Jeste, S., Hyde, C., Distefano, C., Halladay, A., Ray, S., Porath, M., Wilson, R. B., & Thurm, A. (2020). Changes in access to educational and healthcare services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities during COVID‐19 restrictions. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 64(11), 825–833. https://doi.org/10.1111/jir.12776

Cedarville University

The Covid 19 Pandemic caused distress for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities as well as their families by limiting their access to resources.

How Covid 19 Limited Access to Resources for Individuals and Families with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

 Changes in access to educational and healthcare services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities during COVID‐19 restrictions

- One study revealed that individuals lost a substantial amount of services during the pandemic, including social and medical support. 
  - This could have potentially added to caregiver burden as well as impacting the well-being and health of the caregiver and child.

- It has been found that services are most effective for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities when they are conducted in person.
  - Due to the pandemic, services were forced to transition to being delivered remotely. 

- A large majority of caregivers reported losing at least one service, with a portion of the families losing all services. 
- There were very few families that were able to receive in person services due to the restrictions that were imposed.

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