COVID-19 in Canada

‘What does this mean for us?’ People with developmental disabilities left out of vaccination planning

As COVID-19 vaccine distribution and prioritization plans roll out across Canada, people with developmental disabilities, their families, support workers and community agencies have been asking: What does this mean for us? Dr. Yona … READ MORE

Pandemic has brought unexpected joy for some families with autism, ‘wake-up call’ for others

Sask. government promised to expand funding for autistic children in 2021. Declan, who recently turned six, is autistic. His mother, Tarah Degelman, says the pandemic has been hard on him because of the lack of access to therapies and … READ MORE

COVID-19 is 10 times deadlier for people with Down syndrome, raising calls for early vaccination

When the COVID-19 pandemic descended last winter, Catherine Ross was filled with dread. Her 36-year-old sister, Amanda Ross, has Down syndrome (DS), which makes her especially vulnerable to respiratory viruses. Amanda Ross had been … READ MORE

People with disabilities excluded from re-opening plans, advocates warn

People with disabilities have been shut out of the conversation as Canadians plan to return to school, work and play, further jeopardizing their health and safety in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, advocates warn. The woman in the … READ MORE

CBC asks how the pandemic is changing the workplace for people with disabilities

Join the conversation Friday at 1 pm ET on Facebook Live, hosted by CBC London’s Chris dela Torre. Today’s workplace is evolving with more people in home offices and technology playing a bigger role. What does that mean … READ MORE

A deep dive into Alberta’s COVID-19 numbers

Your pandemic questions answered in a CBC Calgary Facebook Live panel discussion. Missed the discussion? Watch our panel take your COVID-19 questions as case numbers spike in Alberta.1:01:02 CBC CBC News Calgary November 10, 2020 With … READ MORE

Remote learning isn’t new: Radio instruction in the 1937 polio epidemic

A UNICEF survey found that 94% of countries implemented some form of remote learning when COVID-19 closed schools last spring, including in the United States. Zenith Model 5-S-319 Table Radio 1939. TubeRadioLand.com Katherine A. … READ MORE

Are local shutdowns effective, or should COVID-19 lockdowns be in lockstep provincewide?

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, left, and Education Minister Stephen Lecce, right, on July 30, 2020, before announcing the government’s plan for reopening schools in the fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Canadian Press, Nathan … READ MORE

Families, advocates of students with disabilities seek clarity in school reopening plans

Additional funding urged along with comprehensive plans and clear directives. Students with disabilities face extra complications heading back to school in a pandemic, including how to access support services, and parents say more … READ MORE

Why Indigenous communities seeing few cases of COVID-19

Indigenous communities have fared better than the rest of Canada in the first wave of the pandemic despite facing major challenges to infectious disease control. Canadian Medical Association Journal by Jolene Banning, Canadian Medical … READ MORE

Keep an eye on the numbers – COVID-19 in Alberta

Here are the latest COVID-19 statistics for Alberta — and what they mean. Learning how the coronavirus affects the body offers clues to fight COVID-19. A better understanding of how COVID-19 manifests could inform efforts to reduce … READ MORE

Do you have a right to protest? The coronavirus impact on freedom of assembly

A group gathers to protest against social isolation rules of the COVID-19 pandemic in Edmonton AB on April 29, 2020. The Canadian Press, Jason Franson Caroline Hodes, Associate Professor Constitutional Law, University of Lethbridge, … READ MORE

No physio, no socializing: Kids with special needs face new challenges during COVID-19

Youth with special needs miss friends but also many services they receive at school. Christopher Craig swims with his son Cameron Armstrong-Craig on a family vacation last summer. Submitted by Christopher Craig Shari Okeke, CBC News … READ MORE

What you need to know about COVID-19 in Alberta – May 2020 Archive

AHS phone line staffed by occupational therapists and physiotherapists. A new advice line set up to help Albertans with physical disabilities and injuries connect with rehabilitation advice during the pandemic is believed to be the … READ MORE

Calgary mother worries some disabled Albertans are being overlooked during pandemic

Alberta’s single site restriction doesn’t apply to health-care aides working in people’s homes. Laverne Bissky and her husband made the decision years ago to take care of their 24-year-old daughter Kasenya Bissky, … READ MORE

In Canada, Albertans wary of ‘big brother’ with use of COVID-19 digital-tracing app

More users needed: Lessons from Alberta’s coronavirus contact tracing app. Alberta released its contact tracing app, ABTraceTogether, last week. But early uptake figures and a key design quirk show how challenging it will be for … READ MORE

Wearables track social distancing and sick employees in the workplace

As companies re-open, employees may don wearable tech to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Blackline Safety. By Emily Waltz, IEEE Spectrum 1 May 2020 As shuttered businesses make plans to resume on-site operations, many plan to outfit … READ MORE

Staff restrictions, lack of PPE endangering Albertans with disabilities

Help accessing personal protective equipment is on the way, says Alberta Health Services. ‘We feel forgotten’: Disability community overlooked during COVID-19, families say. Government of Alberta says its working with … READ MORE

What you need to know about COVID-19 in Alberta – April 2020 Archive

Beltline urges city to make walking ‘safe and comfortable’ with physical distancing. Beltline residents say walking with physical distancing at peak times is difficult. Helen Pike CBC CBC News Calgary April 30, 2020 ▽ … READ MORE

Canadians with disabilities left with few alternatives amid COVID-19 shutdowns

Program cancellations, increased isolation among issues during pandemic. The Active Souls Project, a gym facility in Kitchener, Ontario, offers adaptive training for people with disabilities. The program was forced to close because of … READ MORE

Home schooling during pandemic a daunting challenge for families of kids with disabilities

Schools need a closer connection to children with special needs during closures. The Richmond family, left to right: Hayley, Jake, Phil and Harry. Jake and Harry have a rare genetic condition with a variety of complex special needs. … READ MORE

Funding flexibility offered for Alberta children with special needs during COVID-19

Routine changes have been especially challenging for families of children with special needs. Angela Bladon said it’s been a struggle to provide the proper supports to her two special needs children since in-school classes were … READ MORE

What you need to know about COVID-19 in Alberta – March 2020 Archive

A man uses a hand sanitizer station at the Eaton Centre amid coronavirus fears spreading in Toronto on Saturday, March 14, 2020. Carlos Osorio, Canadian Press CBC News Calgary March 31, 2020 ▽ Table of Contents Keep an eye on the … READ MORE

New smartphone app gives Albertans access to virtual health care during COVID-19 pandemic

Babylon mobile app allows you to check symptoms, consult with doctors. Using Babylon, an app developed by Telus Health, patients can have one-to-one video consultations with doctors, with the cost of those virtual visits covered by … READ MORE

COVID-19: The latest guidance for Canadians on travel, quarantines and what to do if you have symptoms

‘We’re in this really unstable phase of the pandemic,’ Canadian infectious disease expert says. As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Canada, experts are trying to slow the spread and prevent the health-care system … READ MORE

AADL Authorizer and vendor information

Alberta Aids to Daily Living (AADL) helps Albertans with a long-term disability, chronic or terminal illness to pay for basic medical equipment and supplies. The AADL bulletin provides notices, updates and reminders to AADL providers, … READ MORE