Strengthening Support to Wheelchair Users & their Families during COVID-19

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The devastating impact of COVID-19 has left a scar across India, in terms of personal, social and economic losses. While the pandemic threatens all members of society, persons with disabilities are disproportionately impacted due to attitudinal, environmental and institutional barriers that are reproduced in the COVID-19 response. Moreover, people with disabilities, particularly those from poor sections, continue to suffer severe hardship. Without access to food or money, many are faced with starvation. The aftermath of COVID-19 has also left many of the wheelchair users and their family members without jobs, with no hope of having the means of employment in near future as well.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilLbjY7rp0YCj6wxIpAXp2bpWRupfjCJwXqSuUoV289NmnVGj1FviuyKvDCIZK8AwTC1FggTQuGPwlHXnuYRS3GTYZlOLGZT9fFiblKRcwPZXXXlEpswoSaUpEFThVh7E0ZtYoIUpsHys/s320/image1+for+the+blog_Divyashree+with+her+mother+Savitha.jpgSix years old Divyashree, diagnosed with cerebral palsy has been receiving rehabilitation support through our partner organisation Margadarshi since 2019. Divyashree’s father, Gopal, a painter by profession and the sole earner of the family lost his job due to COVID-19. With the help of our donors, supporters and partners, Motivation India provided Divyashree and her family with food kits so that they didn’t have to struggle for essential supplies to survive.

“I am grateful to Margadarshi and Motivation India for their kind support and reaching out to us like a family member during such tough times”, says Savitha, Divyashree’s mother from rural Karnataka.

Sharing about the reach of our efforts, Praveen Kumar, Manager - Programmes said “We are thankful to our donors and partners for supporting 1174 families of wheelchair users with essential food kits and 130 health kits for persons with spinal cord injuries. We ensured safety of 2000 wheelchair users and their families through remote support.”

Highlighting the impact made by Motivation India in the lives of wheelchair users and their families in India, Biju Mathew, Regional Director-South Asia, Motivation India said “Persons with disabilities often slip through the gaps in crisis mitigation plans and policies. The current pandemic crisis has exposed this gap like never before. Our work with wheelchair users gives them independent mobility and confidence to live a life with dignity. Through our emergency response we are ensuring persons with disabilities have food & medical support to survive the crisis and credible information to remain safe.”
Our Programme team has also been reaching out to wheelchair users and their families through remote support and advice on COVID-19 safety measures, well-being, wheelchair maintenance, repair via phone calls. Our team created this poster on caring for children with wheelchair needs - at home. 

Our team created this guide on postures

“Many wheelchair users and their family members are experiencing COVID-19 infection which is stressful for the entire family and difficult to manage. Our remote call to these users opened avenues to support them by providing credible information on how to look after themselves, if affected with COVID-19 and what safety measures to follow,” shared Sudhakar Govindasamy, South Asia- Regional Training and Program Quality, as he spoke about the experience of providing remote support to wheelchair users for their well-being. Sudhakar further adds “many users expressed that a remote support call brings comfort and personal feel of safety during this difficult time which may bring overall improvement in mental wellbeing.”

Siddhartha Gaur Assistant, Manager for Clinical Support and Training shared this quote from Anisha Banu, a wheelchair user from rural Madhya Pradesh, “your remote call and support is most valued by me and my family as well”

India is reeling under the second wave of COVID-19. Motivation India once again urges its donors, supporters, and partners to help us in providing food kits, health kits along with credible information and remote assistance to wheelchair users and their families in India.

Will you help us again? 

Will you help to ensure wheelchair users survive the pandemic? Donate today: https://www.motivationindia.org/donate

Author: Divya Ojasvi Sharma, Motivation India

 

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