[NFBMI-Talk] FW: Corvid19 Testing Access

Sat Apr 18 21:16:30 UTC 2020

Hello,

I read an article, below, about drive through testing for Corvid 19 around
the state.  I am concerned that blind folks have access whether or not we
are in a car.

I reached out to Bill Robinson, Director of Michigan Bureau of Services for
Blind Persons (BSBP) because I am concerned about the large numbers of
services being provided via a "drive up" lane.  Corvid19 testing is of
particular concern since it will, over the next few months, become more and
more important to everyone as we decide how to live our daily lives.  I
called the Ingham County Health Department to find out if a person could
walk up for a test.  I was told that it was from a car, only.  So, I wrote
to Bill since he is inside Michigan Government and is the visible
representative within government for blind persons.  I am pleased with his
responsiveness and attention to this issue.

At the end is a list of testing sites as of the date of the release.  There
may be more by now since they are trying to open more sites all the time.
Each of you may wish to call the number for your area to determine what is
happening for you.  I only called Ingham County.  The more calls they get
the more importance they will put on accessibility for everyone.  To me, the
standard is to have access on a par with anyone driving through.

Below is an edited version of his replies.  Of course, they are in newest to
oldest order.    I edited out all the email stuff, but left the pertinent
information as it came to me.

Warmest Regards,

Fred

From: Robinson, William (LEO) [mailto:RobinsonW7 at michigan.gov] 
Subject: RE: Corvid19 Testing Access

During our call today there was a FEMA hosted call that I asked one of my
team to attend.  I asked them to raise the question of accessibility of
testing sites. They did not get a chance to ask the question as I had framed
it using your input and our collective concerns however here is what FEMA
said about it:

Disability Access Concerns Questions: 

FEMA ODIC: Linda Mastandrea- Physical access to testing sites: It is
important to identify gaps in service as it relates to testing sites so that
we can identify solutions. We know there are issues with drive up testing
sites- blind and visually impaired may not be able to access the sites if
they are strictly drive up and similar to individuals who use public
transportation and are in wheelchairs with ramps in the back of the vans,
they cannot easily access the sites. Some sites have made policy adjustments
to address issues and have come up with solutions at the local levels. HHS
Feedback: That is a very good point about the drive up, HIPPA guidance
addresses walk up with the drive-up testing sites so that everyone can be
assisted equally. This requires some thought through. Same with making sure
hospitals have DME (durable medical equipment) for individuals with
disabilities or mobile devices that may be needed. Reasonable standards are
still in play, but it is important to note that sometimes what is reasonable
under an emergency circumstance can be tough, but none-the-less it should
still be followed. For example: It does not take much money to ensure the
testing sites are walk-up rather than strictly drive-up. The guidance came
out on March 28 and we do want to update it and have the appetite to do so,
but the wheels of government turn so slowly. 

Also here are some helpful links that my team pulled as well as they did
some research

On another note: Caitlin tested the accessibility of the "Self-Checker" tool
found on the CDC website and another one which was published by the City of
Chicago. She determined that the City of Chicago site read clearly. I pasted
the links below as well as her responses. These might be good resources to
share with participants who seek such a tool to help guide them in making
decisions and seek appropriate medical care:    

CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/testing.html
<https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.g
ov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fsymptoms-testing%2Ftesting.html&data=02%7C01%
7CRobinsonW7%40michigan.gov%7C533f745b75f448bcfe6208d7e2483c91%7Cd5fb7087377
742ad966a892ef47225d1%7C0%7C0%7C637226672487801471&sdata=HdXHwtScxG3XcleOPzT
ubQBG2as9W1Lnv%2FzJGyBupqA%3D&reserved=0>  

The first web site from the CDC read very well with JAWS.  I am using the
most current version of JAWS, which is JAWS 2020.  I opened this site in
Firefox and Internet Explorer on the state laptop and in Chrome on my
personal laptop.  My personal laptop runs an earlier version of JAWS, but it
still can receive updates for this version.  Anyway, I was able to read
everything: links, buttons, headings, and the like were labeled.
Information displayed if I pressed enter on links.  However, the "self
checker" was problematic in all cases of using JAWS and any browser.  A
message appeared, stating something about how I'd have to agree to given
parameters before continuing.  It also mentioned some partnership with CDC
and Microsoft.  No matter what I did, that is, no matter the browser,
version of JAWS, or keystroke, I could not access the "I agree" portion
independently.

City of Chicago:
https://publichealth.uic.edu/uic-covid-19-public-health-response/covid-19-re
sources/accessible-covid-19-testing-decision-chart/
<https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpublichea
lth.uic.edu%2Fuic-covid-19-public-health-response%2Fcovid-19-resources%2Facc
essible-covid-19-testing-decision-chart%2F&data=02%7C01%7CRobinsonW7%40michi
gan.gov%7C533f745b75f448bcfe6208d7e2483c91%7Cd5fb7087377742ad966a892ef47225d
1%7C0%7C0%7C637226672487801471&sdata=v4PNtMeeiZB%2BaykOhO6qiLLc0cFqgmJUaQ3xS
0hoSYk%3D&reserved=0>  

The second web site also read very clearly with JAWS.  I checked it using IE
and Chrome.  The drop-down menu read accurately and I could move between the
yes and no options.

I hope this is helpful.

My best,

Bill

From: Fred Wurtzel <f.wurtzel at att.net <mailto:f.wurtzel at att.net> > 
Sent: Monday, April 13, 2020 11:09 AM
To: Robinson, William (LEO) <RobinsonW7 at michigan.gov
<mailto:RobinsonW7 at michigan.gov> >
Subject: RE: Corvid19 Testing Access

Hi Bill,

Thanks for the very quick response.  

Regarding your question about resolutions, I hesitate to try to engineer a
solution.  This is a complicated, to me, matter which will need to involve
experts in infection control, etc.  To me, either of your ideas seem
feasible, though, as you say, number 2 defeats the quick turn-around of the
quick testing as described.  

I think the important point is that the health care system includes persons
with disabilities, in this case, blind people, in their planning. 

Again, thanks for getting back to me.

Warmest Regards,

Fred

From: Robinson, William (LEO) [mailto:RobinsonW7 at michigan.gov] 
Sent: Monday, April 13, 2020 11:01 AM
To: Fred Wurtzel <f.wurtzel at att.net <mailto:f.wurtzel at att.net> >
Subject: RE: Corvid19 Testing Access

Thanks Fred. I will see if I can get someone's attention and get back to
you. Would it be feasible to either -

1)   Offer a first responder administer the test; and/or

2)   An overnight delivery of the test with an overnight pouch for return

I understand 2 may appear slower but that may be the only alternative if
very rural area.

William A. Robinson, III

Director, Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP)

From: Fred Wurtzel <f.wurtzel at att.net <mailto:f.wurtzel at att.net> > 
Sent: Monday, April 13, 2020 10:57 AM
To: Robinson, William (LEO) <RobinsonW7 at michigan.gov
<mailto:RobinsonW7 at michigan.gov> >
Cc: 'Mark Eagle' <markaeagle at yahoo.com <mailto:markaeagle at yahoo.com> >;
'Mark Grebner' <mark.grebner at gmail.com <mailto:mark.grebner at gmail.com> >;
'Murphy, Laura' <Laura.Murphy at mail.house.gov
<mailto:Laura.Murphy at mail.house.gov> >; 'Michael Powell'
<mpowell7583 at yahoo.com <mailto:mpowell7583 at yahoo.com> >
Subject: Corvid19 Testing Access

Hello Bill,

I just called the Ingham County Health Department on the number listed below
regarding "drive-through- Corvid19 testing.  There is a relatively
complicated process to access testing.  If, following the process, the
person is determined eligible for a test they must utilize a drive-through
facility operated by Sparrow Hospital.  

I asked if there is any provision for someone who does not drive.  They said
there is not.  I only called the Ingham County number.  I did not check any
of the other Michigan sites.

I feel there ought to be provisions for persons who do not drive.  I will do
anything I can to assist in assuring that blind folks who do not drive have
equal access to testing.  I am writing to you since you are inside state
government and will have better channels to address this matter than I Or
anyone from the NFB of Michigan presumably do.

Thank you for any assistance you may be able to provide.

Warmest Regards,

Fred

Michigan planning to open 9 new drive-thru test sites By Adrienne Roberts
Detroit Free Press 

The state of Michigan will open nine new drive-thru coronavirus testing
sites across the state and will expand testing capacity in Detroit, an
announcement that comes a day after the state saw its deadliest day so far
during the novel coronavirus pandemic. 

Few details were made available about the Detroit site's location or opening
date, but it will aim to test at least 750 people a day. New drive-thru
sites will open in Atlanta, Bad Axe, Battle Creek, Bay City, Benton Harbor,
Jackson, Kalamazoo and Traverse City on Monday, and in Flint on Wednesday.
Drive-through testing sites already operating in Grand Rapids, Lansing and
Saginaw will be expanded. 

"Better access to testing and quicker results are critical to our public
health officials who are fighting coronavirus and to our residents who have
symptoms of COVID-19 and need answers, treatment and peace of mind," said
Michigan Gov. Whitmer in a press release. "More testing will save lives." 

The testing sites, made available through a partnership with the state of
Michigan, health centers, Michigan Primary Care Association and NxGen
Laboratory in Grand Rapids, will increase Michigan's daily COVID-19 testing
capacity by about 40%. Each site will plan to test more than 100 people per
day starting Monday, the release said. 

Detroit offers drive-through testing for residents and others who have a
doctor's prescription at the State Fairgrounds site near 8 Mile Road and
Woodward Avenue. The city of Detroit was also the first city in the country
to begin using the kits from Abbott, which produce results in about 15
minutes.  A standard test would take days to produce results. 

There are criteria to be tested at the sites. People should first contact
the site's patient screening telephone line or their health care provider
before driving to the site, the release said. Hospitalized patients
Symptomatic healthcare workers Patients in congregate facilities with
symptoms, including those at: Long-term care or elderly living facilities,
jails or prisons, homeless shelters, residential foster care facilities,
other group living settings Patients age 65 and older with symptoms Patients
with underlying conditions with symptoms First responders with symptoms
Critical infrastructure workers with symptoms 

Drive-through test locations across Michigan: 

Atlanta (between Gaylord and Alpena): Thunder Bay Community Health Service,
11899 M-32, 989-733-6827. 

Bad Axe: Great Lakes Bay Health Centers, 876 N. Van Dyke Rd, 989-623-0137. 

Battle Creek: Grace Health, 181 W. Emmett St., 269-441-3463. 

Bay City: Great Lakes Bay Health Centers, 3884 Monitor Rd, 989-671-2000. 

Benton Harbor: InterCare Community Health Network, 800 M-139, 855-869-6900. 

Flint: Atwood Stadium, parking lot entrance off West 1st Street, details to
come. Opens Wednesday. 

Grand Rapids: Cherry Health, 200 Sheldon Street SE, 616-965-8347. 

Jackson: Center for Family Health, 505 N. Jackson St., 517-748-5363. 

Kalamazoo: Family Health Center, 117 W Paterson St., 269-488-0804. 

Lansing: Ingham Community Health Centers, 2316 S. Cedar St., 517-887-4517. 

Saginaw: Great Lakes Bay Health Centers, 501 Lapeer Ave., 989-293-3492. 

Traverse City: Northwest Michigan Health Services, 10767 Traverse Highway,
231-642-5292.