SUMMARY

The pace of COVID fatalities in the U.S. has slowed significantly, with the nation’s death toll standing at more than 1 million people. With precautions like mandatory masking no longer in place, it can seem as if worries about the virus are gone as well. But for many people with disabilities, the threat is still very real. We hear from people in the disability community about their concerns.

View the transcript of the story.

News alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.

WARM-UP QUESTIONS

1. Who are the people featured in the story?
2. What is the nationwide death toll for COVID-19?
3. What concerns does Natalie Lampros have about seeing doctors?
4. How have COVID precautions changed?
5. Why has the new normal damaged Julie Lam's social life?

FOCUS QUESTIONS

How do you think the U.S. government should regulate COVID precautions, given the health concerns of the disabled community? For example, do you think there should be mandatory masking in some places and around vulnerable people?

Media literacy: Why do you think NewsHour interviewed the disabled community about COVID precautions? Do you think news outlets should share more stories about people's experiences with COVID, or new data and research about COVID?

Alternative: See, Think, Wonder: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What would you want to learn more about?

FOR MORE

What students can do: Learn about how your local communities have been impacted by the change of nationwide COVID precautions.

As a class, discuss: Do you know a local business or community space that has precautions around COVID? Do you know anyone that has health concerns around the lack of COVID precautions?

This post was written by Stacey Zhang, a NewsHour Classroom intern and student at Amherst College. It was edited by NewsHour Classroom's Luke Gerwe.

Fill out this form to share your thoughts on Classroom’s resources.