We've all been experiencing some social isolation over the last number of weeks as we battle COVID 19. As this isolation continues, please remember that recently a report on disability stated that 85% of adults aged 18 to 34 with a disability felt lonely, and that one in eight adults with a disability had under half an hour of daily interaction with someone else. Much of the disabling aspect of having a functional limitation is due to expectations, restrictions, and discrimination that society displays toward people with disabilities — in essence, it is physical (e.g., stairs, not ramps/elevators), attitudinal (e.g., lowered expectations, discomfort with disability), and eligibility barriers (e.g., employment opportunities) that create much of the disability experience.
During this time, if you know of someone with a disability please reach out to them to say hello, to see if they need anything, to ensure someone is checking up on them; maybe give them your contact information for emergencies.
Our mission to create employment for people with disabilities is one of the many businesses closed, and I know our team is finding this time both difficult and scary. We continue to reach out to check on them and ensure they know we are here. Please do the same for someone in your neighborhood. Now is the time to step up.