Disability and COVID-19: ensuring no one is left behind

Abstract

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Agenda calls for targeted attention to the needs and rights of the most vulnerable populations to ensure a life of dignity and human security for all. In this paper, we argue that persons with disabilities are in a disproportionately vulnerable situation in public health emergencies. By using the example of Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), we explain why that is and call for the systematic consideration of the needs and rights of persons with disabilities during the response to the outbreak and during the recovery phase. Otherwise, equity will continue to be merely an aspiration during this COVID-19 emergency - as it will in future health emergencies.

Exploring Shared Trauma in the Time of COVID: A Simulation-Based Survey Study of Mental Health Clinicians

“…There is rising concern that the COVID-19 global pandemic will generate long-lasting impacts on collective wellness. A mounting threat of social upheaval, economic decline, psychological hardship, and largescale health repercussions has imposed global turmoil of stress, grief, loss, and uncertainty—particularly for marginalized groups, namely Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) (Gianfrancesco et al, 2021 ; Lund, 2020 ; Sze et al, 2020 ), women (Cabarkapa et al, 2020 ; Danet Danet, 2021 ; Volk et al, 2021 ), parents and caregivers (Magruder et al, 2021 ; Volk et al, 2021 ), people with disabilities (Cieza et al, 2021 ; Shakespeare et al, 2021 ), and queer and trans people (Kamal et al, 2021 ; Ruprecht et al, 2020 ).…”

Severity and mortality of COVID-19 among people with disabilities: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…The number of globally registered COVID-19 cases exceeded 320 million, with more than 5.5 million deaths (as of 14 January 2022) 1. There is a growing concern that people with disability might be more exposed to SARS-CoV-2 infection, be more likely to present with severe COVID-19 outcomes and have poorer health during and after the outbreak depending on their disability status 2–4. According to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, disability is the umbrella term for impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions, and it happens when difficulties are encountered in any or all three areas of functioning 5.…”

Physical and social isolation during COVID-19 – How did it impact the functional status of people with advanced respiratory disease?

“…The COVID-19 pandemic has created a time of uncertainty with limited access to relevant information and disruption of healthcare and social services which has impacted people with comorbid and disabilities disproportionally. 10 In addition to the recommendations of the health authorities about social and physical isolations in vulnerable populations at the beginning of the pandemic, individuals with chronic respiratory disease may have independently decided to isolate completely as it was unknown how COVID-19 infection would impact the pathology of their lung diseases. Rehabilitation services were closed for months which may have accelerated functional decline of these individuals.…”

“…8,9 All of this may have exposed these individuals to further deterioration of their health and functional status as well as to increased disability. 10 Importantly, in addition to the increased risk of developing severe symptoms and increased mortality, 2,7 during the lockdown periods, many individuals with chronic respiratory disease were denied access to medical care and rehabilitation services which put them at a disadvantage in maintaining their general health and functional status. 10,11…”

“…11 The findings described in this article reinforce issues raised by a recent commentary on disability and COVID-19 written by the consortium 'United Nations workstream on COVID-19 disability inclusive health response and recovery'. 10 However, this article does provide important data on the impact of physical and social isolation on disability specifically in individuals with advanced respiratory disease. In addition, this article raises awareness that rehabilitation demand will probably increase among these not-well-treated and low-functioning individuals.…”