Ability 360 in Phoenix recently hosted the first vaccine pod for people with disabilities, their families and caregivers. The event offered accommodations to people with a broad range of disabilities — something that was not available at the state-run vaccine pods.

Beca Bailey, community engagement liaison with the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing, shared her experience.

Bailey, who is deaf, had avoided going to the state-run vaccine pods because she couldn’t request an accommodation for an American Sign Language interpreter.

The Ability 360 event offered a drop-down menu of accommodations. Bailey communicating through her interpreter, Audrey Evans

"My jaw hit the floor, I thought, 'Yes, I could pick interpreters.' And then I felt it's good to know when I walk in the interpreter is going to be there from beginning to the end of receiving the vaccination."

Ability 360 plans to host a second vaccination event May 1-2.

→ Q&AZ: What You Need To Know About Getting The Coronavirus Vaccine In Arizona