disabilities

Pronouns: she/her/hers

  _____  

This e-mail, and any attachments thereto, is intended only for use by the
addressee(s) named herein and may contain legally privileged and/or
confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient of this
e-mail (or the person responsible for delivering this document to the
intended recipient), you are hereby notified that any dissemination,
distribution, printing or copying of this e-mail, and any attachment
thereto, is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error,
please respond to the individual sending the message, and permanently delete
the original and any copy of any e-mail and printout thereof. 