This archive report was first published on 19 June 2020.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect the world, persons with disabilities are disproportionately impacted by the economic consequences of the crisis.
According to various reports, persons with disabilities are less likely to be employed and when employed, it is more likely to be in the informal sector. This limits their access to social insurance based on employment, making them more vulnerable to economic shocks.
Lack of Income ¶
Furthermore, COVID-19 measures may indirectly affect persons with disabilities by preventing family members and bread-winners from working, negatively impacting the overall household income.
As a result, persons with disabilities and their households face a disproportionate burden, with extra costs and expenditures related to disability, such as accessible housing and equipment, assistive devices, and specific goods and services.
Both government and private sectors should consult with and involve persons with disabilities and their representative organizations in framing a rights-based response to the pandemic that is inclusive of, and responsive to, persons with disabilities in all their diversity.
Some key actions the government and other stakeholders should take include:
- Providing financial aid for persons with disabilities without any income, such as lumpsum payments or tax relief measures.
- Increasing existing disability benefits, including advancing payments to cover extra costs.
- Extending automatically any soon-to-expire disability-related entitlements.
- Providing financial compensation for self-employed persons with disabilities who find their income reduced.
- Implementing financial assistance programs for persons who stop working to support or prevent contamination of their family member(s) with disabilities.
- Providing financial support, including tax credits, to employers of persons with disabilities to provide equipment required for remote work.
- Ensuring that food provision schemes cover persons with disabilities and are responsive to their needs.
First and foremost, governments need to involve and fund organizations of persons with disabilities, involving them in all steps of the response and recovery process.
HABEL OUMA, Regional Coordinator at Deaf Ministry International, emphasizes the importance of involving persons with disabilities in the response and recovery efforts.
