TY - JOUR
T1 - Challenges facing Hong Kong’s intellectually disabled people in using public services during the COVID-19 pandemic
AU - Kwan, Chi Kin
AU - Shum, Michelle Hei Yan
AU - Tsui, Frankie Kwan Yin
AU - Cui, Jialiang
AU - Hu, Vincent Qi Ming
AU - To, Rosetti Mei Ling
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2024/9/13
Y1 - 2024/9/13
N2 - The needs of disabled people are often insufficiently recognized by mainstream society, causing this population to be excluded from society and activities of daily life. This problem is clearly reflected in the obstacles that intellectually disabled people have encountered in their use of public services during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this qualitative study, we conducted focus group sessions with 17 social workers and 12 carers supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities in Hong Kong. Using a thematic analysis, we found that (a) the social-emotional needs of intellectually disabled people were intensified by the disruption of social services; (b) they received limited benefit from the use of video conferencing services; and (c) they encountered significant difficulties in complying with preventive measures. To achieve equity in public service, universal design should be emphasized during the planning stage, and the experiences of disabled people should be carefully considered from the outset.
AB - The needs of disabled people are often insufficiently recognized by mainstream society, causing this population to be excluded from society and activities of daily life. This problem is clearly reflected in the obstacles that intellectually disabled people have encountered in their use of public services during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this qualitative study, we conducted focus group sessions with 17 social workers and 12 carers supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities in Hong Kong. Using a thematic analysis, we found that (a) the social-emotional needs of intellectually disabled people were intensified by the disruption of social services; (b) they received limited benefit from the use of video conferencing services; and (c) they encountered significant difficulties in complying with preventive measures. To achieve equity in public service, universal design should be emphasized during the planning stage, and the experiences of disabled people should be carefully considered from the outset.
KW - COVID-19
KW - critical disability theory
KW - equity
KW - public service
KW - universal design
UR - https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/routledg/cdso/2024/00000039/00000008/art00010
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85151383005&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/09687599.2023.2195070
DO - 10.1080/09687599.2023.2195070
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85151383005
SN - 0968-7599
VL - 39
SP - 2074
EP - 2094
JO - Disability and Society
JF - Disability and Society
IS - 8
ER -
