The COVID-19 pandemic has taken an immense physical and mental toll on people living with disabilities. Not only are those with disabilities at higher risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes, they also face barriers that increase isolation, limit access to basic needs, and often lead them to postpone treatment or rehabilitation. For people whose disabilities make it difficult to communicate, the pandemic has correlated with mental, emotional, and physical declines.
In this session, occupational therapist and educator Vikram Pagpatan will discuss the unique barriers put up by COVID-19 and their effect on quality of life for individuals living with disabilities as well as those who care for them. He will explore how the pandemic has impacted the communication styles, capabilities, access to resources, digital social etiquette, and social boundaries of people with disabilities. Professor Pagpatan will also present everyday strategies you can use to address these challenges, along with ways to put preventive measures in place before concerns arise.
