The Lived Experience of People with Disabilities During COVID-19
Main Article Content
Keywords
COVID-19 pandemic, people with disabilities, qualitative research, content analysis
Abstract
Aim: This study sought to understand the lived experiences of people with disabilities during the Covid-19 pandemic. Method: Our study disseminated a Qualtric survey which included an open-ended question, “Please describe in your own words your experience with COVID-19.” and solicited open textual responses about the lived experience of people with disabilities. This study focuses on the textual data that was analyzed using inductive content analysis (Elo & Kyngas, 2008). Results: Nine themes were described including social isolation, social responsibility, returning home, barriers to resources, job loss, positive impacts, academic impacts, emotional and physical impacts, and adjustment and coping. Discussion: Our findings reveal the unique challenges and impact the pandemic and related lockdown measures had on people with disabilities. Conclusions/Implications: Findings from this study offer an important perspective – people with disabilities need to be included in larger public policy and responses to crises such as a pandemic. Fostering mutual aid and support among people with disabilities to increase their resilience in times of crisis is encouraged.
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Urban Planning and Development, 139(2), 104-114.
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environment: An updated review. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 18, 521-530.
Krahn, G. L., Walker, D. K., & Correa-De-Araujo, R. (2015). Persons with disabilities as an
unrecognized health disparity population. American Journal of Public Health, 105(S2), S198-S206.
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recommendations. Human Communication Research, 30(3), 411-433.
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Larose, S., Bureau, J. S., Cellard, C., Janosz, M., Beaulieu, C., Châteauvert, G. B., & Girard-Lamontagne, A. (2024). How did college students with and without disabilities experience the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic? A stress and coping perspective. Research in Higher Education, 65(2), 209-229.
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Author Biographies
Sandra Fitzgerald, San Francisco State University
Sandra Fitzgerald is an Associate Professor and Coordinator for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at San Francisco State University. She has a passion for teaching and mentoring the next generation of counselors and has a research interest in psychiatric rehabilitation.
Julie Chronister, San Francisco State University
Julie Chronister is the Chair of the Department of Counseling at San Francisco State University. Dr. Chronister has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters and books. She has received funding from NIMH to conduct research in the area of social support and serious mental illness and has been awarded training grants from the RSA to provide scholarships for her students. Dr. Chronister is committed to improving the lives of the most marginalized and stigmatized communities through her research, teaching and community partnerships.
Cristina Cabiles, San Francisco State University
Cristina Cabiles graduated with a MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from San Francisco State University and is currently working as a wellness counselor in San Francisco Bay Area. She has a passion for social justice and dance.
Tori Thomas, San Francisco State University
Tori Thomas earned her MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from San Francisco State University and is currently working in clinical practice. She has a passion for working with Black communities and folx with intersectional and marginalized identities.
Qi Michael Zheng, San Francisco State University
Qi Michael Zheng: Michael Zheng earned his M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from San Francisco State University. Michael is currently in clinical practice and interested in research serving queer population, immigrants, individuals with disability, and people who use substances.