Everyone has been affected drastically by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially the disabled community. Some have become concerned because their immune system is compromised, which makes them more at risk for the virus while others have encountered discrimination.
Resources have been limited due to individuals losing their jobs, while others are afraid for their family members. Though we continue to adapt to the pandemic, we continue to fight for equality.
The disabled community has encountered several issues throughout this lockdown. A large amount of the community has been impacted economically and socially. Those who suffer from anxiety and depression have been affected tremendously. While the non-disabled community may find it easier to connect with others while quarantining, people who lack social skills may encounter a sensation of loneliness. Even though there are resources available, these resources may not help everyone in the same way.
Since the pandemic began, there have been many articles covering information on COVID-19, however, none of them have covered anything within the disabled community. An article titled “Covid-19 poses unique challenges for people with disabilities” written by the University of Hopkins explains how the community encounters a lot of issues, one example would be how the use of telehealth can bring some disadvantages as not all individuals are capable of having the right equipment but believe that in the future there will be advancements made. The CDC states how many who present illnesses are more prone to inhibiting the virus.
One of the many concerns that have been expressed over social media has been ableism. Ableism is a form of discrimination against people with disabilities and those who present chronic illnesses.
There are many opinions and beliefs regarding COVID-19. COVID-19 has, in one way or another, divided this nation; some follow all the protocols to stay safe, while others believe the virus is fake. Those who believe that COVID-19 is not real are putting other lives at risk, especially those who present chronic illnesses, the elderly, and the disabled community.
People with chronic illnesses and disabilities have been living in fear, not only because there is not enough accessibility to resources, but also because becoming ill from the virus is detrimental to their health. Those who rely on personal care assistants [PCA’s] also have to worry if their PCA has been infected with the virus.
A female who is a part of the disabled community expresses her thoughts by saying “Nobody expected to live in these circumstances. I love my independence and in a blink of an eye that feeling was gone. I used to have a routine on campus as well as social life. Living in a generation where being socially active is a part of our norm, and somehow being physically sociable is slowly degenerating because of the pandemic, is just unsettling.”
When I asked several of my friends their inputs on what they thought, some quoted the following. “I live by myself, and have Personal Care Aids (PCA) ever since the pandemic began. I’ve had to stress about keeping my staff COVID free.” Others stated how they were scared and hoped things would be better for the future. These are just a few since many of the community feel the same. Knowing what it is like, to be afraid of inhibiting the virus because they rely on services can be difficult to handle. Managing staff during a world-wide pandemic can be stressful because it is inevitable to avoid physical contact and because many have backed away from these jobs.
While everyone has been reminding all individuals to “wash their hands”, it isn’t at all easy for some, yet it may sound like the most straightforward task on earth. Often it is impossible for many who are wheelchair users to get under the sink. In public places, it is rare to find an accommodating sink where an individual can get underneath and be able to reach to wash their hands. Personally, it is impossible for me to wash my hands properly with soap, so if I am in public, I always resort to hand sanitizers.
Throughout this lockdown, we have experienced all kinds of discrimination as a nation. Not only is the disabled community a minority group, but we are the last group of individuals taken into consideration. For example, many individuals have not received the vaccine. The lack of rights has been seen when someone who has legitimate reasons to stay home is often denied, while those who can work or learn on-site have available access to stay at home, it is frustrating to see those rights taken away to those who need to stay at home. Despite all the negative aspects seen throughout this pandemic, it is still hopeful to expect future advances.