Our world has changed significantly since COVID-19 reached our shores just a little over a year ago. This has also meant disability support has had to change too. My family and support workers consider me to be an armchair epidemiologist. They ask me how many cases there are.
I require support twice a day for meal times and personal care. In order to minimise the risk to both my support workers and myself, I introduced mask wearing quite early on in the pandemic. Additionally, I continue to ensure I have ample hand wash and sanitiser available as well as antibacterial wipes. I try to sit back from my support workers while I am eating as well as having the windows open.
My support needs have reduced considerably. I have been working from home and I have not been required to travel regionally for work. Outings have been limited to doctors’ appointments and going for coffee. Support workers use coffee to entice me to get out of the house!
When community transmission peaked, the support workers who catch public transport and I decided it was best for them to momentarily stop coming.
Now that community transmission has dropped (yes, I’m touching wood!) I am planning to go out more.
With the rollout of the vaccine on the horizon, it is my hope that disability support will return to some resemblance of normal. I strongly urge everybody who can to get the vaccine as soon as they are able to.
We will be better prepared when the next pandemic comes along… hopefully not in our lifetimes.
If you want more information on receiving support during COVID-19, check out our
COVID-19 key information page. Or find out how other's spent their time during lockdown.
Written by Fiona on Cammeraygal land
A blog from the Hireup Community
Keen to learn more from Fiona? You can also check out her tips on wheelchair maintenance.
