The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on children with disabilities

Abstract

Children with disabilities in Zimbabwe faced several economic, social and cultural challenges due to crumbling economy and socialisation. Their plight further deteriorated with the advent of COVID-19 pandemic that struck the world economy. Zimbabwe was not spared from this as most parents of children with disabilities are in the informal sector that was badly hit by COVID-19 lockdown measures that prohibited them from trading. This affected children with disabilities to access their basic needs. The study was conducted on children with disabilities in Chiredzi South which is a rural community. The study used qualitative methodology in the form of desk review and virtual questionnaires and key informant interviews. These virtual interviews used the ODK application and ONA server. The main findings of the study were that there are eight disabilities types in Chiredzi South that are prevalent to children, lack of movement enablers, lack of telecommunication infrastructure hindered education and health access for children with disabilities. The main conclusions were that children living with disabilities in Chiredzi did not receive meaningful help from government and non-governmental organisations during COVID-19 pandemic; they are further excluded from accessing basic services such as education and health. The recommendations of the study are making sure that special teachers are at schools during lockdown with government providing them with protective equipment, introduction of subsidies to assist children with disabilities in schools, accessibility of appropriate medication for those who live on special medication, and many other recommendations as outlined at the end of the paper.