COVID-19 and Intellectual Disability: Supporting people with intellectual disabilities and their families

In March 2020 the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the outbreak of the new Coronavirus, or COVID19, as a pandemic, due to its rapid spread around the globe. Ireland, along with other countries around the world, is taking action and putting in place plans to curtail the COVID-19 virus. However, people with intellectual disabilities are a group at a significantly higher risk than others. As a result, it is important that additional considerations and supports are put in place for people with disabilities during this COVID-19 outbreak, and that actions specific to this group in society are taken by Government, disability services, communities and people with disabilities themselves and their families. These actions must be in line with the UNCRPD, and must support people with intellectual disabilities and their families through this emergency period, in line with Article 11 of the Convention which states that all necessary measures to ensure the protection and safety of persons with disabilities in situations of risk are taken.