The Event
The décor was a simple outdoor tent and a directional sign, the dress code was more parka and boots than black tie, but in my book, it was the premier event of the season. I’ve been managing events -- some featuring Senators and future presidents -- since my early 20s (so, a long time), but earlier this month, a vaccine clinic for 200 people with developmental disabilities became the most important event I’ve ever organized. The novel Coronavirus is dangerous, but people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) face an increased risk; they are three times more likely to die of COVID-19 than others, according to a study cited by Disability Scoop newsletter (Nov. 16, 2020). Before the pandemic, many adults with IDD were active members of their community, working at grocery stores, volunteering at schools, running their own small businesses, and enjoying all their local communities have to offer. But that all changed when the world shut down. Many were furloughed, the...