The COVID-19 pandemic has had an enormous impact on all our lives. But health inequalities and systemic failings have increased the risks for people with intellectual disability.
People with intellectual disabilities found themselves sidelined. They were left out of the emergency response, without accessible information or the support to make informed decisions.
Here you will find information about COVID-19 in Easy Read and information about our advocacy in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 vaccine resources
Do you have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine?
The Australian government has Easy Read information about the COVID-19 vaccine.
This includes information about:
- What is the COVID-19 vaccine? (PDF)
- Where can you get the COVID-19 vaccine? (PDF)
- What to expect when you have your vaccination? (PDF).
There are more useful and accessible COVID-19 resources from our members below.
Our COVID-19 advocacy
We have been lobbying hard for people with intellectual disability in the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the start of the pandemic, we joined with other disability organisations to call on the government to improve support, testing and information for people with disabilities.
We are part of the Advisory Committee for the COVID-19 Response for People with Disability. We meet regularly with government to guide the government’s response to people with disability during the pandemic.
We continue to raise the concerns of people with intellectual disability in the media and through the Disability Royal Commission.
Our vaccine advocacy
In May 2021, we gave evidence to the Disability Royal Commission (DRC) Public Hearing on the vaccine rollout for people with disability. We were very concerned that people living in group homes had been de-prioritized in the vaccine rollout. Read our witness statement (PDF).
In August 2021, we released a letter with other national peak bodies calling on the government to vaccinate and protect all Australians with disability against coronavirus.
In September 2021, the DRC recommended that lockdowns not be lifted until all people with disability had an opportunity to be vaccinated. Read their report on the vaccine rollout for people with disability (PDF).
In November 2021, we prepared a paper on barriers to COVID-19 vaccinations for people with intellectual disability for the Disability Vaccination Roundtable convened by Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC, Minister for Government Services and Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
The paper includes feedback from our member organisations and shows that people with an intellectual disability face a higher risk from COVID-19 yet have lower vaccination rates.
Our vaccine webinars
Misinformation and vaccine hesitancy also slowed the roll-out of the vaccine to people with an intellectual disability.
In 2021, we ran webinars for people with intellectual disability and their families about the COVID-19 vaccine. These were hosted by people with an intellectual disability and delivered in partnership with DDWA and VALID.
We also partnered with the Department of Health to make a webinar and information about the COVID-19 vaccine for people with an intellectual disability. Watch the webinar.
Government COVID-19 resources in Easy Read
Australian government
Fact sheets and guides about COVID-19 in Easy Read format to help you stay informed
Australian Capital Territory
Easy Read information on staying safe, getting tested, getting the vaccine and quarantine
New South Wales
Easy Read resources and videos about What is COVID-19 or coronavirus? How can you keep safe?
Tasmania
An Easy Read factsheet about the COVID 19 Vaccine.
Our COVID-19 resources
-
COVID Vaccine – Yes or No?
A short video to help you decide whether to take the COVID 19 Vaccine. Produced in partnership with Speak Out Tasmania.
-
Living with COVID
An accessible new video to help you make the right decisions to stay safe.
-
Getting your vaccine webinar
Self-advocate and Inclusion Australia staff member, Tara Elliffe, and Dr Nick Lennox talk about the importance of getting a COVID-19 vaccine, and answer questions from people with intellectual disability.
-
COVID-19 resources from our members
-
COVID-19 Tricky Words
People use lots of tricky words when talking about COVID-19. This Easy Read guide by Council for Intellectual Disability will help you know what those words mean.
-
CID Covid-19 Resources
CID’s COVID-19 resources includes Easy Read information about COVID-19 Videos about staying well and safe during lockdown or isolation Information about CID’s health advocacy
-
DDWA COVID-19 Resources
DDWA's COVID-19 resources include accessible information about COVID-19, health planning information and mental health during COVID-19.
-
Speak Out COVID-19 Resources
Speak Out Tasmania’s COVID-19 resources include videos about Deciding whether to have the COVID-19 Vaccine Staying safe and keeping others safe COVID-19 in Tasmania