By Josh Hall and Troy Gillard

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

2020 an especially tough year for people with disabilities

Dec 3, 2020 | 5:49 PM

Elizabeth Eckert says 2020, a year that’s been tough on many, has been even harder on those with disabilities.

Eckert is immunocompromised and her son Anakin lives with several disabilities, including autism, hydrocephalus and epilepsy.

She says the COVID-19 pandemic has drastically limited their ability to be out and about in the community, and that’s taken an emotional toll on both of them.

“The challenges right now are so extreme that people don’t even try to go out,” she says. “Many with disabilities haven’t left their house in months and months, and that can cause issues with mental health, isolation, and feeling detached from the few connections they did have.”

December 3 is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which according to the United Nations, aims to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development, and to increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.

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“The whole pandemic has been a challenge for everybody. For people with disabilities, their whole routine is thrown out the window. They can’t go out or coffee or meet their friends or family,” explains Veronica Zinck, Anakin’s support worker.

“They’ve had places close down to keep everybody safe, but that means there are no longer activities in the community for them to go and do. It’s been a tough and challenging time, and definitely people with disabilities have had to pull out their creative sides.”

Adding to that stress, Eckert says, is the resentment that comes from people that are against wearing face coverings to help limit COVID-19 spread.

“I feel that’s because we’re constantly saying we need to protect the weak and vulnerable, and that means you can’t have people to your house or go certain places. People perceive this as their rights being taken away, but we’re doing all these things to protect people with disabilities.”

Rajan Sawhney, Alberta’s Minister of Community and Social Services, issued a statement saying in part that, “Alberta’s government is committed to ensuring people with disabilities live full lives with dignity and equal opportunities, and I am proud of how we embrace diversity in this province. This year, more than ever, it is crucial that we make sure vulnerable Albertans have the supports they need during these challenging times.”

Sawhney said temporary changes to the province’s Family Support for Children with Disabilities and Persons with Developmental Disabilities programs are helping children, adults and families access respite and in-home supports easier during the pandemic.

But Kylie Morrison, who suffers from epilepsy and several other conditions, says the province’s decision to close The Hub on Ross was a tough blow for the local disabled community.

“Most people with disabilities are under a lockdown because of COVID, but when it’s over, we aren’t going to have those same choices,” she lamented.

“I think choices are very important because people with disabilities don’t have many to begin with. We’re kind of told ‘you have these things you can do and you have to fit them in at this time and at this place.’ For somebody else, as long as you can get a ride and stuff like that, nothing’s that difficult. Using the HUB as an example, you could come anytime during the day, where if we want to go to a City-run program, it doesn’t start and stop when you get there.

“Everybody counts and we should all be in this together,” says Morrison, who’s created the ‘Friends of the Hub’ Facebook group to help keep frequenters of the now closed facility connected.

Zinck says in her time working with the disabled, including the last four years with Anakin, she’s learned some valuable lessons.

“They’re just like us. They have routines and things they need to do. Their disability doesn’t define them – it’s just part of them. If I was missing a foot, I’d still be like anybody else; missing a foot wouldn’t really make me any different.”

“People are struggling tenfold compared to normal, but at the same time other people are looking at them like they are the problem,” adds Eckert. “I think that will cause even more problems in terms of moving toward an inclusive society. Behind the scenes you have people who already find it challenging to integrate into a world full of barriers and limitations.”