San Mateo, CA, December 5, 2022—The WITH Foundation is pleased to announce that $90,000 will be awarded to three organizations as a result of our Mpox (Monkeypox) Response Fund. These grants will support the development of accessible and plain language educational resources related to Mpox, the Mpox vaccine, and Mpox treatment that are accessible to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Preference was given to the programs and projects that formally included and/or partnered with self-advocates/individuals with lived experience of disability (or self-advocacy organizations).
The following projects were selected for funding:
Health Access, Sacramento, CA
Health Access’s California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network will develop educational materials related to Mpox, the Mpox vaccine, and Mpox treatment to better serve LGBTQ+ adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. These materials include factsheets, social media graphics, and short informational videos that will include information on Mpox, dispel any misinformation about the Mpox vaccine, share prevention tactics against Mpox, and share resources on what people can do if they have Mpox. The Network will also partner with community-based organizations that provide respite support to people experiencing homelessness to disseminate materials to people who are unhoused and address the digital divide that often keeps communities from accessing information. The short informational videos will feature LGBTQ+ people with IDD who have received the Mpox vaccine and share their experiences to help encourage others to get vaccinated. The videos will also include an expert from the California Department of Public Health talking about ways to stay safe from Mpox and how to access resources and the vaccine. Lastly, in an effort to dispel misinformation and end stigma, the videos will include the testimony of a person who had Mpox sharing their experience with others.
Autistic Self Advocacy Network, Washington, DC
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) Mpox Easy Read and Plain Language Project will produce four written resources providing Mpox education. Each resource will be available in plain language, picture-assisted Easy Read, and video format, in both English and Spanish. They will also host two webinars in plain language. These resources and webinars will provide clear information about spread of the Mpox virus, vaccine access, and treatment and isolation procedures. The resources will include risk reduction practices for a variety of circumstances including safer sex and touch practices, precautions for congregate living, and working with support staff. Additionally, the materials will explain how Mpox spreads differently than COVID-19 and why different precautions are needed, and will correct misinformation that depicts the virus as a sexually transmitted infection and address the homophobia and transphobia around discussion of the virus.
University of South Florida Foundation, Inc., Tampa, FL
The Mpox Educational Videos on Social Media for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities project will develop three brief educational videos about Mpox, the Mpox vaccine, and Mpox treatment. The videos will feature both graphics and dialog that are easily digestible. The creators of these videos are experts in videography, visual design, health communication, special education, and adolescent medicine. The videos will use digital storytelling to explain the science of Mpox, the Mpox vaccine, and Mpox treatment through narrative and role playing by self-advocates and the team physician. The videos will be shared via Tik Tok, Facebook and Instagram. The team will also create and disseminate Mpox-related fact sheets to local affiliated disability networks.
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WITH Foundation promotes comprehensive and accessible healthcare for adults with developmental disabilities in the United States.
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Press Contact: Laura Shumaker
Director of Communications, WITH
communications@withfoundation.org