You might have noticed in this story that I used the phrase “people with disabilities” a lot instead of using things we’re used to seeing or hearing more often like “handicapped” or “disabled.”

From the start of the COVID pandemic, people with disabilities have been left out of the conversation when it comes to fighting the virus, even though they’re members of highly vulnerable communities.

DETROIT – An organization advocating for those with disabilities is claiming the state of Michigan left its most vulnerable population behind during the COVID-19 pandemic. For Chuck Kupovits and his 39-year-old daughter Pamela, the pandemic has been nothing short of life or death. As the state moved through the pandemic, Kupovits said they left people like his daughter out, even after multiple attempts to reach out to state and federal leaders. It’s really bad,” said Dessa Cosma, with Detroit Disability Power. More information can be found on Detroit Disability Power’s official website here.