FOX POINT, Wis. — With Group 1C becoming eligible on Monday, more Wisconsinites are now able to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Part of that group is Wisconsinites living with disabilities. 

This year-long COVID-19 battle has been a struggle for Nathaniel Lentz. He’s from the Wisconsin Dells and is living with a disability.

“I have to take extra steps to keep myself safe so that the people that I love do not get sick,” Nathaniel Lentz said.

He said he’s spent most of his time at home for the pandemic and it was tough. Lentz lives with an immune-compromised family member at home. So, when he found out he was finally able to get an appointment for a vaccine he was excited.

“I was very excited, I actually got up at five in the morning and it took me seven hours to get two appointments,” Lentz said.

He was able to find an opening in Kenosha to get his first vaccine this Friday.

Meanwhile, for organizations like the Friendship Circle Cafe and Bakery in Fox Point, news of a vaccine rollout for its employees who are living with special needs, is a huge relief.

“At long last, we are finally now all qualified to get vaccinated. It’s taking this huge responsibility off our shoulders. That threat of it spearing amongst our team is going away slowly, so that's exciting,” Friendship Circle Executive Director Levi Stein says.

This news will now allow their employees a chance to get back to work and to a more normal life.

“Once an adult with special needs is fully vaccinated it opens up all the opportunities that they had before COVID. It’s not the same, there are still precautions in place but they could go back to work, go to outdoor social distanced programs. It’s really going to start new opportunities and the anxiety level of will I get COVID shrinks a little and that little bit can make a huge difference,” Stein says.​