Supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic from their own perspective

• Published in: Research in developmental disabilities Vol. 108; p. 103813
• Main Authors: Navas, Patricia, Amor, Antonio M., Crespo, Manuela, Wolowiec, Zofia, Verdugo, Miguel Á.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2021
• Subjects: Adult; Caregivers; Communicable Disease Control - methods; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 - prevention & control; COVID-19 - psychology; Developmental Disabilities - epidemiology; Developmental Disabilities - psychology; Family Health; Female; Humans; Intellectual and developmental disabilities; Intellectual Disability - epidemiology; Intellectual Disability - psychology; Male; Psychosocial Support Systems; Residential Treatment - methods; Rights; SARS-CoV-2; Self Care - methods; Self Care - psychology; Self Concept; Self-perception; Social Isolation - psychology; Spain; Supports; Spain; COVID-19; Rights; Supports; Intellectual and developmental disabilities; Self-perception
• ISSN: 0891-4222; 1873-3379; 1873-3379
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2020.103813

•Organizations have provided people with IDD with the most information on COVID-19.•Supports received by people with IDD have been conditioned by their living context.•People with IDD living in specific environments had fewer natural supports.•Those living with their family relied on it because of services limitations.•People with IDD have also provided support to other people during the lockdown. Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) represent a particularly vulnerable group to the threats posed by COVID-19. However, they have not yet been given a voice on how their living conditions have been affected by COVID-19. This study aims to report the impact on people with IDD of COVID-19 and the response measures applied in Spain during the lockdown. Data on 582 individuals with IDD were collected through a survey. Seven open questions were included to capture the perspectives of people with IDD on COVID-19 and its consequences. Content analysis was performed to identify themes and categories across participant responses. Chi-square tests were used to analyze the relationship between reporting a specific category and participants’ characteristics. Supports have been conditioned by the living context. People living in specific settings had fewer natural supports, while those living with their family relied heavily on it. Participants also lacked supports considered necessary. It is worth stressing that persons with IDD have also provided support to others. Although people with IDD have generally received the assistance they need during the lockdown, it must be ensured that appropriate supports are provided regardless of the context in which they live.