“I can’t wait for this to be over” is something I’ve heard a lot during this pandemic, I myself have said it too. It’s understandable, now is a really tough, horrible time. Many can’t wait to be able to go outside again when they want and do what they want. Others want to be able to go outside without feeling panicked.
I find myself looking forward to this time too, however I am unsure if I will ever experience it. As a disabled person my life has been limited long before coronavirus, for me personally it has been relatively easy to adjust to some aspects of this lockdown because the limits in place do not feel anymore excessive than the limits I usually face. The uncertainty many of people face now has been faced by disabled people long before coronavirus. Struggling to access public transport? Having employment uncertainty? Experiencing isolation? Dealing with a sharp drop in income? Working for employers who are unwilling to make reasonable adjustments? These issues have affected many in the disabled community for years.
The purpose of this post is not to claim people’s current struggles are any less valid because others have experienced them before. These are really difficult times and I have great sympathy for anyone struggling at the moment. It is also important to note many disabled people have been disproportionately affected by COVID 19 and the government response to it.
Essentially when we come out of lockdown I hope the issues we are facing now can be eradicated for all. It will be hard but I think it is important to strive for a society that is better than it was rather than the one we had before this crisis. No one should be left behind.
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