Healthcare and Childcare Resources
COVID-19 Standards of Care
In response to input received from Ohioans with developmental disabilities and their families, the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD), the Ohio Department of Health, and the Ohio Department of Medicaid collaborated to create guidance about standards of care for vulnerable populations in hospital settings.
Emergency Health Information Form for Persons with DD
Because some people with developmental disabilities may have to enter a hospital or emergency room without the assistance of a family member or direct support professional due to COVID-19 protocols, the Ohio Association of County Boards (OACB) has created a two-page document that can be completed by a provider, family member or County Board to share key health information with medical professionals.
This "Health Passport" created by OACB staff with the input of Dr. Susan Abend of the Right Care Now Project, includes space for basic information about the person, their health status/medical history, and aspects of their developmental disability that would be important for medical professionals to know when considering treatment. The form includes:
- Name and Emergency Contact Information
- COVID-19 Symptoms and Risk Factors
- Basic Medical History, Medications, and Allergies
- Disability-Related Personal Assistance Needs
- Communication Preferences, Likes, and Dislikes
- Do Not Resuscitate/Living Will Declarations
The form is intended as a resource only and is not legally required by the State of Ohio or any local public health agency. It can be completed electronically or printed and distributed as paper copies for provider staff to complete by hand.
COVID-19 Communication Rights Toolkit
This page, created by CommunicationFirst.org, explains what the rights of a person with a developmental disability are within a healthcare setting, and includes valuable resources, including legal explanations of those rights, communication tools, and more.
Disability Rights Ohio also created a fact sheet titled "Hospital Visitor Policies and Your Right to Reasonable Accommodation": https://www.disabilityrightsohio.org/assets/documents/hospital-visitor-policies-and-your-right-to-reasonable-accommodation.pdf
How to Tell the Difference between COVID-19, Cold and Flu
The Ohio Department of Health has created a COVID-19 Symptom Comparison Chart to assist a person with identifying symptoms of COVID-19 and strains of the common cold and influenza (flu).
Pulse Oximeters and COVID-19: How to Use Them
Many people with COVID-19 have low oxygen levels. Pulse oximeters are small machines that are used to measure a person's oxygen levels to determine if it is within safe limits. The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities has prepared a fact sheet about pulse oximeters, which includes guidance on how to use them.