MDDC sent this letter to our public health officials a week and a half ago and we followed it up with a email requesting a response yesterday.  

Nancy

From: xxxxxx@nacdd.simplelists.com <xxxxxx@nacdd.simplelists.com> on behalf of Mercedes Witowsky <xxxxxx@njcdd.org>
Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2020 8:39 PM
To: Horntvedt, Julianne D. <xxxxxx@nd.gov>; 'xxxxxx@nacdd.simplelists.com' <xxxxxx@nacdd.simplelists.com>
Subject: DD Councils RE: COVID hospital visitor policies
 
EXTERNAL: This email originated from outside of the State of Maine Mail System. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

New Jersey has not yet adopted a policy, we are told they will issue guidance any day now. NJCDD and our P&A are aggressively seeking guidance.  Here is the letter we sent to our Dept. of Health Commissioner. We are recommending a blend of these two policies as polices our state should adopt.

Rush University Medical Center policy found at https://nam03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rush.edu%2Fpatientsvisitors%2Fcovid-19-resources%2Frush-coronavirus-covid-19-patient-and-visitor-updates&amp;data=02%7C01%7CNancy.E.Cronin%40maine.gov%7C30ce035933a14e2ebb6f08d7e71ee2fe%7C413fa8ab207d4b629bcdea1a8f2f864e%7C0%7C0%7C637231992910331073&amp;sdata=xxBk%2FmSaWZqNyM7lcNMVkjUYAQ7U%2Brhk6SsCyCkp6Bw%3D&amp;reserved=0

To ease the burden on the designated support person, we recommend that the policy allow the individual with disabilities to designate two support people but allow only one support person to be present at a time, consistent with the New York State Policy which can be found at  https://nam03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fopwdd.ny.gov%2Fsystem%2Ffiles%2Fdocuments%2F2020%2F04%2Fdoh_covid19_hospitalvisitation_4.10&amp;data=02%7C01%7CNancy.E.Cronin%40maine.gov%7C30ce035933a14e2ebb6f08d7e71ee2fe%7C413fa8ab207d4b629bcdea1a8f2f864e%7C0%7C0%7C637231992910331073&amp;sdata=LXXSOecf0LRiBjm41zUI7lj0JZHsmpnqifiCYHo4O9g%3D&amp;reserved=0. 20.pdf.

Mercedes Witowsky
Executive Director
New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities

________________________________________
From: xxxxxx@nacdd.simplelists.com [xxxxxx@nacdd.simplelists.com] on behalf of Horntvedt, Julianne D. [xxxxxx@nd.gov]
Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2020 2:34 PM
To: 'xxxxxx@nacdd.simplelists.com'
Subject: DD Councils COVID hospital visitor policies

Can you share with me and/or the group any policies you may have that have been adopted for hospitals to create an exception to their visitor policies during COVID for individuals/families with disabilities.

Julie Horntvedt, M.Ed.
Executive Director, North Dakota State Council on Developmental Disabilities

Pronouns: she, her, hers
To learn more about the importance of pronouns, visit https://nam03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgoo.gl%2FmFPTKS&amp;data=02%7C01%7CNancy.E.Cronin%40maine.gov%7C30ce035933a14e2ebb6f08d7e71ee2fe%7C413fa8ab207d4b629bcdea1a8f2f864e%7C0%7C0%7C637231992910331073&amp;sdata=SqqegknNXZV69fxIoVEmr5%2BTAUcOR7ZgrbchF58WD%2Fg%3D&amp;reserved=0

701.328.4847 (office)    •     711 (TTY)      •     xxxxxx@nd.gov<mailto:xxxxxx@nd.gov>     •     Council Home Page<https://nam03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nd.gov%2Fscdd%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7CNancy.E.Cronin%40maine.gov%7C30ce035933a14e2ebb6f08d7e71ee2fe%7C413fa8ab207d4b629bcdea1a8f2f864e%7C0%7C0%7C637231992910331073&amp;sdata=oQT9%2FEz%2FLEC5eDViQ3SGHIYub2DbW9hbgSxRZNVj9HM%3D&amp;reserved=0>

[A close up of a logo    Description automatically generated]


----------Confidentiality Statement----------
This transmission is intended only for the use of the individual to whom it is addressed and may contain information that is made confidential by law.  If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited.  If you have received this communication in error, please respond immediately to the sender and then destroy the original transmission as well as any electronic or printed copies.  Thank you.







The information Contained in this transmission it confidential and proprietary. It is intended for the use of the individual or entity named above. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are here by notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have recieved this communication in error, please notify us immediately by telephone, collect, and destroy the original message.