We recognize the importance of in-person services for many people our agency supports. As more people can access the COVID-19 vaccine, we’ve been asked about when HCDDS will fully return to in-person services and meetings.
Keeping people safe has been our top priority, particularly given the medical vulnerability of many people we serve. Throughout the past year, our employees have found creative ways to support people with DD and their families, even as many of us worked remotely. We also implemented rigorous safety measures so our schools could re-open this academic year – an important option for many students and their families. Other services have also been available in-person on a case-by-case basis, as determined by the specific needs and risk factors of the person served.
As we’ve done since the beginning of the pandemic, we are committed to basing our decisions on the direction provided by our state and local health officials. This guidance frequently changes. We do not have a specific date for when we will fully return to in-person services, and we will continue to evaluate our options in the coming months. We are hopeful we can phase in more in-person activities beginning in June and July.
In the meantime, we recognize that every situation is unique and are committed to providing individualized support to make sure people are able to safely receive the services they need. You can reach out to your SSA or primary contact to discuss your specific situation and the possibility of modified or in-person supports. Each request will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to ensure the continued safety of people with DD we support, families, and our employees.
We are committed to incorporating lessons we’ve learned from our experiences during the pandemic. While some services and meetings have been more difficult remotely, many people we support and their families have enjoyed the flexibility of remote options and have expressed a desire to maintain some of these options in the future. As we move forward, we will be sure to consider how we can best implement these lessons to better support the needs of everyone we serve.
