Abandoned, forgotten and ignored – the impact of Covid-19 on Disabled people

Inclusion London launches report highlighting grim effects of discrimination and inequality on Disabled people during the coronavirus pandemic

Posted: 24 June 2020

Abandoned, forgotten and ignored – The impact of Covid-19 on Disabled people

Today, Wednesday 24^th June 2020 Inclusion London launches its interim report based on hundreds of responses to our Social Care survey. You can download the report below.

The report paints a stark picture. From the outset, Disabled people have been discriminated against, forgotten, and in some cases abandoned as policymakers have ignored our needs. Or, at best considered us as an afterthought. During the pandemic Disabled people saw our legal rights diminished, we experienced resource rationing and blanket policies. This led to many of us struggling to get bare necessities, losing support and independence and living in fear for our lives.

The pandemic has shone a light on the long-standing structural inequalities and discrimination that Deaf and Disabled people experience. The dreadful disparities are reflected in the grim data released by the Office for National Statistics, which says Disabled people were about twice as likely to die from Covid-19.

Despite the shocking statistics, the plight of Disabled people was largely missing from public discourse. We are publishing this report to give voice to people who shared their experience with us.