Are AAC Users at Greater Risk of Dying from COVID? (Updated)
December 20, 2020
Communication First
(Updated December 23, 2020, and March 14, 2021)
There are two main COVID risks: (1) the risk of getting the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 and (2) the risk of having serious complications or dying from COVID-19 if you do get it.
The first risk depends entirely on a person’s daily environment, their actions, and the actions of those around them. We know that many people who cannot speak and who rely on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) strategies do face higher risks of contracting or getting the virus. That is because so many of us live in group or “congregate” settings. More people = more exposure to potential carriers = more transmission risk. It is also because, due to our disabilities, we often cannot take necessary precautions to reduce that risk, like wearing masks, staying six feet away from others, washing hands frequently, and cleaning surfaces around us.
The second risk is whether we are more likely to be hospitalized and die from COVID if do get the coronavirus. Even before there were any studies on whether we had higher disability-related biological or neurological risk factors that might make COVID [...]