Deck the calls: Seek creative connections this holiday season

Monday, December 14, 2020

by Peter Sleasman, DRF Executive Director

Many of us look forward to the last few months of the year in anticipation of warm family gatherings, festive celebrations, and cherished religious traditions. Even though our lives may get hectic with the extra activities of the season, we know those activities lead to togetherness and connection with those who mean the most to us. 

Unfortunately, this year has been anything but a typical year. While nearly every aspect of our daily lives has been affected by coronavirus, Floridians with disabilities bore the brunt of the pandemic’s wrath and our most vulnerable residents were overlooked during a time where their safety should have been a top priority.

Over the last 10 months, our staff has worked tirelessly to ensure policymakers, healthcare providers, educators, and others prioritize the needs of people with disabilities during the pandemic. While working from their kitchen tables at home and juggling their children’s distance learning like so many other Floridians, our staff activated to ensure Florida’s schools continue to provide a free and appropriate public education to all students. They fought for accessible COVID-19 testing, reasonable accommodations for essential caregivers, ensured continued access to community-based services and transportation, and amplified the discrimination of individuals with disabilities in crisis standards of care planning. We also launched an aggressive voter education campaign, pressed prisons, jails, and institutions to adhere to CDC guidelines to mitigate the virus’s rampant spread, and we sued Governor Ron DeSantis for failing to provide American Sign Language interpreters during his coronavirus briefings.

Still, a disproportionately large percentage of people with disabilities in our state are experiencing isolation, loneliness, and depression. COVID-19 has become as much of a threat to their overall health as the virus itself. With the holiday season upon us, we at Disability Rights Florida encourage you to stay connected to your friends, family, and support systems in any way you can. Call, text, or email the important people in your life. If you have it, connect even more through FaceTime or video.

For a few tips and ideas to help you prioritize your mental health, visit the Mental Health disability topic on our website. Or, watch our webinar on Coping with COVID: Mental Health and Social Isolation in the time of COVID-19.

Throughout the holidays, and as we look for hope in a new year, we wish you moments of peace amid the difficulties, connections with family and friends even if they can’t be in person, and the strength to find joy in everyday occurrences.

From all of us at Disability Rights Florida, happy holidays.