COVID-19 response: Considerations for Children and Adults with Disabilities
People experiencing social disadvantage and marginalization are known to be disproportionately impacted by ill-health. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, persons with disabilities may have
increased risk for exposure, complications, and death as:
• Persons with disabilities are disproportionately represented among older populations, who are known to be at increased risk in the COVID-19 pandemic. It is estimated that more than 46% of
the world’s population of people over age 60 have disabilities
• Children and adults with disabilities may have underlying health conditions that increase their risk of serious complications from COVID-19
• Persons with disabilities are disproportionately represented among the world’s people living in poverty It has been identified that the impacts of COVID-19 are likely to be worse for people in lower socio-economic groups
Groups