Letter to the editor: Covid affects disability community disproportionately

Regarding the article “After a year, omicron still driving covid surges and worries” (Nov. 25, TribLIVE): Most people want to move on from covid-19. But many health professionals warn of a potential surge in respiratory illnesses this winter, especially after holiday gatherings. For Pennsylvania’s disability community, however, the pandemic never provided a reprieve and remains a real threat.

The Arc of Pennsylvania, the state’s leading advocacy organization promoting the rights of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, spearheaded a yearlong research project that included interviews, surveys and regional meetings with hundreds of stakeholders, including those with lived experiences of a disability.

Participants said inequitable access to testing, vaccinations and accommodations for these services (i.e., braille, plan language or multicultural materials) compounded physical and mental health issues, worsened chronic health conditions and led to a disintegration in quality of life for entire families. Many of those same challenges persist today.

When the pandemic first emerged, emergency response planning did not consider the unique needs of the disability community with greater comorbidities. But covid-19 has pulled back the curtain on inequities that existed long before the pandemic. If we want to ensure their interests are fully addressed, then they need to have a seat at the table — from start to finish.

Sherri Landis

Harrisburg

The writer is executive director of The Arc of Pennsylvania.