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Health and disability organisations are calling on all state and territory governments to make sure people living with intellectual disabilities aren't overlooked during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Key points:
- Governments were asked to fast-track virus testing and quarantine measures for people with intellectual disabilities
- People with disabilities and their families have reported anxiety about being left behind in the pandemic response
- The call was endorsed by the Disability Royal Commission
Toowoomba mother Toni Mitchell and her son Joshy, 20, haven't always found navigating the nation's health system easy.
As the number of coronavirus infections climbed, she's worried that could get worse.
"We have a lot of experience with the health system where Joshy has been left and not treated," she said.
"We've sat in emergency rooms and watch them empty three times over with them still not caring for Joshy because he's been too complex and too hard."
Joshy lives with Down syndrome, autism and other complex health conditions.
His mother said if he contracted the virus, it could be fatal.
"He has a very low immune system and complex health conditions so he would have no capacity to fight this at all," she said.
"I wouldn't be able to be with him so he wouldn't have anyone with him who he knew or who could communicate for him, who could advocate for him."
Australian governments are being asked to create a targeted strategy, not unlike one given to the aged-care sector during a pandemic, for people with intellectual disabilities.
Julian Troller, a neuropsychiatrist from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) specialising in developmental disability, has written a "position statement" calling for a suite of protection measures.
It's so far been endorsed by 500 health and disability organisations including by the President of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.
"We need to think very carefully about minimising staff turnover and contacts with people who are vulnerable," Professor Troller said.
"We need to look at extra support to manage people in restricted environments where they may not be able to fully understand or engage in conversation about why that's necessary."
He said people living with intellectual disabilities should be fast-tracked if they required testing for the virus.
"Many people with intellectual or developmental disability will really struggle waiting in a queue and will need to be seen quickly to minimise the risks to both themselves and others," he said.
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The Disability Royal Commission also added its weight to the call.
Commission Chair Ronald Sackville said the inquiry heard directly from several people with disabilities who were anxious they were being left behind.
"We have contacted all relevant state and federal government ministers to call for specific strategies to provide guidance, support and funding to meet the particular needs of people with disability," he said.
Your questions on coronavirus answered:
The Federal Health Department said it was liaising with the sector to build the capacity of health care and disability service providers to meet their needs during the pandemic.
This included providing masks and free infection prevention and control training online for disability care workers.
What the experts are saying about coronavirus:
Topics: covid-19, diseases-and-disorders, health, infectious-diseases-other, respiratory-diseases, health-policy, disabilities, royal-commissions, nsw, australia, toowoomba-4350
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