Page - 423 - in VULNERABLE - The Law, Policy and Ethics of COVID-19

423Not All in This Together: Disability Rights and COVID-19 which Canada is a signatory, requires State Parties to take necessary measures to protect people with disabilities in humanitarian emer- gencies and would likely be applicable in this context.12 Yet barriers, such as COVID-19 websites operated by the Ontario government, which are inaccessible to blind users, and addresses by the Prime Minister without sign language interpretation, have already been reported.13 Barrier removal will be of key importance as the COVID-19 crisis continues to ensure Deaf people and others with communication needs obtain timely information in an accessible manner. The issue of access to lifesaving ventilators also raises important human rights questions. A discussion paper produced by the AODA Alliance boldly insists that medical triage not discriminate against people with disabilities. This might occur by inappropriately consid- ering impairments in evaluating future quality of life or determining that reliance on publicly funded attendant services ought to be a fac- tor deprioritizing a disabled person for a ventilator. Disability rights activists have also raised concerns that people who have always used ventilators for pre-existing conditions may have them confiscated by hospital staff should they end up getting COVID-19.14 American dis- ability rights activists have engaged in legal action under the Americans with Disabilities Act to challenge discriminatory triage policies. In Alabama, a complaint by disability rights organizations and noted 12. UN General Assembly, Convention  on  the  Rights  of  Persons  with  Disabilities:  Resolution/Adopted  by  the  General  Assembly, A/RES/61/106 (24 January 2007) at art 11 [CRPD]. 13. Michelle McQuigge, “Disabled Canadians Feel Excluded from Covid-19 Messaging”, CTV News (18 March 2020), online: <www.ctvnews.ca/health/ coronavirus/disabled-canadians-feel-excluded-from-covid-19-messag- ing-1.4857691>. 14. “A Discussion Paper on Ensuring that Medical Triage of Health Services During the Covid-19 Crisis Does Not Discriminate Against Patients with Disabilities” (14 April 2020), online: AODA Alliance <www.aodaalliance.org/ whats-new/a-discussion-paper-on-ensuring-that-medical-triage-or-ration- ing-of-health-care-services-during-the-covid-19-crisis-does-not-discriminat- e-against-patients-with-disabilities/>; “Disability Community Wins Interim Step Forward–Ford Government Backs Down on Its Controversial Secret Protocol for Rationing Critical Medical Care During the COVID Crisis and Agrees to Consult Human Rights and Community Experts” (21 April 2020), online: AODA Alliance <www.aodaalliance.org/whats-new/disability-community-wins-interim-step- forward-ford-government-backs-down-on-its-controversial-secret-protocol-for- rationing-critical-medical-care-during-the-covid-crisis-and-agrees-to-consult- human/>.