COVID-19 and people with disabilities: assessing the impact of the crisis and informing disability-inclusive next steps Spain

Abstract

[EN]The report states that Although we lack specific data on the death rates of people with disabilities during the pandemic, since the disability variable has not been included in the studies nor have detailed statistics been published, several data allow us to infer the disadvantage they have experienced in this regard. First, the opinion of major NGOs on intellectual and developmental disabilities is that those who are institutionalized experienced higher mortality rates in contrast to those living in family homes. Second, numerous data support the reality of a much higher mortality rate in residential institutions. Although the elderly, and particularly those in a situation of dependency, have been the main affected, there are also increases in mortality in institutionalized people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. For many people with disabilities with previous medical conditions (hypertension, diabetes), the coronavirus poses a higher risk, which could lead to higher rates of medical complications and death.