This week marks two years since the first Covid-19 lockdown. For many disabled people, this also marks two years of having their needs and support deprioritised. But together we can change this.
The draft Terms of Reference https://tinyurl.com/e4fndn9w or the Covid Inquiry have now been published. This outlines the proposed areas the inquiry will investigate. We all now have the chance to give feedback on these areas.
Like Sense, we don’t think that the Terms go far enough to make sure we learn from the experiences of disabled people.
We need your help to raise these issues – and time is short.
Fill in the online survey raising the points below. The more people that highlight these areas, the more chance there is that disabled people will be heard in the inquiry.
Three things we want to see mentioned in the inquiry Terms of Reference:
1. Reference to disabled people – We’re concerned that without this disabled people’s experiences won’t be heard.
2. Mental health and wellbeing – This isn’t mentioned at all at the moment. The pandemic has had a huge impact on the wellbeing of disabled people, with 67% saying they are more isolated and lonely.
3. Impact on human rights – Throughout Covid-19, decisions have been made that deprioritised disabled people’s rights. We’re calling for the inquiry to investigate this.