A Message from the NAD About Coronavirus (COVID-19)

The NAD CEO Howard A. Rosenblum shares news about Coronavirus (COVID-19) and how the U.S. Government has failed to make information accessible in ASL, how this disease affects education and employment access, how this affects the NAD office, and that the NAD Conference is still going on as planned. #CoronavirusInASL

• Start at topic #1 — Information about Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• Jump to topic #2 — Government Communications about Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• Jump to topic #3 — Deaf Students’ Access During University Remote Status
• Jump to topic #3-B — Deaf People’s Access During Employment Remote Status
• Jump to topic #4 — The NAD Goes Remote
• Jump to topic #5 — #NAD2020 Still On (UPDATED NOTE: Please refer to President Melissa’s video regarding the #NAD2020 Status).

Resources about COVID-19*

• World Health Organization
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

ASL Resources about COVID-19*

• Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  • “10 Things You Can do to Manage COVID-19 at Home”
  • “What is my Risk for COVID-19“
  • “What Older Adults Need to Know about COVID-19“
  • “COVID-19 Prevention Tips in ASL“
  • “Symptoms of Coronavirus 2019“
• The Daily Moth (general page)
• Minnesota Department of Health
• Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
• Health Signs Center
• Deaf in Scrubs
• NC Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
  • Message in ASL about Coronavirus
  • ASL message on self-care during COVID-19 outbreak

*note: both lists are not comprehensive 

NAD Resources

• Education (information for remote studies)
• Employment (information for employees)
• Healthcare Providers (advocacy letter to use for effective communication with healthcare providers)
• Best Practices for Effective Communication at Emergency Press Briefings
• NAD Letter to National Association of Broadcasters (NAB)
• NAD Letter to the White House

Submit a Complaint about CDC and HHS for their failure to include ASL videos about Coronavirus (COVID-19)

• Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) or email HHS at [email protected]
• Contact the NAD

Template To Use For Any Live News Updates Without ASL Access

Review best practices for effective communication at emergency press briefings. If you saw any press conferences, live news updates, or any COVID-19 related information that did not have any ASL access — write to inform those who did the announcement that this is not ok! The NAD has developed a letter template for anyone to use in this situation.

Dear [NAME OF TELEVISION PROGRAM OR TV HOST OR GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL],

I watched your announcement on [Insert DATE and TIME] about the coronavirus (COVID-19) but I could not understand it because you failed to include American Sign Language (ASL) access. Please review best practices for effective communication at emergency press briefings. Information shared about this serious disease outbreak must be made accessible at the time of the release, not afterwards. Failing to make this information available in ASL means that deaf people are not getting the same important information about health and safety.

I am asking that you add ASL to ALL news and announcements involving COVID-19 messaging. This is not only the right thing to do but is also required by federal law, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. If you’re not sure how to get started, contact the local [INSERT Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing or Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing], [INSERT State Association for the Deaf website], or [INSERT trusted interpreting agency you recommend].

Like everyone else, I am concerned about this outbreak but often am the last to know or have no access. Please include qualified ASL interpreters in any video updates about COVID-19. 

Thank you,
[YOUR NAME]
[CITY, STATE]

CC: [email protected]