COVID-19 Resources for People with Disabilities

Posted on April 08, 2020

Dear Clients, Friends and Allies;

I am reaching out again from Disability Rights Maine (DRM) to remind you that we are still here! DRM staff are still working to ensure that the rights of people with disabilities are upheld.

Advocates and attorneys are still working on their cases, but doing so remotely. In addition to the normal work, we are calling providers with a survey related to COVID-19 issues, we are conducting virtual training, we are doing a systematic monitoring project to check on our clients, we are calling current and previous clients and of course, our intake is fully functioning just like it normally does so be sure to call us if you are aware of or experiencing a disability related rights violation.

DRM's offices and phone lines remain open. Many of our staff are working remotely in order to limit contact with one another but our administrative staff continue to answer phones and can direct you to the person you are calling for, or can set you up with an intake appointment if you need assistance and don't currently have an advocate. We have suspended walk-in and in person intake appointments.

If you are currently working with one of our advocates or attorneys, they are available via telephone or email. If you need assistance from DRM, please contact our office by calling 800.452.1948 or via email to advocate@drme.org.

Check out our Facebook page for updates.

Thank you for your patience and understanding during this uncertain time. Stay safe.

Sincerely,

Kim Moody
Executive Director

Read Kim’s March 17, 2020 Letter (Word)

DRM Resources

State Resources


Office of the Governor


Maine Department of Education


Maine Department of Health & Human Services


Maine Center for Disease Control Information Page


Children's Behavioral Health Services:


Office of MaineCare Services:


Office of Aging & Disability Services:


    Office of Behavioral Health:


    Office for Family Independence:


    Maine Department of Labor

    Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry

    National Resources


    Administration for Community Living - ACL.gov:


    US Centers for Disease Control:


    US Department of Education:


    US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission


    US Department of Labor


    US Department of Health and Human Services


    Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services:


    Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services:


    Office of Civil Rights


    Social Security Administration:

    • All local Social Security offices will be closed to the public for in-person service starting Tuesday, March 17, 2020.
    • What workloads is SSA not doing during the COVID-19 pandemic?
      • We will not start or complete any current medical continuing disability reviews. If you have a medical continuing disability review pending, please do not request medical information from your doctors at this time. We will follow up with you for any medical evidence once the COVID-19 public health emergency subsides.
      • Where possible, we are suspending our processing and collection of overpayments.
      • We are not conducting organization or individual representative payee accountings.
      • We will not be able to process a third party requests for information, except from appointed representatives and representative payees.
      • We will not process any Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.


    US Department of Veterans Affairs:


    Consumer Financial Protection Bureau:


    Federal Emergency Management Agency:


    Federal Trade Commission:

    Other Agency Resources

    • COVID-19 in the Workplace - Equip for Equality. The first part is specifically geared toward Illinois employees, but this resource also includes information about federal laws.


    Food Access Resources

    Videos

    National Disability Rights Network