News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The director of Community Options said she welcomes the state expanding COVID testing for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Jeanette Preece said the order will help better serve that community.
“I think the expansion, in itself, will make sure that those we support do not have the COVID virus,” Preece said, “If they do, we can take extra precautions to keep them isolated and take care of them during that time.”
Governor Bill Lee announced this week the state would extend COVID testing for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. According to the state, approximately 7,300 Tennessee residents receive support through community-based support services.
Preece said there are a number of underlying health concerns among the community that makes testing difficult.
“Some people are not only intellectual or developmentally disabled, but they also have mental health issues like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder,” Preece said. “Those people do not really understand why they are being asked to have this test.”
Community Options is a New Jersey-based nonprofit. It has offices in 10 states, including three in Tennessee. Preece said her staff will try to make the people Community Options support as comfortable as possible while getting tested.
“We will have them come to our offices, or we will go to their homes, especially if it is someone who is hesitant,” Preece said. “We will talk to them about the virus and what the virus could potentially do to them. We will try to get them to explain to the best of their ability why this is important.”
Even before the governor’s order to expand testing, Preece said efforts were underway to protect the community.
“We have restricted their ability to go into the community, like we’ve been asked to do by the governor,” Preece said. “We have asked people to stay at home and not have visitors at home and not go out and visit friends or family. Our staff are constantly disinfecting the homes and common areas.”
Preece said if something positive can come out of the pandemic, it is that more needs to be done to help protect the members of the intellectual and development disability community.
“This COVID virus has really put us in the mindset that we need to do more to protect those that are most vulnerable,” Preece said. “We’ve always done what we thought was the best, but, in reality, we can do so much more, especially for those that are so vulnerable.”
