Life During Lockdown: How People with Disabilities Faced the Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic hit everyone hard, but it was especially tough for people with disabilities and their carers. They wanted research done to help others in similar situations in the future. Sadly, this group often gets overlooked in policy planning, even though they are at higher risk. Researchers looked into how the pandemic affected these individuals. They found that people with mental health issues, physical disabilities, and hidden disabilities faced big challenges. These challenges came from their environment, their community, and their own personal struggles.Some key issues stood out. Many people had to shield themselves from the virus, which meant staying home all the time. This led to a drop in their quality of life. Social media was a big help for some, but not everyone had access to it, creating a digital divide. People with hidden disabilities, like chronic illnesses, also faced unique problems. Activism became a way for some to cope, while others celebrated the end of lockdowns. However, the pandemic also brought a loss of stability and increased feelings of loneliness and isolation. On the bright side, some people developed new skills and re-evaluated their lives. The world changed, and so did they. The research highlighted the need for better pandemic readiness in the future, focusing on health inequalities and equity.