How Did People with Functional Disability Experience the First COVID-19 Lockdown? A Thematic Analysis of YouTube Comments

Karen A. E. Hall (), Blanca Deusdad (), Manuel D’Hers Del Pozo and Ángel Martínez-Hernáez
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Karen A. E. Hall: Department of Anthropology, Philosophy and Social Work, Rovira I Virgili University, 43003 Tarragona, Spain
Blanca Deusdad: Department of Anthropology, Philosophy and Social Work, Rovira I Virgili University, 43003 Tarragona, Spain
Manuel D’Hers Del Pozo: Department of Anthropology, Philosophy and Social Work, Rovira I Virgili University, 43003 Tarragona, Spain
Ángel Martínez-Hernáez: Department of Anthropology, Philosophy and Social Work, Rovira I Virgili University, 43003 Tarragona, Spain

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 17, 1-11

Abstract: People with functional disability endure barriers to health and other services and to full participation in social life. In the context of COVID-19, this discrimination has been intensified worldwide. We examine how the experience of COVID-19 lockdown was depicted in comments to a video about functional disability and COVID published on VICE’s YouTube channel. We analysed the first 100 comments on the video, which was posted in spring 2020, during the first COVID-19 lockdown (roughly from March to June 2020, with some variations around the world). We identified four themes: lack of access to care and services, isolation and lifestyle changes, mental health consequences, and peer support. Legal regulations regarding COVID-19 and people with functional disability have not been sufficient in most countries. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed inadequate care systems, even in Western countries with advanced social protection policies.

Keywords: COVID-19; functional disability; disability; discrimination; isolation & social media (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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