Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada committed to providing services and supports to improve personal and societal health outcomes and reduce these barriers to full participation in society, through ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Accessible Canada Act, and individual and family rights for care under the Canada Health Act. [...] Comorbidities and its relation to complications and death Part of the reason for higher rates of complications and death from COVID-19 among people with IDD is the presence of comorbidities among this population, which not only worsens the health impact of COVID-19 but also increases the risk of transmission through the greater need for in- person health care (Campanella et al., 2021). [...] A study on the impact of the closure of recreational facilities on the ability of people with disabilities to participate in sports and physical activity in Canada and Scotland underscored the importance of safety issues, as many participants reported feeling unsafe engaging in activities in outdoor public spaces as well as having safe access to transportation and public restrooms to support parti. [...] This should include recognition of the insufficiencies of the Disability Tax Credit and the variability of provincial disability assistance programs, with the aim of providing accessible and equitable income supports to eligible persons with disabilities across the country. [...] For example, a survey of carers of individuals with IDD in the UK found that carers of adults—and especially children—with IDD had much higher rates of moderate to severe anxiety (43% of carers of children with IDD) and depression (45%) during the initial lockdown period compared to parents of children without IDD (8% and 11% respectively for anxiety and depression), and compared to their pre-pand.
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