Disabled in Sale asked for views of impact of Covid-19

T he disabled in Sale are being urged to give their views and share their stories of the impact of Covid-19 on their health and well being.

The Greater Manchester Disabled People’s Panel has launched a survey to capture the experiences of disabled people in the city-region.

The results will be used to support improvements in how Greater Manchester responds and recovers from the pandemic.

The survey has been open for three weeks and has already had more than 600 responses, with initial findings highlighting difficulties in accessing information online and in obtaining Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Many disabled people are also not on the government’s shielding list but still require support. One third of disabled people have said they are unable to access their healthcare needs and two thirds of disabled people have reported their mental health has been negatively affected.

The survey has now been extended to May 25 to ensure as many people as possible have had the chance to give their views. There is also an easy-read version of the survey. Both can be found at www.gmconsult.org .

The Disabled People’s Panel, established by the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, brings together disabled people from across Greater Manchester to influence public services and support the rights of disabled people.

Greater Manchester Lead for Equalities, Cllr Brenda Warrington, said: “This is a challenging time for people across Greater Manchester but nobody more so than our disabled residents, who have faced a number of challenges as a result of the outbreak.

“While we work together to respond and recover it is so important that people’s views are heard, listened to and acted upon. That is what this incredibly important survey will help us to do, and make sure disabled people’s views and experiences are at the heart of what we do moving forward as we build, back better.”