Nebraskans With Disabilities Face COVID Testing Barriers: Advocacy Group

An advocacy group for Nebraskans with physical and developmental disabilities claims their constituents are not getting equal access to COVID testing and other services during the pandemic. Disability Rights Nebraska released a report on Wednesday making the claims.

The group's legal counsel, Amy Miller, said as the state faces "outrageous numbers of COVID cases, there's still no realistic way for most Nebraskans with disabilities to get access to the testing program."

Since the beginning of the pandemic, some Nebraskans with disabilities faced difficulties getting tested for COVID-19.

The report outlined perceived problems, claiming state health officials have not provided resources for on-site testing at assisted living facilities catering to those with disabilities for those unable to leave their homes.

Since most must get testing at locations set up by hospitals or clinics, Miller noted, "if you are approved for a test, we've had these drive-up mobile testing sites that require you to be in a car, or to get yourself there and walk through." The report states that those unable to provide personal transportation or have mobility issues face obstacles in getting tested.

Photos of new portable testing sites being deployed by the state do not appear to be fully accessible to those in wheelchairs.

During his Wednesday briefing for reporters, Governor Pete Ricketts said, "With regard to Test Nebraska, we do have 53 sites set up around the state. Many of these sites are in places like hospitals, clinics, and local public health departments, where anybody can normally access health care services. So, a disabled person that was leveraging and clinic could still go there."

This summer, advocates for Nebraska's disabled filed a complaint about several of these issues with the federal Office of Civil Rights. That agency has not responded, nor has the state countered the allegations. Disability Rights Nebraska argues that limiting access to COVID testing will be just as applicable when the government distributes vaccinations.