Statement: Include people with disabilities in the COVID-19 response

Disability advocate organisations are calling on the Australian Government to take immediate action to include people with disability in COVID-19 response efforts, here in Australia and around the world.

For the one billion people with disabilities globally, COVID-19 will heighten existing accessibility challenges and discrimination. People with disability are more likely to live in poverty and have a tougher time finding and keeping a job. They often experience difficulty accessing government health messaging and support services. These issues are not only relevant to people with disability in Australia, but are far reaching.

If not designed in consultation with people with disability, COVID-19 responses will have unintended consequences for this already marginalised group of people. For people living in the poorest communities around the world these consequences can and will be amplified. We must ensure our global response is inclusive and the impacts are addressed. By doing so we ensure no-one is left behind.

Disability advocate organisations object to a wait-and-see attitude and call for urgent action from the Australian Government to form an inclusive international response. Together, we propose the following measures: