“I’m still receiving some support but it’s been very minimal during the lockdown,” he says. “My usual support persons are choosing to limit their travel, and it’s the right thing for them to do to look after their own health, but at the same time, it does have implications for disabled people.”
“I have a flatmate, she’s been a great help but she’s not a replacement for the caregiver support that I’m supposed to have. I’ve accepted things in my home won’t be the ideal way I would like them to be, but I have to accept some compromises in my situation.”
Farrar who relies on caregivers or online deliveries for grocery supplies says, getting his usual food shop has been difficult especially at the beginning of the lockdown.
“When I first tried to buy my usual online shop, people were panic buying and all the delivery slots were taken. Delivery was delayed until supermarkets started priority deliveries.”
“I think it’s really important for the Needs Assessment and Service Coordination services (NASCs) around the country to be aware of how people with a disability are struggling. So, my advice for others would be to reach out to them and make them aware you are struggling with support during lockdown.”
“I know its unprecedented times, and a different environment but that’s no excuse for people not being able to have their basic human needs covered.”
Farrar admits that as well as struggling with support for his disability he’s also recently been made redundant. However, as a ‘YouTuber’ and digital content creator he says social platforms and keeping connected with people online has kept him resilient and remaining positive during the lockdown.
“It has been a challenging time but I’m engaging with people online more than ever. With more people being home and online, it’s been really nice, I actually feel more connected to the world than ever before. I’ve been having really deep and meaningful conversations with others, sharing their journey, their struggles, losing their job, it’s all really real right now.
“It’s been great for my mindset, great for my morale. It’s probably one thing that’s been an unexpected benefit of all this.”
However, Pasifika Medical Association member and National Lead for Te Pou o te Whakaaro Nui’s Disability Workforce Development programme, Manase Lua says not everyone with a disability is able to easily communicate their issues and so agencies and providers need to pay them special attention.
“There is going to be significant pressure on disabled Pacific people, particularly vulnerable families that are already under stress and looking after multiple family members. The fear I have is that many disabled Pacific people which, include those with chronic illnesses will often be the last person to receive support because of other members taking priority in that family.
“Government agencies will focus on who they can give immediate help too, but what about those that are voiceless and are not out in the community? A lot of people with a disability are at home, people place a lot of stigma on them and so there’s very few to advocate on their behalf.”
Lua says some with a disability need support from family or agencies to help them “on the ground” to fill out forms and advocate access to funding and support services.
“What I believe would help, is to ensure that agencies and providers are giving very special attention to those who have a disability or chronic illness with extra resources and support¾ because they will need it. They are most often the ones that are forgotten about in a national disaster and pandemics like this. The disability community is resilient, but they still need to be heard and considered with key decisions during the crisis”.
#pmafamily #pmaunite
Date: Wednesday 29 April 2020
