Challenge of life during lockdown for people with disabilities
WHILE many of us are embracing Zoom and using lockdown as an opportunity to learn new things, for many people with a learning disability or autism it has thrown their world into one of anxiety, confusion and isolation.
As someone who has worked with this group of people for many years, I could easily write about their issues but they are more than capable of sharing their own experiences and that is what they have done here.
How many times over the past few weeks have we complained that we are bored, missing friends and family, missing sport, going to the pub, out for a meal? That we
are worried about our income, employment, social distancing? We have all had our routines interrupted but imagine how it feels when your routine is also what makes you feel safe and gives you security.
So, what has been really tough for disabled people? “Finding new interests and trying new things. It hasn’t helped my autism, I like my routines. I am still singing, I love singing, it puts me in a safe place and it makes me happy.” Sometimes the old and trusted things work best.
We are all missing family and friends but what happens when they are your safety net, the constant and reliable aspect of your world? “It is really confusing when people who are usually here aren’t allowed to visit. At first I thought it was something I had done wrong but I know it is about everyone being safe, but I hate it. It makes me very scared that I won’t see them again.”
Not everyone has access to or is able to use social media or the internet. This can create a greater sense of isolation.
Sometimes the phone is the best we can do but not being able to see someone physically is difficult. “I spoke to my friend on the phone, she was very upset and crying and it made me upset too. I didn’t have any answers for her.” Most people have said that they are missing routine activities, friends and family. They are anxious about getting ill, making others ill, being stuck indoors. Wanting to know when things will be back to normal again. Sound familiar?
We have all found lockdown challenging for many different reasons. People with learning disabilities or autism often have little or no control over what happens to them. It feels like maybe we are all experiencing just a little of how that feels, right? We are all sharing many of the same fears and finding comfort in some of the same actions such as exercise, prayer, singing. Some have other more personal ways to reduce anxiety: watching the stars when unable to sleep; caring for pets; cooking or art. Many are not managing at all and, as a society, we need to be aware of this and look after people, now and in the brave new world to come. When we say ‘We Stand Together’, that really brings home its true meaning.
● #WeStandTogether will be holding its next Difficult Dialogue, ‘The More Things Change ... Looking Forward to Making Reacquaintances’ on Monday, May 25, 6pm at zoom. us/j/93801027985. You can also dial in – see www.westandtogether.org.uk for details.