How the pandemic has created challenges for the disabled community
The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted lives around the globe. But for people with disabilities, making adjustments like wearing a face mask, avoiding public transportation or ride-sharing apps, pivoting to teleconferencing and isolating at home aren’t mere inconveniences; they’re huge obstacles.
Video Transcript
KAREN ROY: There was a time not so long ago when people with disabilities were literally hidden away. People didn't want you to be seen in the outside world. And we fought really hard to eliminate the stigma and the barriers. So I don't want to go backwards because of COVID.
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The isolation became really difficult. For us, there's a lot more to take into consideration than just wearing a mask and trying to keep your hands clean, because our wheelchairs touch the floors. We are touching our wheelchairs. There's always that extra fear of picking up the virus.
MATTHEW MAXEY: One of the biggest challenges for coronavirus has been people wearing a face mask. For somebody who's deaf, trying to rock that has become frustrating, because it's like, why even go out? Why even try to make the effort to communicate?
RYAN HONICK: I'm only leaving the house for things that are 100% absolute necessity, because I am dependent on ride shares. I'm putting myself kind of at double risk. There is also a concern amongst a lot of the disability community that a lot of states instituted guidelines for rationed care. Basically, they've decided on a triage system that determines care based on life expectancy and various comorbidities.
STORM SMITH: Having virtual meetings, which is great. But the idea of the fatigue of the eyes just watching. A person who is hearing, they can just have their AirPods in. And they could be distracted and walk away and respond without having to look at the video. For me, I have to watch the video to make sure that I'm getting the information. I get fatigue on top of the mental exhaustion.
RYAN HONICK: There have been a lot of things that have been implemented as a result of this pandemic, telework, telehealth, a lot of things being done virtually. My hope is that as we try to establish what the new normal is, that these things stay.
These things worked, so we have no reason to not keep doing them. Disabled folks have been saying for years, we want to be able to work from home. But of course now that the masses need it, nobody blinks an eye.
JOSE LOPEZ: Right now, the businesses is and restaurant are open. But for people like, blind and visually impaired, everything is still pretty closed. If you go to stores, one of the things that you see a lot is signs. The cities, the states provide very vital information, but as graphics and pictures. There are people that are not able to see the pictures.
RYAN HONICK: What we may request or require of allies at any point can fluctuate. But the crux of it is that we are 20% of the population, disabled folks. And we need the other 80% of the population to say, we see you, we hear you, and let us know how we can support you.
KAREN ROY: A lot of times, people with disabilities are an afterthought. So they're having to retrofit their world to accommodate us. So as new technologies are developing, involve us in the conversation. Include us in the beginning.
STORM SMITH: Anyone could really just implement more combinations in this space, because we already deal with barriers in society to begin with.
MATTHEW MAXEY: Try your best to just adjust it. I've seen some examples where they have the mask, and you can see the mouth. That's definitely been something that's helped with communication.
JOSE LOPEZ: As a blind person, talking is for us very important. People are like, very afraid to approach anybody. And we still rely on this type of help. So just talk to us.
KAREN ROY: We have a lot to offer in the world. We have a really unique and special perspective on life. The more people we have to join together and help us fight the fight and make the world a more inclusive place, the better off we all will be.
