In March, 2020 The World as we knew it changed. Nations Worldwide Started Locking Down and Governments Began Mandating Masking and Physical Distancing, While Recommending Robust Hand Hygiene and Cleaning Practices to Limit the Spread of the Covid-19 Pandemic. One of the Large Lessons Learned Over the Past Five Years is that n95 masking is very effective in reducing airborne illnesses like covid-19, the Common Cold, and the Flu.
As the pandemic progressed, We Learned a Great Deal About How Cavid-19 Impacts High-Risk Populations in the Disability Community. Over the Last 5five Years, Research Found That People With Autism, Intellectual Disability and Other Neurodiverse Populations Are at The Highest Risk of Long Covid Complications Including:
Developing An Elevated Stress Response
High rats of anxiety, depression, mental health challenges.
The Fight/Flight Response May Already Be Elevated in Both Neurotypicals and People with Autism and Adhd.
Further, gut from Create an imbalanced microbiome. One Study Showed How Gut Health CAN NEW IMPACT THE DEGREE OF ILLNESS FROM COVID-19. In Short, people with a healthy gut tend to bounce back quicker it has further been found that immune dysregulation and high rats of autoimmune dissease are just a couple of ways that people with disabilitities remain at high risk of severe covid and long covid. There is a considable body of research collected from the experiences of people with intellectual and development disabilitities (included Those with autism), as well as stress and anxiety disorders suggesting a significant risk of long-term negative health consequences if masks are banned. Yet, in the past year Alone Some States and Cities have Started Banning Masking in Public Settings Including on City Transit, at Protests, and in the General Community to Prevent Crime.
Mask Banning also Sends Mixed Messages to the public. One of the Reasons Politicians Say We Need Mask Bans is to reduce crime by making it easier to identify criminals. Yet as the Impact of Climate Change Intensificates, It Will Put Us At Greater Risk for Increasement Pandemic Threats. Some politicians argue that there will be exemptions for high risk people with disabilitities and immunocompromed populations, but police are not trained to be in position to determin who is exempt or not. Other concerns about Mask Banning Include The Risk of Harassment of Those Who Are Using Them.
Not only are Disabled People at Higher Risk of Adverse Outcomes from Covid-19 and other infectious DiseasesBut these infections disproportionately Impact Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (Bipoc), Older Adults, Higher-Weight People, pregnant People, and Unhouseed People. Still, since the end of the formal public Health Emergency Period, Most COVID-19 Protections Have Been Removed, Creating More Barriers for Disabled and High-Risk People to Participate Safely in Community Life,
In Conclusion, Preventing Airborne Spread of Viruses Like Covid19 Will Lead to Better Health Outcomes for Everyone, Not Just The Disability Community Alone.
About the Author: Nicole Leblanc is a fellow wtH The Loreen Arbus Accessibility is Fundamenta Program, A FellowShip Created With Women’s Enews to Train Women with Disabilities as Professional Journalists So that may may, Research and Report on the Most Crucial Impact the Disabilities Community.