ACL’s DIAL continues to help people connect with services and supports.
Current analysis suggests that anywhere from 7.7 million to 23 million Americans have developed Long COVID, and roughly 1 million people are out of the workforce at any given time because of it. This figure is equal to about $50 billion annually in lost salaries.
One year ago, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) worked with federal partners to create an action path forward to address Long COVID. Two reports outline key aspects of that work:
- Services and Supports for Longer-Term Impacts of COVID-19 outlines over 200 federally funded supports and services that may be available to those impacted by the pandemic and Long COVID.
- The National Research Action Plan lays out current U.S. government conducted or funded research and a pathway for future inquiry. The National Research Action Plan also recommended the formation of the Office of Long COVID Research and Practice.
To continue to help people access supportive services and advance our nation’s understanding of Long COVID and its associated conditions, HHS has established the Office of Long COVID Research and Practice. This office will continue current efforts to lead the whole-of-government response and work across the government to implement the National Research Action Plan.
Get Connected to DIAL
ACL started the Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL) to help people with disabilities of all kinds to get connected to information about local resources that support independent living. Launched in 2021 to help disabled people access COVID-19 vaccinations, DIAL also helps connect people to essential services, such as transportation, housing support, disability rights, and more.
DIAL’s staff are trained to work with people of various communications abilities and will spend as much time as needed to ensure effective communication. DIAL’s information specialists can assist people in all languages and are trained to work with callers who are deaf and hard-of-hearing. Connect with a DIAL information specialist from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM ET, Monday through Friday.
How to reach DIAL:
- Call or text at 888-677-1199.
- Email DIAL@usaginganddisability.org.
- Start a live online chat with an information specialist.
- Connect directly to an agent in American Sign Language using ASL Now or call 888-677-1199 from your videophone.
- Use video relay services by calling 888-677-1199. People who use TTY relay can first dial 7-1-1, and then dial 888-677-1199.