Today, National Disability Institute (NDI) launched the #ResilientPwD text messaging campaign to deliver information, tips and interventions to people with disabilities and chronic health conditions. The texts, which are available by signing up for a free subscription, will be sent two times per week for six months and are intended to help combat stress and feelings of isolation, build positive thinking and establish new behavior patterns that promote emotional well-being and financial resilience. People can sign up to receive these messages by texting RESILIENT to 833-632-0273 or by visiting nationaldisabilityinstitute.org/resilientpwd.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult for everyone, but particularly for people with disabilities and chronic conditions,” said Elizabeth Jennings, National Disability Institute Acting Executive Director. “By launching this text campaign, we will support this population and bring awareness to the importance of taking positive actions to reduce both emotional and financial stress. We are particularly excited to deliver evidence-based interventions, reviewed by people with diverse disabilities, to improve the well-being of people with disabilities and chronic conditions, their families and all who take part in this campaign.”
“The humanitarian and economic impact of COVID-19 is huge, but people with disabilities and chronic health conditions are among the hardest hit,” said Jim Sinocchi, Head of JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s Office of Disability Inclusion. “At JPMorgan Chase, we are pleased to be collaborating with National Disability Institute to help address the impact of the crisis on people across the U.S. who are experiencing financial distress now.”
The #ResilientPwD activities will connect to those with no internet access, provide participants with new ways to manage increased stress, anxiety and feelings of isolation and share their successful behavioral changes and positive feelings with friends and family by forwarding texts and, for those online, engaging in social media activities. NDI will share the text message content through Twitter and other social media platforms with the hashtag, #ResilientPwD, to allow people to share their personal experiences, tips and emotional responses to these positive interventions.
NDI subject matter experts on disability, positive psychology and financial health will develop text messages that any individual can receive when they sign up. Messaging is research based and vetted by a group of select individuals with diverse disabilities and chronic conditions. This content will equip people with disabilities and chronic conditions, offline and online, with new tools to reduce feelings of stress, anxiety, isolation and hopelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The #ResilientPwD text campaign is made possible with support from JPMorgan Chase.
