Pandemic has Heightened Inequities for People with Disabilities

Pace University, in partnership with New York City’s leading social justice organization dedicated to helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities attain equity and live full lives, is hosting a symposium to inform policy about the disparate impacts that the COVID 19 pandemic has had on people with disabilities and how race, ethnicity, gender identity, and cultural biases affect their quality of life and health outcomes.

The free event, to be held virtually on May 14, is presented in partnership with AHRC New York City and Georgetown University’s National Center for Cultural Competence. The half-day conference will take an in-depth look at the lived experiences and compounded disparities of people with disabilities; public policies affecting them; and many of the lessons learned from the pandemic.

With participation from the NYC Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, NYC Department of Social Services’ Office of Disability Affairs, and Trinity Church Wall Street, featured contributors include people with disabilities and leading disability rights advocates such as Judy Heumann; social/racial justice and health-equity advocate Daniel Dawes, executive director of the Satcher Health Leadership Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine; members of the Biden-Harris Covid-19 Health Equity Task Force; the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities; Georgetown University; NYC Department of Health and New York Law, among many others, as well as remarks by New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.

“As a physician providing care on the front lines during the height of the pandemic, it was clear that health inequities would not be solved by health professionals and academics alone,” said Dr. Sheryl White-Scott, senior medical advisor at AHRC New York City and a Board of Director of the Human Services Research Institute. “We need to collaborate with communities with lived experiences. Substantial and sustainable change will be impossible without incorporating disability, race, ethnicity, gender, culture and political determinants into our collective action plan. In order to act differently, we must first think differently.”

The goal of the symposium is to foster a deeper discussion about the challenges facing people with disabilities and identify needed changes to policy, service delivery, training, and other key considerations. It is specifically designed for decision-makers and staff in health and health-equity policy and social/racial justice; city, state, and federal government as well as health and behavioral health care providers; non-profit disability agencies, academic institutions, foundations and corporate leaders focused on diversity, equity and inclusion; and BIPOC with disabilities.

Interested parties can register for the free event here.

Each year, AHRC New York City touches the lives of over 15,000 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout the five boroughs. The array of services offered by the organization is unsurpassed. The organization that created the first schools, day programs and community residences, continues to meet the needs of its individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities -- and offer individuals a wide range of programs, services and supports tailored to meet their specific needs.

“So much is at stake right now for humanity as a whole. The odds are especially stacked against people who live at the intersection of disability, race, and gender identity,” said Marco Damiani, Chief Executive Officer at AHRC New York City. ”People with disabilities, leaders in health and human services, academia, local and national government, and in corporate America must be the committed catalysts we need eliminate the inequities in our health and social systems. COVID 19 cannot and should not be used to politicize our response to the pandemic.”

"This symposium offers the opportunity to take a deep dive to examine the impact of COVID-19 on persons with disabilities in NYC through lived experience and the lens of the political determinants of health,” said Tawara D. Goode, director, Georgetown University National Center for Cultural Competence. “Most importantly this symposium is a catalyst for action to effect systems change."

Pace University President Marvin Krislov said that as a leader of an institution that focuses on equity, inclusion, diversity for all people, it was imperative to bring these experts together to foster change.

"As a proudly inclusive institution dedicated to serving our broader community, Pace University is pleased to help convene this important discussion," said President Krislov. "The past year has been deeply challenging for everyone, but it has exacerbated the disparate challenges already faced by those living with disabilities. We're proud to be a part of the search for solutions."

About Pace University: Pace University has a proud history of preparing its diverse student body for a lifetime of professional success as a result of its unique program that combines rigorous academics and real-world experiences. Pace is ranked the #1 private, four-year college in the nation for upward economic mobility by Harvard University’s Opportunity Insights, evidence of the transformative education the University provides. From its beginnings as an accounting school in 1906, Pace has grown to three campuses, enrolling 13,000 students in bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs in more than 150 majors and programs, across a range of disciplines: arts, sciences, business, health care, technology, law, education, and more. The university also has one of the most competitive performing arts programs in the country. Pace has a signature, newly renovated campus in New York City, located in the heart of vibrant Lower Manhattan, next to Wall Street and City Hall, and two campuses in Westchester County, New York: a 200-acre picturesque Pleasantville Campus and the Elisabeth Haub School of Law in White Plains. Follow us on Twitter or on the Pace News website.