Disabled people must be part of the Covid-19 inquiry
This year, there’ll be a public inquiry into how the UK handled the pandemic and we’re calling for disabled people and their families to be at the heart of the inquiry.
Over 40,000 of you signed our petition calling for change – thank you!
From difficulties accessing food to reduced care, the pandemic has exposed a lot of existing inequalities and new issues for disabled people.
Did you know that 6 out of 10 people who have died from Covid-19 are disabled?
But it’s not too late. Together, we can change things.
“When the pandemic hit last year, the day centre closed, and we were left to take on all of Azhar’s care needs without any support. We were worried about who would fill the caring void if we caught Covid-19.”
Saeed, parent of Azhar
What we’re asking for
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A key section of the inquiry investigating the impact of Covid-19 on disabled people with them being invited to contribute evidence.
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The inquiry to be run in an accessible way so that disabled people can participate and engage with it.
Watch our campaign film
Audio and visual transcript of the film
6 out of 10 people who have died from Covid-19 are disabled.
This pandemic has worsened existing inequalities disabled people face and exposed new issues.
From a reduction in care and support to difficulties accessing medical essentials and food.
Next year there will be a public inquiry into the UK’s handling of Covid-19.
We’re calling for disabled people to be at the heart of it.
Learn more and add your name to our petition
The voices of disabled people must be heard.
Audio and visual transcript
A pink heart appears in the middle of the screen. In the heart, it reads 6 out of 10.
[6 out of 10 people who have died from Covid-19 are disabled.]
The heart breaks in two and reveals a cut-out image of a man in a hospital bed wearing an air ventilator.
A wall appears covered in hearts. It’s the National Covid Memorial Wall. A woman appears in the middle of the screen as pink hearts appear around her and break in half.
Using brush strokes and block colours, the wall disappears and the woman in the centre of the screen transforms into a woman alone staring out of a window.
[This pandemic has worsened existing inequalities disabled people face…]
A hand appears. It is then revealed to belong to a man who is alone. His hand is pressing against a window.
[… and exposed new issues.]
A hospital bed appears on screen, then the words “Do not resuscitate” appear on screen.
[From a reduction in care and support to difficulties accessing medical essentials and food.]
A series of images featuring disabled people and a care worker appear on screen. One by one, the images split in half, leaving each person by themselves.
[Next year there will be a public inquiry into the UK’s handling of Covid-19.]
An illustration of Boris Johnson appears on screen. In the background we see an illustration of Westminster. Microphones appear from the bottom of the screen.
We then see illustrations of people campaigning and protesting with signs appearing on screen.
[We’re calling for disabled people to be at the heart of it.]
The image of people protesting turns into a petition. A purple hand lowers the petition to the centre of the screen.
[Learn more and add your name to our petition. sense.org.uk/CovidInquiry
We see an orange and purple brushstroke move to the centre of the screen. They join and create the Sense logo. The word Sense appears below the logo.
[The voices of disabled people must be heard.]
The video ends.