We are are already experiencing a high spike in COVID-19 cases since our state reopened in mid May. Think about a convention center in Phoenix holding tens of thousands of people without masks or social distancing...we cannot risk it. Please sign this petition to protect our families, our friends and our communities.

We need the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) to make a statement denouncing racism and systems of white supremacy. We ask you stand with us. Thank you to the "SLPs of Color" for drafting their original petition to ASHA. Please also directly submit feedback to AAA here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VFGBN5K AAA is the world’s largest professional organization of, by and for audiologists, representing the interests of approximately 14,000 audiologists, as well as students and faculty at the university level. Per AAA’s website, one of the core values is Cultural Sensitivity and Diversity, defined as: “to value diversity and to treat all patients fairly and equally without discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, creed, religion, disability, sex, age, sexual orientation, or national origin.”  The deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd are just the recent accounts of police brutality (towards Black people) and white supremacy. As a large professional organization, even if white-majority, we cannot stand idly by. Our silence speaks for us. Our silence says we are complicit. Our silence says we do not care. This silence not only affects those we serve, but also students and professionals of color within the organization.  Furthermore, intersectional identities are, by definition, not mutually exclusive. You may know of the Black students, audiologists, and faculty members in our organization, but what about those who may be Black AND d/Deaf or hard-of-hearing? Our students and professionals also serve numerous Black and d/Deaf + hard-of-hearing patients around the world, either through service trips and/or their everyday work. How can you actively choose to remain silent and not acknowledge their pain and experiences?  As a profession, we are stewards of health and communication and are charged with improving the quality of life for our patients, clients, and students. This includes our audiologists and patients that are directly affected by the systematic injustices seen in our country. We implore AAA to stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and subsequently our Black students and professionals.

We are in the midst of a worldwide pandemic. This is not something the community should take lightly. With community members now enjoying the warmer weather, dog feces has created an enormous issue regarding the safety of our people. The HOA fees of $180 should be put to better use this summer, as the members of the community cannot use the public pool or parks due to COVID19. This should not even be questioned as community members must be heard to make our community safer. Homeowner's needs are not met by the excessive fees we are currently paying since public amenities are closed.

The Heavy Workload SNF and LTC are no longer just for geriatric residents. Residents enter facilities sicker, the acuity level has increased, and the role of the facilities has expanded. LTC and SNF care for patients with higher-level nursing and rehabilitation needs, including Tracheostomies Complex wound care TPN Assisted ventilation JP drains Life vests IV medications Medically complex residents bring an increase of residents with psychiatric diagnoses and multiple comorbidities. Under the ongoing Centers for Medicare & Medicaid initiative to reduce rehospitalizations -- the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) -- facilities are likely to treat higher acuity residents. In a typical eight-hour shift, a nurse is expected toPass meds at least twice per shift (within a two-hour time frame) Monitor blood sugars and give insulin Check vital signsManage certified nursing assistants Watch mealtimes, Perform wound care Receive and transcribe physician's orders,Complete incident,reports,Complete.documentation Arrange transportation, diagnostic testing, and schedule appointments Ensuring their residents are safe and cared for and notifying physicians and family members of any concerns are additional tasks to a long list of duties! Credit to: By: Portia Wofford

We, the undersigned, are AAPI healthcare providers from across the country who voice our solidarity with Black Americans and condemn anti-Black racism. With them, we mourn for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and the countless other Black lives that have been prematurely ended because of racism. We commit to dismantling racism and supporting Black Americans as both fellow Americans and as leaders within healthcare. As healthcare providers, we see racism as a public health crisis in this country. We join the many healthcare organizations across the country who have issued statements about the devastating impacts of racism on health. We recognize the murder of George Floyd as a particularly gruesome example of the injustice caused by police violence and racism. As healthcare providers, we also must recognize how our own profession perpetuates and contributes to racial inequity. As members of the AAPI diaspora we acknowledge that an Asian American officer, Tou Thao, was complicit in George Floyd’s death. We support charges brought against him for aiding and abetting the murder of George Floyd. The experiences and histories of the AAPI diaspora are complex and varied. We have been exploited, oppressed, stigmatized, and murdered by racism. We have also been silent in the face of anti-Black racism, benefited from anti-Black racism, and participated in anti-Black racism. We are both victims and perpetrators and must take action to examine anti-Blackness through the lens of our own personal and historical trauma of colonialism so that we can best stand with Black communities.

If he is not immediately removed from office (and subsequently arrested for his multiple crimes against humanity), this country, with all the immense challenges it is facing, will not survive until November. He has made it abundantly clear he will not cede control of the office of president, regardless of the outcome. He has sanctioned the murder and open violence against the majority of the electorate by his sharing the despicable vitriol of a supporter stating "the only good Democrat is a DEAD Democrat". He has openly called for the unlawful and illegal suppression of our constitutional rights to redress our grievances and lawful assembly- as he did in his phone address to our Nation's Governors on June 1st, 2020.

"The one word I have to use with respect to what he's been doing for the last several years is the word I would never have used before, never would have used with any of the four presidents I worked for: He lies. He lies about things, and he gets away with it because people will not hold him accountable." Colin Powell, former Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Speaking of President Trump, on June 7, 2020 Finally, we are hearing a voice from the Republican Party, acknowledging that the Republian leadership in government and congress are major contributors to the disentangling of the democratic fabric of our county. While there has never been as divisive a President as Donald Trump, every American should realize that the problem is not just with a single leader but with an entire entrenched system that has come to depend on and embrace the manipulation, intimidation, and disinformation his every word and action exemplifies. We must take action against this oppressive regime and call on all who enable it to step aside now.

This is to save what is left of the United States. We as Americans have to do our part in making sure we save our country.

Measles has been on the rise for the past couple of years in Tarrant county. The majority of deaths from measles are under the age of 5. Additionally, in 2019, Tarrant County was 1 of 25 counties in the US which were most at risk for an outbreak of measles. We need to protect our children and those who may not be able to protect themselves.

South Carolina has effectively bent the COVID19 curve by following a stay-at-home order for several weeks. Knowing that asymptomatic people can spread the virus, the only way to continue to control the epidemics while safely reopening the economy is to require people to wear a mask in public places and at work, in addition to appropriate social distancing. If I am fortunate enough to have a job that allows me to work from home and choose to only shop in retails where customers and employees are required to wear face protection, I am confident that extending this rule to every business would allow a lot more people to feel safer going out. Our economy would then restart much faster!

Let's show the President and his administration what 100,000 of something looks like. To date, finding 100,000 deaths in the US from COVID-19 during the past 4 months describes a ridiculously large number - a total exceeded (for example) only by the total US military deaths from either the 4+ years of WW II or the 4+ years American Civil War. Ranking 3rd on that list is not an achievement of which to be proud That the 100,000 deaths happened so swiftly, in so many locales, and with so little recognition of the actual spread of the virus speaks to the total lack of sincere concern for all those affected and in particular of the empty expressions of empathy to all the patients, their families and loved ones, as well as the medical and support staffs and organizations who ran toward the pandemic to help rather than retire to some more serene place of safety. 100,000 deaths and the corresponding muddled and ineffective efforts offered by the Executive leadership stands out as clearly as the pervasive absence of any continuing care or concern about the public at large. The mixed messages, fits and starts of policy or proclamation, and valuing of business results over peoples' health, lives, families, futures and contributions to society tells the shockingly dismissive story of what matters to the rich and powerful. We can inform our President and his associates of the real magnitude of concern by signing this petition in multiple hundreds of thousands so as to dwarf the sad effects of their feckless attempts to downplay the realities of the issues. Let's cap the many signatures with a tearful emoji from each signer!

Montana's governor announced on May 19 that we are entering Phase 2 of reopening the Big Sky at the end of this month for "business as usual." The 14-day quarantine for non-work-related arrivals in Montana is being eliminated. We believe, however, that it is the state's primary job to ensure that all Montanans remain secure, safe, and healthy. Phase 2, as it relates to travelers coming to Montana starting June 1, fails that test. This Memorial Day weekend and week, when we begin to mourn the 100,000 COVID-19 deaths in America, we are entering the season when the vast majority of people discover Montana: summer vacation (plenty of people will be taking them—and deserve, too!). Normally we are a very attractive destination: everyone loves the “Big Sky”, whether they’ve been here or not. Why not this year? They’ll love us, even more, when they discover that Montana is “where there is no virus." Because Montana is a big blank spot on the nation's COVID-19 map, a second wave of COVID-19 infection in Montana, due to out-of-state travelers, has to be prevented now. It takes too much time to effectively protect our children once the virus is allowed to respread in our communities. We need to be prepared for this next wave—starting at the beginning of the summer—in order to build confidence that our kids can go to school in the fall. It's as simple as this: stop the viral spread of COVID-19 at our border. P.S. I wrote about how and why I started this petition at The Montana Post, https://themontanapost.com/blog/2020/05/23/guest-post-where-there-is-no-virus.