Supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic from their own perspective.
Patricia Navas, Antonio M Amor, Manuela Crespo and 2 others
PMID 33271448WHAT IT FOUND
People with intellectual disabilities reported that lockdown support depended heavily on where they lived.
Those in residential settings lost natural supports and relied on staff, while those at home depended on family. Contact with loved ones was the most missed aspect across all groups.
Key findings
01Support received during lockdown was conditioned by living context: those in residential settings had fewer natural supports, while those living with family relied heavily on family support due to service closures.
02The most prominent consequence of lockdown reported by participants was the loss of contact with family and friends, regardless of age or living context.
03Disability organizations were the main source of information for people in residential settings, whereas healthcare centers provided information to only 3.5% of the total sample.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study did not account for the intensity of support needs or severity of intellectual disability, so findings may primarily reflect the experiences of those with lower support needs. The survey was online, which likely excluded people with IDD who have significant difficulties accessing technology or communication barriers. Participation was voluntary, which may introduce bias if only those more concerned about the pandemic responded. Qualitative data saturation was not assessed due to the large sample size required for the broader study.
Declared interests
The authors report no declarations of interest. The research did not receive any grant from funding agencies.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that disability organizations can fully substitute for healthcare providers in communicating critical health information, as healthcare centers reached only 3.5% of participants, indicating a significant gap in clinical communication channels.