"It's not my problem" this seems to be becoming a common response that disabled people are receiving as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions are slowly eased. Last week's BBC1 documentary entitled Locked Down and Shut Out illustrated just how badly disabled people are currently being treated and these are one of society's most vulnerable groups. One visually impaired man told the story of not being able to see the arrows painted on the floor indicating that people
must leave the store in a particular way due to social distancing guidelines. When he pointed this out to the customer service person he was told, "it's not my problem". I beg to differ. The country and the world is going through the same pandemic at the same time... This is everyone's problem. We should be working together to support and help each other through this, not turn our backs on already vulnerable people that are being placed in even more vulnerable situations as a result of the pandemic and their disability, neither of which they can control.
I've also seen on social media recently posts that say if you are unable to wear a mask maybe you shouldn't be out... So what, if people are unable to wear a mask because of their disability, medical condition or anxieties they have to continue to live in isolation as the rest of the world comes out of it? Then we might go back into lockdown which would mean people who have continued to isolate will not have been out between each lockdown. What would that do to their mental health? Think about what it would do to yours. In my opinion, I feel that businesses including shops and restaurants
should be embracing and welcoming disabled customers even more than before. The country is now officially in a recession so these shops and businesses need all and any custom they can get to help them survive.
I also viewed a post on social media that someone had reshared clearly stating that if someone wasn't able to judge a 2 metre distance from the person in front of them then maybe they shouldn't be out. This is basically making people with disabilities feel as if they should be under house arrest which was echoed by some of the people interviewed on last week's BBC documentary. One interviewee had a visual impairment talked about how before the pandemic she had been building up her independence of being able to be out and about with her guide dog and not have to rely on her mum. However, she then went on to say that this is all changed as a result of COVID-19 and due to current restrictions she doesn't know when or if there will ever be a point where she will feel like she is working towards the same independence as she once had. I can also echo these anxieties as a disabled person, not because I feel I have or will lose any independence but more from the point of view I didn't leave my house for 10 weeks. I've always considered myself to be a relatively confident person but the first day after restrictions were eased when I was leaving my house to visit my dad, a place where I do feel safe I unexpectedly felt very anxious. It wasn't anything to do with visiting my dad, it was more about being out in the COVID-19 world.
On a personal level, I am more anxious about the fact that not going out and about as much as I used to is now not bothering me. At the start of lockdown I thought "oh god, how am I going to get through at least 12 weeks being in my house?" for someone that was often described as "never in" this seemed impossible but now it's almost become a norm. I now know that I can work comfortably from home and that I have actually moved my business on. I can also have meetings and correspond with people online so do I really need to go out? The answer is, yes I do. Therefore I made a conscious decision to go out so 2 weeks ago I went to my local shops for the first time in about 15 or 16 weeks. Shopping was a new experience with constant hand sanitising and having to wear a face mask but I knew I had to do it because if I didn't before I knew it another 15 weeks would have passed. We would nearly be at Christmas, we might have went into another lockdown and potentially I ran the risk of not being out and about since the first lockdown.
I am quite strict with myself and can consciously put my foot down and tell myself "I have to do this" but there is other people with disabilities who can't or won't do this so yes, it is your problem. It's everyone's problem. As we move through COVID-19 it's crucial that we support each other and give each other the same respect. I think it's important to remember that everyone's experience of the COVID-19 pandemic will be different, as will the experience of coming out of the pandemic but if we all acknowledge that we are in this together, businesses, individuals and society as whole will be better prepared and equipped with the right skills and knowledge to look back on the COVID-19 pandemic and be satisfied that we take the right approach in helping ourselves and others.
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