Hey all,
I know a lot of us have compromised immune systems, and so we've been cooped up for the majority of the year. I, for one, have left the house 5 times in the last 8 months. The lack of creative and social outlets has been wearing me down
To try and combat this, I've taken to streaming (and watching streams) on Twitch! I do a lot of gaming at home and I thought "I might as well.". It's been a huge outlet and a source of new friends.
What have you done to combat the quiet?
I've seen that it's very hard to get PPE/medical supplies with everything sold out. -ER (Forum Contest Entrant)
Since I have health issues that would be progressively worsened by getting COVID, I’ve had to severely limit the number of people I come into contact with, so my ability to socialize and be with friends and loved ones has drastically decreased. -Sarah W. (Forum Contest Entrant)
Covid-`19 has affected many of my friends and immediate family members with disabilities. Before the viral outbreak, my brother, an adult with ASD, would go through his normal daily routine which usually included the gym, tutoring, and his part-time job. Before the distribution of the vaccine, he lost many of those privileges and was forced to stay home for long periods of time. For a person with ASD, a drastic change in routine such as this can be very hard: it introduces waves of confusion, depression, and anxiety. As retail stores and restaurants open back up to customers, it can be even more challenging for a disabled person to walk into a place that is bustling and physically-crowded due to people desperate to get back out and enjoy public venues again. A solution to this challenge for people with special needs can be allotting hours for individuals with disabilities to enjoy public venues and shopping sites, similar to how senior citizens have specific hours to shop at grocery stores. It's important for a business that wants to attract a wider audience of customers to always be thinking about new ways to accommodate all potential customers. That includes engaging in disability etiquette training, such as that which VisitAble provides, physically maneuvering stores to accommodate all individuals, and changing employee perspectives and attitudes to ensure the best experience for all customers. - Claire B (Forum Contest Entrant)
A lot of arts and crafts, puzzles, and online shopping when I can afford it.
Tik Tok is also a great social outlet and great way to meet new people. I started back in July and for the most part, my experience has been overwhelming positive. I use the platform to spread disability awareness while also using a bit of humor