COVID-19 Infections, Deaths Higher Among Those With Intellectual Disabilities There's growing evidence of high rates of death from COVID-19 for a population that doesn't get a lot of attention: people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.Heard onToggle more optionsLoading...People with intellectual disabilities and autism who contract COVID-19 die at higher rates than the rest of the population, according to an analysis by NPR of numbers obtained from two states that collect data. They also contract the virus at a higher rate, according to research looking into group homes...…COVID-19 Infections, Deaths Higher Among Those With Intellectual Disabilities There's growing evidence of high rates of death from COVID-19 for a population that doesn't get a lot of attention: people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.Heard onToggle more optionsLoading...People with intellectual disabilities and autism who contract COVID-19 die at higher rates than the rest of the population, according to an analysis by NPR of numbers obtained from two states that collect data. They also contract the virus at a higher rate, according to research looking into group homes...WW…

US Navy Ordered Military Sealift Command To Stay On Ships Amid Pandemic The Navy has imposed strict rules on a small branch of civilian mariners. They're locked down on their ships and say it's an overreaction — and they're suing.Heard onToggle more optionsThe Navy has ordered members of its — a group of civilian mariners who supply military vessels around the world — to stay on their ships in an effort to prevent outbreaks of the coronavirus. A "gangway up" order enforcing the lock-down was issued on March 21. But more than 20 civilian mariners from ships on missions or in ports and naval...…US Navy Ordered Military Sealift Command To Stay On Ships Amid Pandemic The Navy has imposed strict rules on a small branch of civilian mariners. They're locked down on their ships and say it's an overreaction — and they're suing.Heard onToggle more optionsThe Navy has ordered members of its — a group of civilian mariners who supply military vessels around the world — to stay on their ships in an effort to prevent outbreaks of the coronavirus. A "gangway up" order enforcing the lock-down was issued on March 21. But more than 20 civilian mariners from ships on missions or in ports and naval...WW…

Quadriplegic Man's Coronavirus Death Stirs Fear Of Medical Bias Against Disabled The hospital said it made a humane decision to end treatment. Michael Hickson's widow says doctors ended his care because they underestimated the life of a man with significant disabilities.Heard onToggle more optionsWhat Melissa Hickson says happened to her husband — and what the hospital says — are in conflict. But this much is for sure: Michael Hickson, a 46-year old quadriplegic who'd contracted COVID-19, died at St. David's South Austin Medical Center in Austin, Texas, on June 11 after the hospital ended...…Quadriplegic Man's Coronavirus Death Stirs Fear Of Medical Bias Against Disabled The hospital said it made a humane decision to end treatment. Michael Hickson's widow says doctors ended his care because they underestimated the life of a man with significant disabilities.Heard onToggle more optionsWhat Melissa Hickson says happened to her husband — and what the hospital says — are in conflict. But this much is for sure: Michael Hickson, a 46-year old quadriplegic who'd contracted COVID-19, died at St. David's South Austin Medical Center in Austin, Texas, on June 11 after the hospital ended...WW…

In March, Trump Promised Resources To Fight The Pandemic. Few Happened On March 13, President Trump promised to mobilize private and public resources to respond to the coronavirus. NPR followed up on each promise and found little action had been taken.Heard onToggle more optionsUpdated at 10:10 p.m. ET One month ago today, President Trump declared a national emergency. In a Rose Garden address, flanked by leaders from giant retailers and medical testing companies, he promised a mobilization of public and private resources to attack the coronavirus. "We've been working very hard on this....…In March, Trump Promised Resources To Fight The Pandemic. Few Happened On March 13, President Trump promised to mobilize private and public resources to respond to the coronavirus. NPR followed up on each promise and found little action had been taken.Heard onToggle more optionsUpdated at 10:10 p.m. ET One month ago today, President Trump declared a national emergency. In a Rose Garden address, flanked by leaders from giant retailers and medical testing companies, he promised a mobilization of public and private resources to attack the coronavirus. "We've been working very hard on this....WW…

Civil Rights Office At HHS Fights Discrimination Of Disabled People In Pandemic New actions from the Office For Civil Rights at the Department of Health and Human Services aim to fight discrimination against people with disabilities who have COVID-19, like being denied treatment.Civil rights officials at the Department of Health and Human Services issued a series of actions to protect people with disabilities from health care discrimination by medical providers during the pandemic. The actions, by the Office of Civil Rights, or OCR, at the Department of Health and Human Services,...…Civil Rights Office At HHS Fights Discrimination Of Disabled People In Pandemic New actions from the Office For Civil Rights at the Department of Health and Human Services aim to fight discrimination against people with disabilities who have COVID-19, like being denied treatment.Civil rights officials at the Department of Health and Human Services issued a series of actions to protect people with disabilities from health care discrimination by medical providers during the pandemic. The actions, by the Office of Civil Rights, or OCR, at the Department of Health and Human Services,...WW…

People With Disabilities Were Denied Care In Oregon Hospitals Amid Pandemic The fight to save the life of one woman reveals a grim pattern: In Oregon, people with disabilities were denied health care during the pandemic, even without a shortage of ventilators or other care.Toggle more optionsAt the start of the coronavirus pandemic, a small group of disability rights advocates found itself in a race against time to save the life of a woman with an intellectual disability. The woman was taken to the hospital with COVID-19. But the hospital, in a small Oregon town, denied the ventilator she...…People With Disabilities Were Denied Care In Oregon Hospitals Amid Pandemic The fight to save the life of one woman reveals a grim pattern: In Oregon, people with disabilities were denied health care during the pandemic, even without a shortage of ventilators or other care.Toggle more optionsAt the start of the coronavirus pandemic, a small group of disability rights advocates found itself in a race against time to save the life of a woman with an intellectual disability. The woman was taken to the hospital with COVID-19. But the hospital, in a small Oregon town, denied the ventilator she...WW…

How Are Disabled People Affected When COVID-19 Health Care Rationing Happens? In an Oregon hospital, a disabled woman fought for her life as her friends and advocates pleaded for proper care. Her case raises the question: Are disabled lives equally valued during a pandemic?Heard onToggle more optionsOn the morning of April 21, Sarah McSweeney woke up with a temperature of 103 degrees — and it kept rising. Staff at her group home worried that the woman with multiple disabilities — she couldn't walk or speak words — had contracted COVID-19. They got her into her bright pink wheelchair and...…How Are Disabled People Affected When COVID-19 Health Care Rationing Happens? In an Oregon hospital, a disabled woman fought for her life as her friends and advocates pleaded for proper care. Her case raises the question: Are disabled lives equally valued during a pandemic?Heard onToggle more optionsOn the morning of April 21, Sarah McSweeney woke up with a temperature of 103 degrees — and it kept rising. Staff at her group home worried that the woman with multiple disabilities — she couldn't walk or speak words — had contracted COVID-19. They got her into her bright pink wheelchair and...WW…

American Airlines Ends Weight Limit Policy Affecting People In Power Wheelchairs American Airlines reversed a recent policy that banned wheelchairs weighing more than 300 pounds, which includes many power wheelchairs, from some of its regional jets following an NPR report.American Airlines has reversed a policy that meant some people who use heavy wheelchairs could no longer fly on certain small regional jets. The recent policy banned wheelchairs weighing more than 300 pounds from some of its smaller jets. Many power wheelchairs, with batteries and motors, weigh more than that. The airline...…American Airlines Ends Weight Limit Policy Affecting People In Power Wheelchairs American Airlines reversed a recent policy that banned wheelchairs weighing more than 300 pounds, which includes many power wheelchairs, from some of its regional jets following an NPR report.American Airlines has reversed a policy that meant some people who use heavy wheelchairs could no longer fly on certain small regional jets. The recent policy banned wheelchairs weighing more than 300 pounds from some of its smaller jets. Many power wheelchairs, with batteries and motors, weigh more than that. The airline...WW…