The recommendations in this report are limited to the areas investigated in this study and researchers' understanding of survey responses. Most of the recommendations reflect well-established and widely accepted practices that, nonetheless, have not been fully and broadly implemented, as demonstrated in this report.

Transportation Access

  • State and local transportation agencies should evaluate routes that were restricted during the pandemic and establish a plan for returning to full and equitable operating capacity that accommodates the needs of non-drivers.
  • State and local transportation agencies should evaluate adding on-demand transit options that are fully accessible to people with disabilities to provide additional capacity for serving the needs of non-drivers, especially in areas without easy transit access and during non-peak hours and weekends.
  • The federal government should keep the COVID-19 mask mandate for transportation in place until the risk to people with disabilities and other people at high-risk of COVID-19 is significantly lessened. State and local governments should continue to encourage mask wearing and enforce mandates on transportation.

COVID-19 Prevention

  • State and local governments should continue to encourage mask wearing in high density locations. Healthcare facilities should require masking as long as the pandemic lasts, so that at-risk individuals feel comfortable seeking medical care.
  • The federal government should continue to make high-quality N-95 masks available to individuals, including blind and low vision people who may need to continue wearing masks in high-touch situations or when they cannot see whether other people are taking precautions against COVID-19.
  • The federal government should fund research and development into fully accessible at-home rapid COVID-19 testing and require testing providers to make their tests accessible to people with disabilities.
  • Websites and applications providing information about COVID-19 should be fully accessible to people who are blind or have low vision. Charts, maps, and graphs should be accessible and/or include additional text that provides full access to users who cannot visually access the information. Videos should include audio descriptions and captioning. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provides recommendations for internationally recognized standards for developing accessible websites.
  • States and local governments should continue to provide easy access to COVID-19 testing, including options for in-home testing as long as COVID-19 presents a public health risk.
  • Vaccination and testing facilities must be accessible to non-drivers accessing facilities by foot, bus, rideshare, bike, or other modes. Information about using non-car transportation modes, especially when the individual is symptomatic, should be made widely available.
  • Vaccination and testing appointment websites must be fully accessible, so that individuals can access information about the vaccine and independently book a vaccine appointment. Information about available transportation options should be provided before or during booking. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provides recommendations for internationally recognized standards for developing accessible websites.
  • Public health agencies should incorporate lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic to prepare for future pandemics and other emergencies by incorporating the needs of blind and low vision people into planning from the outset.

Healthcare Access

  • Healthcare facilities must accommodate and plan for non-drivers. Allowing individuals who cannot drive or arrive by car to wait indoors while wearing a mask or following other COVID-19 prevention measures or providing a bench protected from the weather is likely a reasonable accommodation that removes barriers and supports the needs of people with disabilities who cannot drive. Federal civil rights laws covering healthcare remain in effect, even during emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Healthcare facilities should be physically accessible, and users need access to fully accessible patient forms, post-visit instructions, and other forms of communication. Medical staff from the front desk receptionist to the surgeon should be trained to interact effectively with people with disabilities. AFB has developed Best Practices Guide for Hospitals Interacting with People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired 3
  • In some cases, people with disabilities need a support person while in the doctor's office or hospital to provide communication and access support. The Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Health and Human Services has clarified provider responsibilities for ensuring people with disabilities have access to a support person either in person or remotely.
  • Healthcare websites, telehealth, and electronic health records must be fully accessible. Patients who are blind or have low vision should be able to independently navigate the platform, log in, use chat and email features, read clinical information, complete forms, and activate buttons. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provides recommendations for internationally recognized standards for developing accessible websites, serving as a starting point for accessible digital health websites and applications.

Access to Food and Supplies

  • Grocers should work with state agencies to accept SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits for online ordering and delivery.
  • Grocers and pharmacies should make online ordering accessible to people who are blind or have low vision. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provides recommendations for internationally recognized standards for developing accessible websites.
  • Grocers may consider implementing a delivery-scheduling preference for people with disabilities, older adults, and other non-drivers for whom delivery is not merely a convenience but a means of access to food and other necessary supplies.

Voting Access

  • States should ensure that voters with disabilities have access to accessible ballots and ballot-marking devices that are fully functional and operational at every polling station. Additionally, states should implement and coordinate with local election boards to provide fully accessible electronic absentee voting for people with disabilities.
  • State election agencies must coordinate with local election officials to fully implement accessible voting policies and practices.

When study participants were asked for recommendations, there were many, but summing it up, one replied:

"I really don't know [what advice to give authorities], as this would mean they have to be thinking about the needs and concerns of minority groups before something like this happens. When vaccines opened up to senior citizens, it was so obvious that no one thought ahead to the unique challenges they might have trying to sign up due to lack of tech experience, transportation, and other factors. The same is true of [people with disabilities]. Our needs are often not thought about." —Study participant


3. American Foundation for the Blind. (2022). Best Practices Guide for Hospitals Interacting with People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired. www.afb.org/Healthcare


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