Digital Stories on the pandemic’s impact on youth with NDD and their families
A Canada-wide study captured experiences of youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities (NDD) and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here’s what the study found:
Accessibility and Interaction with Society
Reluctance of some youth to enter public spaces due to fear of beingostracized or harassed for not being able to wear a mask
Physical barriers in public spaces presented accessibility challenges
Impacts on Developmental Progress
Regression in progress
Greater difficulties meeting development-related goals
Shifts in Caregiving Capacity
More time supporting children
Increased feelings of stress and burnout
Decreased ability to manage many competing demands
Changes to Mental Health
Increased anxiety, stress, feelings of sadness, loneliness, fear, and worry
Stress associated with mask-wearing
Barriers relating to availability, affordability and/or accessibility of mentalhealth supports
Impacts on Academic Success
Academic regression in children with NDDs
Mixed experiences with online learning
Challenges accessing in-school services and accommodations
Deconstruction of Social Network
Lack of social contacts, loss of community
Feelings of loneliness and isolation
How COVID-19 affected our lives:
Stories and experiences of the pandemic's impact on youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families
“I think they could have just done a better job of […]looking at people with disabilities. I don’t think they took that into consideration at all. They were so busy dealing with the rest of the world […] and we were kind of left out”
Watch Gillian's story about her experiences with the Pandemic in the video below.
Watch Sarah's story about her experiences during the Pandemic as a mother caring for a youth with NDD in the video below.
To learn more about the study findings please contact us.