‘No one has felt the impact of this pandemic more’ - One in two disabled people living in Edinburgh feel lonelier than ever
The new research from leading disability charity Leonard Cheshire found that more than half of disabled people are more lonely because of the pandemic.
The same research found that one in five disabled people are struggling to keep in contact with family during lockdown.
This isolation from their support system is largely due to issues accessing and using the internet.
With digital communication becoming the norm in our socially distanced society Leonard Cheshire has launched a campaign to keep disabled people connected this Christmas.
The campaign features educational classes specially designed for people with a range of abilities to help them learn to use the internet effectively.
Managing director of UK services at Leonard Cheshire Hugh Fenn said: “It’s been a tough, and lonely, time for us all. No one has felt the impact of this pandemic more than disabled people.
“Technology can help the people we support keep connected and feel less lonely in these challenging times.”
Individuals across the Capital are already benefiting from the new campaign including Renee Belden, 50, who lives in Portobello at a residential home for adults with learning disabilities
Staying in touch with her relatives is important to Renee, and she wanted to learn to use the computer so she could chat with them online.
Leonard Cheshire Discover IT programme has supported her to do just that, giving her the training and technology she needed to build up her confidence on a computer.
She is now able to do things she couldn’t before with very little support, like online shopping, browsing the internet and most importantly keeping in touch with her family.
Renee says: “I couldn’t have done this on my own. I have learnt new skills and feel better emotionally. It has had such a good impact on me and my family.”
As part of this campaign Leonard Cheshire, is calling on the public to show their support by turning their profile picture purple, the colour of disability, and using the hashtag #ISeePurple on Thursday, December 3, 2020.
To learn more about the campaign and to donate to the Leonard Cheshire charity’s work click HERE.