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New research reveals painful impact of isolation on disabled children during COVID.

By Chris Hill · March 29, 2021

Child and his teddy bear wearing a mask looking out the window
The DCP has released a survey revealing higher levels of social isolation for disabled children.

The Disabled Children’s Partnership (DCP), of which WellChild is a leading member, has today published the results of a survey, revealing higher levels of social isolation for disabled children and their families compared to the rest of the UK population.

Awfully, the survey reveals that disabled children and their families are at risk of developing serious mental health issues as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The levels of anxiety, isolation and poor mental wellbeing reported are higher compared to the rest of the population.

  • Over 90% of disabled children are socially isolated, with 49% of disabled children not seeing a friend in the last month either online or in person. This sadly isn’t limited to children, with three in five parents also socially isolated.
  • This isolation has had a painful impact on the development of life skills in disabled children. Around half of parents highlighted a negative impact on skills, such as being out and about, communicating with others and interacting with strangers.
  • As a result, both parents and children are continuing to experience poor emotional wellbeing. On average six out of ten parents are observing symptoms associated with anxiety.  72% of parents report that their child is often unhappy, downhearted or tearful.  Their siblings are also affected with a high proportion of parents reporting that their other children are having negative issues regarding sleep and anxiety.

This research serves as a stark reminder of why the Government desperately needs to implement a COVID-19 recovery plan for disabled children, young people and their families.

About The Disabled Children’s Partnership

The Disabled Children’s Partnership (DCP) is a growing coalition of more than 80 charities who have joined forces, working closely in partnership with parents, to campaign for improved health and social care for disabled children, young people and their families.