COVID-19 IDD: A global survey exploring the impact of COVID-19 on individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their caregivers

Background: This protocol outlines research to explore the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on individuals who have intellectual and developmental disabilities and their caregivers. Evidence suggests that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities experience disparities in healthcare access and utilisation. This disparity was evident early in the pandemic when discussions arose regarding the potential exclusion of this population to critical care. Methods: An anonymous online survey will be conducted with caregivers, both family members and paid staff, to explore the impact of COVID-19 on this population in terms of demographics, living arrangements, access to services, the impact of social distancing, and also carer wellbeing. The survey will be developed by the research team, many of whom are experts in intellectual disability within their own jurisdictions. Using back-translation our team will translate the survey for distribution in 16 countries worldwide for international comparison. The survey team have extensive personal and professional networks in intellectual disability and will promote the survey widely on social media with the support of local disability and advocacy agencies. Statistical descriptive and comparative analyses will be conducted. Ethical approval has been obtained for this study from University College Dublin’s Human Research Ethics Committee (HS-20-28-Linehan). Dissemination: Study findings will be prepared in a number of formats in order to meet the needs of different audiences. Outputs will include academic papers, lessons learned paper, practice guidelines, reports, infographics and video content. These outputs will be directed to families, frontline and management delivering disability services, national-level policy makers, healthcare quality and delivery authorities, national pandemic organisations and international bodies

Be prepared: communism and the politics of scouting in 1950s Britain

This article examines the exposure, and in some cases dismissal, of Boy Scouts who belonged or sympathised with the Young Communist League in Britain during the early 1950s. A focus on the rationale and repercussions of the organisation's approach and attitudes towards ‘Red Scouts’ found within their ‘ranks’ extends our understanding of youth movements and their often complex and conflicting ideological foundations. In particular, the post-World War Two period presented significant challenges to these spaces of youth work in terms of broader social and political change in Britain. An analysis of the politics of scouting in relation to Red Scouts questions not only the assertion that British McCarthyism was ‘silent’, but also brings young people firmly into focus as part of a more everyday politics of communism in British society

Disability, vulnerability and assisted death: commentary on Tuffrey-Wijne, Curfs, Finlay and Hollins

This paper builds on the work of Tuffrey-Wijne et al. and explores the issue of vulnerability and persons with disabilities in relation to Euthnasia and Assisted Dying (EAS). The commentary draws on both the literature and on case examples from Canada. Specifically, it considers the issue of EAS as an alternative to, or substituted for, appropriate disability supports. Secondly, it considers the issue of the devaluation of disabled lives in general and within health care practice and ethics. It concludes that current safeguards are inadequate and that as EAS regimes become more permissive the risk to disabled persons will increase.Arts, Faculty ofSocial Work, School ofReviewedFacult

Analysis of British Columbia Caseload for Data Persons Working With a Disability and Persons with Persistent and Multiple Barriers

This paper is based on data received from the British Columbia Ministry of Employment and Incorrle Assistance (MEIA) 2fo llowing a Freedom of Information request. The data include caseload statistics for persons with a disability from September 2000 -July 2006. The analysis considers the overall composition of the caseload, and changes in key issues such as tale up of the Community Volunteer program and the utilization of earnings exemptions. An outline of the overall employment situation for persons with disabilities, followed by a brief discussion of the BC disability benefit system and the reforms introduced by the Liberal government in April 2002, are discussed. A tentative conclusion is made that the e~perience in BC would suggest that little, if any, savings are to be found in disability related benefits. The data appear to indicate that while enhancement to employment opportunities and additional income from earnings are important for persons wlth disabilities, their effects are limited in terms of numbers. The data also suggest that an enhanced focus on maximidng earnings exemptions may prove an effective strategy for reducing poverty amongst persons with disabilities (PWD). Finally, the data suggest significant numbers are and will remain dependent on benefits and consequently, it is critical for income assistance rates to be increased if the income security for persons with disabilities or multiple and persistent barriers to employment are to be improved. Cet article s'appuie sur des donn6es fournies par le minist2re de l'emploi et de l'aide au revenu (Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance3) de fa Colombie-Britannique h la suite d'une demande d'accds h l'infomation. Les donne'es comprennent les statistiques relatives au nombre de personnes handicape'es en Colombie-Britannique entre septembre 2000 et juillet 2006. L'analyse examine la composition globule de cette cat6gorie de personnes, de mgme que les changements relatifs h certains enjeux cks comme l'utilisation du programme communautaire de b6ne'volat et le recours aux exemptions de gains. L'auteur trace les grandes lignes de la situation d'emploi des personnes handicap6es et emmine bnkvement le systgme de pestations d'invalidite' de la Colombie-Britannique et les re'fomes apporte'es par le gouvernement liberal en avril2002. En guise de conclusion povisoire, l'article avance que, si l'on se fie h l'exemple de la Colombie-Britannique, les 6conomies &coulant d'une re'forme du systime de pestations d'invalidite' sont ne'gligeables, sinon nulles. Les donnees semblent indiquer que, si l'augmentation des possibilit6s d'emploi et des revenus additionnels provenant du travail est importante pour les personnes handicape'es, son effet est limite' quant au nombre de personnes qui en be'neficient. Les donne'es donnent e'galement h penser que l'augmentation des exemptions sur le revenu gagne' pourmit constituer une strate'gie eficace pour re'duire la pauvrete' c h s les personnes handicape'es. Enfin, toujours selon les donne'es, puisqu'un nombre consi&rable de personnes handicape'es sont et resteront &pendantes des pestations d'invalidite', il est essentiel de bonifier le taux d'aide au revenu dans le cadre d'une e'ventuelle ame'lioration de la se'curite' du revenu des personnes handicape'es ou des personnes qui se heurtent h de multiples et persistants obstacles h l'emploi

Time to be counted: COVID-19 and intellectual and developmental disabilities—an RSC Policy Briefing

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited.The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the lives and well-being of all people globally, with consequences being observed across all domains from physical and mental health, to education and employment outcomes, to access to community supports and services. However, the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated public health restrictions on individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) has largely been overlooked. Not only do people with IDD have a greater risk of severe complications and death from the virus as shown in large-scale studies, but they also face significant short- and long-term consequences of COVID-related public health measures on their mental health and well-being. At a time when this vulnerable population is already feeling undervalued, ignored, and forgotten, it is imperative that the risks facing adults and children with IDD—as well as their families and caregivers—are recognized, valued, and addressed through a disability-inclusive approach to Canada’s pandemic policy response planning. This requires both a mainstreaming of disability inclusion into all COVID-19 response and recovery policies as well as disability-specific policies to address the unique barriers and challenges encountered by people with IDD during the pandemic. The recommendations in this policy briefing aim to achieve a more inclusive, accessible, and sustainable Canada for people with IDD both during and after the pandemic—an approach that will result in benefits for all of society