14 September 2020
In April and May 2020,the Innovation to Inclusion (i2i) programme supported disabled persons organisations (DPOs) to complete a qualitative survey of 312 people with disabilities in Bangladesh and Kenya to understand the impact of Covid-19 and the measures introduced to prevent its spread.
The survey has captured how the pandemic has changed lives of persons with disabilities in terms of its economic impact. People with disabilities were already among the most marginalised in most communities – already more likely to live in poverty, experience higher levels of violence and be affected by inaccessible education, employment and healthcare.
People with disabilities have faced specific challenges due to Covid-19 response measures. Lockdowns create significant disruption and additional risks to their autonomy, health and lives. The key findings from the survey and recommendations for policy makers are outlined here.