by Erin Vallely

With autumn and winter on the way, it is especially important for people with disabilities to begin preparing.  Cold weather, rain, snow, and ice can make life much harder for people with visible and less visible disabilities.  The cost of living goes up, going outside can be dangerous, and illnesses spike.  To have a safe and healthy winter here are some resources and supports that might make your life easier. 

History of Social Supports 

Starting in the early 20th century, modern day social support programs were developed to help people during the Great Depression. Governments and communities recognized the importance of offering financial assistance, healthcare, and housing support to reduce poverty and improve people’s quality of life. Over time, social support programs have adapted to meet additional needs such as unemployment benefits, food assistance, and mental health services. Their primary goals are to ensure vulnerable populations have their basic needs met and to promote social equity and economic stability. 

Resources to Help You Prepare for Fall and Winter  

There are many resources available within our community and across the state that can help support your needs.  We hope the resources explained below will help you get through this season. 

• Voting: If you are not already registered to vote, residents who meet the requirements have until October 26th to submit the paperwork.  You can register to vote online, by mail, or in-person at your local county board of elections or the Department of Motor Vehicles.  You also need to update your registration at least 15 days before the election if you have changed your name, moved to a new address, or want to change your party affiliation.  If in-person voting is not accessible to you, you can request a mail-in ballot at least two weeks before the election.  If you need accessible transportation to vote in-person, you can contact Dial-a-Ride which offers door to door transportation anywhere within the county. 

• Heating Your House: If keeping your house warm in the winter is unaffordable, consider applying for the Home Energy Assistance Program which can give you funding to help offset your heating bills.  They can help you if you heat your house with electricity, natural gas, oil, coal, propane, wood/wood pellets, kerosene, or corn.  Improving the energy efficiency of your house can also help lower heating costs.  New York Energy Advisor offers customized assessments, suggestions, and financial assistance connections to help you save money. 

• Putting Food on the Table: If you’re worried about being able to ensure you have enough to eat this winter, consider applying for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program which can give you funding to help offset the cost of groceries.  The program funding can be used to buy most items except preprepared hot food, cigarettes, tobacco, alcohol, personal hygiene items, vitamins and supplements, and other non-food items.  You can also get help from food pantries across the county.  You are not limited to one type of food assistance. 

• Avoiding Severe Illness: Illnesses like the flu and COVID-19 can be very severe for individuals with disabilities and underlying health conditions.  If you, or people you are close to, are at high risk for hospitalization, you may want to stock up on high-quality facemasks.  The federal government is also renewing the free COVID-19 test kits by mail for each household that registers at the end of September.  You may also want to schedule your flu shot and COVID shot as soon as they become available locally.  You can likely get both shots at your doctor’s office or at your nearest pharmacy.  If you need accessible transportation to get your shots, you can contact Dial-a-Ride which offers door to door transportation anywhere within the county. If you do become ill, call your doctor to see if there’s anything you can do to minimize the risk of it becoming severe. 

• Outdoor Maintenance: Snow and ice can make it dangerous for people with mobility difficulties to go outside.  If shoveling is difficult or dangerous for you, hire someone to do it for you or ask a neighbor, friend, or family member for help.  You may also want to plan errands ahead of time so you can minimize how often you have to go outside.  If you are worried about driving this winter, or safely getting to the bus stop, you can contact Dial-a-Ride which offers door to door transportation anywhere within the county.  Delivery services for groceries and other essential items, such as Instacart and Walmart+, may also be helpful resources to help keep you safe this winter. 

Get Involved!   

Although the resources in this article do not cover all the available supports, we hope it will help you think about what you should do to prepare for the cold seasons.  It’s important to educate each other and offer support to one another.   

• For a list of resources on seasonal depression, go to https://www.publichealthdegrees.org/resources/79-resources-managing-seasonal-affective-disorder/  

• For tips on planning accessible seasonal and holiday events, go to https://aticortland.org/making-the-holidays-accessible-to-everyone/  

• Check in with your family, friends, and neighbors to see how you can support each other this winter 

If you need assistance finding supports to meet your needs, or have questions about applying for supports, please contact ATI at 607-753-7363 or by email at info@aticortland.org.  We can help you ensure your needs are met.