COVID-19 Deaf and Disability Community Resources
This is a list of online resources related to the COVID-19 coronavirus from organizations supporting people who are Deaf and people with disabilities, mostly in the Toronto area. It will be updated as more resources are made available.
If you have questions, feedback, or require this information in an alternate accessible format, please contact Toronto Public Library Accessibility Services by email at [email protected] or leave a phone message at 416-393-7099.
Download COVID-19 Deaf and Disability Community Resources (PDF)
On this page
- General information and support services
- For families and caregivers
- Autism
- Blind and Partially Sighted
- Brain Injury
- Communication
- Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- Developmental and Intellectual
- Mental Health
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Spinal Cord Injury
General information and support services
211 Central
211 Central
Search for local priority services available during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also includes a map of open food banks and information updates from the service sector.
Access Now
Access From Home
Find businesses that are accessible from home. Categories include: Groceries, Health, Courier, Entertainment, Education, Retail and Tech.
ARCH Disability Law
- Advocacy Toolkit: Advocating for Your Support Person, Attendant, or Communication Assistant to Be with You in Hospital During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- ARCH Bulletin on COVID-19: Accessible Communication
- COVID-19 and Disability: Recommendations to the Canadian Government from Disability Related Organizations in Canada
Citizens with Disabilities Ontario
COVID-19 Info for People with Disabilities
Includes plain language guides and information about: health and hospitalization, homecare and direct funding, online support, income support, emergency planning.
Centre for Independent Living Toronto
Information and Resources List Related to COVID-19
Contacts and links for government and health information and community services such as crisis, seniors and peer support help lines.
Ontario Community Support Association
COVID-19 Community Support Finder
Seniors, persons with disabilities and people with underlying medical conditions, their families or caregivers can request essential deliveries like meals, groceries, or medications.
Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services
- Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) COVID-19 Key Information
- Special Services and Supports (SSAH): Temporary Changes to Eligible Expenses
- Passport funding: Temporary Changes to Eligible Expenses
Information about additional resources for ODSP recipients and expanded lists of eligible expenses for people in the SSAH and Passport programs.
Partners for Planning
COVID-19 Staying Connected
Tips for staying socially connected via technology, Caremonger groups, and direct online and telephone support.
Rick Hansen Foundation
COVID-19 Useful Resources for Persons with Disabilities
Compilation of resources on topics such as: safer shopping, supporting children and youth, financial assistance and how to get help.
Tyler Littlefield
Accessible COVID-19 Statistics Tracker
Statistics regarding the COVID-19 pandemic in a text format.
For families and caregivers
Canadian Association for Community Living
#COVIDdisability: Disability-Related Resources for Families
Disability-related resources for families including: trusted information, plain language information, information on discrimination and communication rights and resources for caregivers.
Child-Bright Network
COVID-19 Resources
Resources for children with disabilities and families, including: leisure activities, online communities, ongoing research, learning opportunities and webinars, news articles, and testimonies by families and youth.
Children’s Healthcare Canada
COVID-19 and Canada’s Kids
Resources from reliable sources on: COVID-19 and children’s health, hospital preparedness, planning guidelines, as well as live webinars and recordings.
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
COVID-19: Tip Sheets and Resources
Family tips sheets and resources on topics that include: supporting siblings; emergency funding sources and access to basic necessities; fun and affordable stay-at-home activities; learning schedules; storybooks about COVID-19.
The Ontario Caregiver Organization
COVID-19
Tips and resources for caregivers. Includes tips for caregiver mental health and two-minute video clips on caregiving during COVID-19.
Manuela Molina
COVIBOOK
Storybook about COVID-19 for children. Available in Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese, Croatian, Danish, Dutch, Egyptian Arabic, English, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Turkish and Welsh.
Autism
Autism Ontario
List of Resources to Help Us Through COVID-19
Links to resources in several categories:
- 18 and Over
- Activities
- Caregiver Tip
- COVID-19 Funding Sources
- First Nation, Metis, and Inuit Resources
- Health Resources
- Learning at Home
- Mental Health
Carol Gray Social Stories
Pandemic Social Stories Direct Access
A collection of shareable social stories to support the exchange of information about COVID-19 between parents, professionals and people with autism of all ages.
Kerry’s Place
COVID-19 Resources
A video social story and links to resources.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Supporting Individuals with Autism through Uncertain Times
Toolkit to support children and young adults with autism. Organized around seven strategies: support understanding, offer opportunities for expression, prioritize coping and calming skills, maintain routines, build new routines, foster connections (from a distance), and be aware of changing behaviours.
Blind and Partially Sighted
Canadian Assistive Technology
COVID-19 Resources for People with Disabilities
Information on COVID-19 plus links to free assistive technology, webinars, and online meetings for people who are blind or partially sighted.
CNIB
Virtual Program Offerings
Free virtual programs for Canadians who are blind or partially sighted, as well as their families, friends and caregivers. Programs include: career support, tech training, book clubs, youth groups, cooking and parenting.
Canadian Council of the Blind
COVID-19
Posts from the Canadian Council of the Blind.
Brain Injury
Brain Injury Society of Toronto
Online Programs
Free online programs such as: yoga, mental health support, nutrition, fraud prevention, community and government resources, and community connections.
Communication
Communication Disabilities Access Canada
COVID-19 Communication Rights Toolkit
Information on rights of people with speech-related disabilities, tips for self-advocacy and accommodation request form to use in health care settings.
Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Bob Rumball Canadian Centre of Excellence for the Deaf
Deaf Services in Ontario COVID-19 Updates
Status updates and contact information for various Deaf service agencies in Ontario.
Deaf Literacy Initiative
COVID-19 Update
Information on COVID-19 in ASL.
Silent Voice
COVID-19 Stay at Home Corner: How to Fill Your Days
Information about updates to government services and tips for coping during the COVID-19 pandemic in ASL.
World Federation of the Deaf
Information on the Coronavirus
Information on COVID-19 in International Sign Language.
Developmental and Intellectual
Community Living ConnectABILITY
What to do while in isolation, COVID-19 resources
Information and resources to help support people with developmental disabilities and their families. Includes links to social stories, webinars, and resources for education, entertainment and physical fitness.
Health Care Access Research and Developmental Disabilities
COVID-19 Information
Easy-to-read information, questions and answers, tips for managing stress, tools to use in health care settings and online events.
Surrey Place
Coronavirus Updates and Resources
Information and resources to support individuals and families, including adults with disabilities, parents and professionals.
Mental Health
Canadian Mental Health Association
COVID-19: Mental Health and Well-Being
Resources and suggestions to help support your mental health, including links to tips for caring for children and tools for people aged 70 and over and caregivers.
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Mental Health and the COVID-19 Pandemic
Information and suggestions about how to cope with stress and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Government of Canada
Mental Health and COVID-19 for Public Servants: Protect Your Mental Health
Information about self-care, financial well-being, more. Geared to federal public servants but available to anyone.
Mental Health Commission of Canada
Resource Hub: Mental Health and Wellness During the COVID-19 pandemic
How to manage your mental health, work from home and deal with social isolation.
Vivian Ngai and Susie Kim
Take Care 19
Compilation of crowd-sourced free or low-cost resources to help cope and support mental wellness in diverse communities during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Option to filter resources by audience "with disabilities."
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada
What You Need to Know About Coronavirus
Quick information and guidance for people living with MS.
Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal Cord Injury Ontario
COVID-19 Update and Resources
Information resources and health guidance for people living with SCI.
Last updated May 15, 2020