Information for Consumers, Families and Guardians
We have decided to temporarily close our day services, both at the EWB (community connections skill building day program) on campus, and the Adult Wellness Center where our senior day services are located.
Beginning March 14, all congregate facilities are mandated to aggressively monitor exposure of high risk persons in their care to the Coronavirus. Under an abundance of caution, we have decided we can best protect our participants and consumers, most of whom are in the "at risk" category, by closing our day program facilities.
Services remaining open include:
- Supports Coordination
- In-home care services and CLS.
The WMU Center for Disability Services continues to monitor the incidence of Coronavirus-COVID-19 across Michigan. We want to update you on the latest preventative steps we are taking to combat the spread of the virus.
- Maintaining close contact with local and state authorities, and following all public health guidance;
- Using infectious disease universal precautions;
- Increased cleaning and disinfecting high-touch areas, such as switches and door knobs;
- Scheduling additional disinfection
We will keep you updated as more information becomes available. We ask at this time that you talk to your Support Coordinator or your home staff to create a plan for temporary disruption of services if this becomes necessary. If we anticipate additional closures, we will contact you by phone as soon as possible.
Contact Information:
Carol Sundberg, Director
carol.sundberg@wmich.edu
269-387-7005
Jill Svinicki, Program Coordinator
jill.svinicki@wmich.edu
269-387-7412
Dawn Robarge, Program Coordinator
dawn.robarge@wmich.edu
269-387-7995
Toby Ward, Program Coordinator
toby.a.ward@wmich.edu
269-387-7061
In the meantime, we urge you to keep participants/consumers/family members home if they exhibit symptoms of illness. We have also included a list of underlying medical conditions that may increase the risk of serious COVID-19 for individuals of any age.
Underlying medical conditions that may increase the risk of serious COVID-19 for individuals of any age:
- Blood disorders (e.g., sickle cell disease or on blood thinners)
- Chronic kidney disease as defined by your doctor. Patient has been told to avoid or reduce the dose of medications because kidney disease, or is under treatment for kidney disease, including receiving dialysis
- Chronic liver disease as defined by your doctor. (e.g., cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis)
- Compromised immune system (immunosuppression) (e.g., seeing a doctor for cancer and treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation, received an organ or bone marrow transplant, taking high doses of corticosteroids or other immunosuppressant medications, HIV or AIDS)
- Endocrine disorders (e.g., diabetes mellitus)
- Metabolic disorders (such as inherited metabolic disorders and mitochondrial disorders)
- Heart disease (such as congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease)
- Lung disease including asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (chronic bronchitis or emphysema) or other chronic conditions associated with impaired lung function or that require home oxygen