Eric Emerson1,2,3, Roger Stancliffe1,4, Chris Hatton5, Gwynnyth Llewellyn1,4, Tania King6, Vaso Totsika7, Zoe Aitken4,6, Anne Kavanagh4,6. 1. Centre for Disability Research & Policy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2141, Australia. 2. Centre for Disability Research, Faculty of Health & Medicine, Lancaster University, LA1 4YW, UK. 3. College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, South Australia, Australia. 4. Centre for Research Excellence - Disability and Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, VIC 3053, Victoria, Australia. 5. Dept of Social Care and Social Work, Manchester Metropolitan University, M15 6GX, UK. 6. Disability and Health Unit, Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, VIC 3053, Victoria, Australia. 7. Division of Psychiatry, University College London, W1T 7BN, UK.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have a greater impact on people with disabilities than non-disabled people. Our aim was to compare the short-term impact of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic and first lockdown on the employment and financial security of working age adults with and without disabilities in the UK. METHODS: Secondary analysis of data collected in Wave 9 and the special April, May and June COVID-19 monthly surveys of 'Understanding Society', the UK's main annual household panel study. RESULTS: During the first 3 months of the introduction of the COVID-19 lockdown in the UK, respondents with disability were more likely than their peers to be working reduced hours and experience higher levels of financial stress. These differences were attenuated, but not eliminated, when estimates were adjusted to take account of pre-lockdown financial status. CONCLUSIONS: Working age adults with disability were particularly disadvantaged by the financial impact of the COVID-19 lockdown in the UK. The UN Secretary-General António Guterres has stated the need for a disability-inclusive COVID-19 government response. The results of our analysis suggest that these pleas have either not been heeded, or if measures have been implemented, they have so far been ineffectual in the UK.
BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have a greater impact on people with disabilities than non-disabled people. Our aim was to compare the short-term impact of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic and first lockdown on the employment and financial security of working age adults with and without disabilities in the UK. METHODS: Secondary analysis of data collected in Wave 9 and the special April, May and June COVID-19 monthly surveys of 'Understanding Society', the UK's main annual household panel study. RESULTS: During the first 3 months of the introduction of the COVID-19 lockdown in the UK, respondents with disability were more likely than their peers to be working reduced hours and experience higher levels of financial stress. These differences were attenuated, but not eliminated, when estimates were adjusted to take account of pre-lockdown financial status. CONCLUSIONS: Working age adults with disability were particularly disadvantaged by the financial impact of the COVID-19 lockdown in the UK. The UN Secretary-General António Guterres has stated the need for a disability-inclusive COVID-19 government response. The results of our analysis suggest that these pleas have either not been heeded, or if measures have been implemented, they have so far been ineffectual in the UK.
Authors: Jose R Vives Alvarado; Natalia Miranda-Cantellops; Sequoia N Jackson; Elizabeth R Felix Journal: J Spinal Cord Med Date: 2021-12-22 Impact factor: 2.040
Authors: Eric Emerson; Zoe Aitken; Vaso Totsika; Tania King; Roger J Stancliffe; Chris Hatton; Gwynnyth Llewellyn; Richard P Hastings; Anne Kavanagh Journal: Health Soc Care Community Date: 2022-06-19