These stories have shown disabled people are disproportionally effected by the emergency measures made by the government during the covid-19 pandemic. While occasionally it has made some aspects of life more accessible, our research uncovers that disabled people are faced with having to make greater personal sacrifices.
This research raised a number of questions, the answers to which we must consider if we are to learn from the experiences of disabled people:
How might we enable supermarkets to improve their infrastructure for people with disabilities based on lessons from the Covid19 pandemic? Seven salads
What might help transport companies to develop and communicate guidance effectively so people in wheelchair spaces feel safe when people are urged to social distancing? Space
How might councils and construction companies be enabled to consider the needs of wheelchair users in their local area when planning for and carrying out roadworks? Roadworks
How might councils and community organisations be enabled to quickly increase peer-support for people with disabilities during times of crisis without excluding those without internet access? Lifeline
How might we enable government and private sector organisations to communicate changes in social rules so that people with Autism are able to ‘find the flex’ ? Unpredictability
How might we foster ‘serendipity’ in local communities and create online and offline intersections for people to meet and interact spontaneously during times of crisis? Spontaniety
How might we enable non-disabled members of the public access and navigate changes in guidance on how to assist people with disabilities (such as visual impairments)? Pole
How can we enable stores to enable those with hidden disabilities to skip a queue when they need it without feeling guilty or being judged? Queue