People with Disabilities during the COVID-19 Pandemic – An Analysis

The Covid-19 crisis affected the whole world, especially those belonging to vulnerable groups. The pandemic accentuated the phenomenon of social exclusion that people with disabilities faced in the period before it. The present study aims to analyze the situation of people with disabilities, in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic and to identify the ways of intervention of the authorities, together with the solutions to improve the services offered to them. The research method is the sociological survey, and the technique used is the semi-structured interview done via the web, with specialists in the field. The interview guide included 19 open-ended questions on the difficulties faced by people with disabilities before the COVID 19 pandemic, the medical and social problems they face during the pandemic, the possibility to access the services available for this vulnerable category, the effectiveness of the measures taken by the authorities, improving the services provided etc. The SARS-COV2 virus has brought with it other problems for this vulnerable category: difficulties in accessing medical services, especially medical recovery services; difficulties in accessing public transport; insulation; the fear; difficulties due to reduced/ lost income and specialized support. Access to education has become impossible for many children with disabilities, who have failed to cope with communication in the virtual environment. Virtually any form of education remained strictly the responsibility of the family. To improve the quality of life of people with disabilities during this period, information campaigns should be intensified; access to medical care (especially medical rehabilitation services), social services, psychological counselling, and the means of transport necessary for travel should also be facilitated.


Keywords: people with disabilities, the Covid-19 crisis, social services, crisis intervention