What makes disabled people #HighRiskCOVID19? I'm lesson prepping for next week's lecture on disability justice, so I made a list!
Heads up: Only the 2 items are directly medical. The rest have to do with sociopolitical issues related to ableism.
THREAD. (Please add to it!)
Heads up: Only the 2 items are directly medical. The rest have to do with sociopolitical issues related to ableism.
THREAD. (Please add to it!)
Starting with the obvious:
1. Medically, some disabled people are more likely to die from COVID or have severe cases if infected. Chronic conditions related to immune, respiratory, & cardio systems are major factors here, but this isn't anywhere near a comprehensive list.
1. Medically, some disabled people are more likely to die from COVID or have severe cases if infected. Chronic conditions related to immune, respiratory, & cardio systems are major factors here, but this isn't anywhere near a comprehensive list.
2. Disabled people have to work. The choice to "stay home" is a false one for most disabled folks. We have to pay rent, medical bills, food, and other basic living costs. Further, many disabled folks are kept in entry-level positions in "frontline," public-facing (riskier) jobs.
3. Disabled folks are more likely to have routine medical care that's put on hold by the pandemic. This makes extant conditions worse. If that routine care continues, it often requires going into high risk medical spaces.
4. Disabled folks are more likely to live in congregate settings (nursing homes, psychiatric facilities, etc.) with high transmission rates. These people don't have control over COVID precautions.
5. Disabled people are more likely to rely on public transit, increasing exposure.
5. Disabled people are more likely to rely on public transit, increasing exposure.
6. Disabled people are more likely to have in-home care assistants for basic needs like cleaning, cooking, medical care, and dressing. This means more outside visitors potentially carrying the virus, AND these care workers often work in more than one high risk household.
7. Young disabled people haven't been prioritized in any US state's vaccine rollout program, even when incredibly high risk. #eugenics
8. Disabled people are the first to be removed from life supporting care during rationing, as our lives are *legally* deemed less valuable.
8. Disabled people are the first to be removed from life supporting care during rationing, as our lives are *legally* deemed less valuable.
9. Disabled people of color (esp. Black folks) are less likely to receive adequate or early care when infected, and they face a well-documented history of medical racism and experimentation.
10. Many Indigenous disabled folks rely on the IHS, which is a federal program not known for excellent care. Indigenous people as a group are also more likely to have disabilities & chronic illnesses, often from generations of trauma, separation from resources, and US govt abuse.
11. Many COVID testing sites are inaccessible to disabled folks, especially drive-up options or those that don't center mobility access. This also includes vaccination sites like churches, which don't have to be ADA compliant.
12. Some people with disabilities may not be able to articulate when they're ill, delaying their care.
13. Most video conferencing tools don't include high quality captioning tools. This is a major access barrier for pandemic medical appointments, work, & more. #Craptions
13. Most video conferencing tools don't include high quality captioning tools. This is a major access barrier for pandemic medical appointments, work, & more. #Craptions
14. Deaf and HoH folks may need to read lips to understand others. Most masks block this and while clear options are available, they aren't given to everyone working in essential positions (incl. testing sites, vaccine centers, pharmacies, schools, and grocery stores).
15. People with non-apparent disabilities are often openly harassed when they ask others to take precautions in public spaces.
16. As the push to "return to normal" continues, many accessibility progresses (like working from home, mask mandates, etc.) for high risk folks are being reversed, despite the fact that most young disabled folks are not yet vaccinated.
17. As Asian people face increased violence following racist "Chinese virus" discourse, disabled Asian folks are further isolated from public life & medical care. "Looking sick" (coughing, moving slowly, etc.) in public while Asian can quickly lead to harassment and violence.
21. A viral infection can knock chronically ill folks back many notches in their health management, school/work, and much more.
And counter to popular assumption, public assistance isn’t enough to sustain most chronically ill folks’ care or housing.
And counter to popular assumption, public assistance isn’t enough to sustain most chronically ill folks’ care or housing.
https://twitter.com/fewspoons/status/1379601142171238406
22. Folks using mobility aids are at higher risk, in part because many public spaces don’t provide space for folks using chairs and scooters to maintain 6’ distances.
https://twitter.com/rachelcreative/status/1379539168322289672
23. Mental illness absolutely counts!
https://twitter.com/nataliews/status/1379611713008451585
24. Disabled and chronically ill folks are managing the emotional and physical impacts of our lives being framed as sacrificial (“We don’t need masks because only _____ people die!”) and less valuable in public, familial, and economic discourses.
https://twitter.com/kaylejh/status/1376634299320000521
27. When chronically ill folks are asked if they’re experiencing fevers, nausea, fatigue, body aches, headaches...
The answer is probably yes. Which is unhelpful for COVID screenings and knowing when to get tested or self-isolate.
The answer is probably yes. Which is unhelpful for COVID screenings and knowing when to get tested or self-isolate.
https://twitter.com/b1a_z3n/status/1379627596569309187
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