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Conference poster: COVID Mitigation is Disability Access: An analysis of COVID policies at Institutions of Higher Education across the United States. Presented at: American Public Health Association 2022 Annual Meeting & Expo. November 6, 2022. Boston, MA. Abstract: https://apha.confex.com/apha/2022/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/513785 Introduction: The push towards a “return to pre-pandemic normalcy within institutions of higher education (IHEs) has left disabled people with unmet needs for protection and accessibility during the Omicron and BA.2 surges. We assessed COVID policies including mask, test, and vaccination requirements, in addition to other accessibility measures aimed at mitigating risk, focusing on needs of disabled and high-risk students, faculty, and staff within IHEs. Our research highlights opportunities for improvement in on-campus COVID-19 policies through a disability justice lens. Methods: We evaluated the quality of COVID mitigation policies through a comprehensive review of each IHE’s published policies along with a policy evaluation form filled out by 243 students, faculty, and staff (as of 4/30/2022), at IHEs across the United States. Results: Preliminary data from our review of COVID policies from at least 141 IHEs showed these institutions are not sufficiently employing layered approaches to mitigation. Of these 141, none achieved the most protective COVID mitigation standards in all four categories. Discussion: Our findings of inadequate COVID policies at IHEs raise concerns about a lack of campus-wide protections needed to ensure the safety of high-risk academics. Without sufficient protection against COVID, existing accessibility barriers may be amplified and lead to exclusion of disabled individuals. Conclusion: COVID mitigation strategies are a key component of disability accessibility that our research indicates has been commonly neglected at IHEs in 2022. The inclusion and health of disabled academics requires IHEs to invest in collective access and care through strengthening COVID mitigation and accessibility strategies. Author information: Eiryn Griest Schwartzman, B.A., CHES1, Kris Jayme Grawert Matas, B.S.2, Courtney Bergan, B.S.3 (1) COVID Safe Campus, (2) COVID Safe Campus; University of California, Davis, (3) COVID Safe Campus; University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law References: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/documents/disabilities_impacts_all_of_us.pdf https://www.covidsafecampus.org/ Organization website: https://www.covidsafecampus.org/ |
