Report Finds Higher COVID-19 Death Rates for People With Developmental Disabilities in Group Settings

A report published in the Disability and Health Journal on Dec. 5 found that people with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) in California who lived in congregate settings were 2.8 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than people who did not live in residential group settings. People with IDD who lived in congregate settings were 60% less likely to contract COVID-19.

The Frontlines: As mentioned in the report, a disproportionate amount of people with developmental disabilities live in residential group settings. Its findings raise concerns about how residential group homes could potentially worsen outcomes for people with IDD who contract COVID-19.

• A July 2020 study found that in New York state,  7,841 group home residents with I/DD out of 100,000 were diagnosed with coronavirus, verses  1,910 per 100,000 people for the state as a whole.
• The Center for Disease Control has published considerations for administrators of congregate settings to protect its workers and residents and slow down the spread of COVID-19.

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A Mighty Voice: Senior contributor editor Karin Willison, who lives with cerebral palsy, wrote about her concern that medical professionals might not fight to save her due to her disability, one of many concerns people with disabilities have expressed during the pandemic.

“Would you go to the hospital if you knew they could steal the ventilator you use to breathe every day, effectively murdering you? How would you feel knowing your son with an intellectual disability is an ‘unlikely candidate’ for a ventilator if he gets sick?” You can submit your first-person story, too.

From Our Community:

Nursing and in home care during COVID-19

Other Things to Know: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the I/DD communities in many ways, ranging from being high-risk if they contract COVID-19 to lack of access to regular therapies. You can read the stories below to learn more about the challenges people with I/DD and their families face now:

• People With Down Syndrome Face Unique COVID-19 Challenges
• What to Do When Your Child on the Autism Spectrum’s Routine Is Disrupted by the Coronavirus
• Why I’m Worried About Rationing If My Child With Down Syndrome Gets COVID-19

How to Take Action: You can read the full report from the Disability and Health Journal here.