London: A Message of Support from the President of Inclusion International (March 2020)
As proud members of Inclusion International, we felt that we should reproduce in its entirety the following message from the President of Inclusion International in these trying times of the Covid 19 pandemic worldwide. To all our brothers and sister, stay safe and keep the faith.
We know from history that in times of crisis, people with intellectual disabilities and their families are at very high risk of being isolated, abandoned and forgotten. They and their families are at risk of being denied equal access to healthcare and support when they need them most.
We have already heard many such stories during the current COVID-19 crisis.
One thing I know for sure, is that people with intellectual disabilities and their families have a wealth of skills and knowledge to help them through this crisis. We know how to survive if we have to without much help from our communities or our governments. Our biggest strength is always our connections to each other and our ability to make do with what we've got.
Most of the time, we focus on thriving. We have big goals, big ideas, big plans. These are important but for now, we will focus on surviving. I know it is painful to practice social distancing after so many years of being distanced by the community, but this time is different. This time, everybody is doing it. This time, in order to be included, we must be secluded.
Be gentle with yourselves. Try to find the moments in your day to show each other how much love is in your heart, even if you don’t have words. Who in your network is lonely? How can you connect with them to tell them they matter to you? If you use social media, it is a good tool to let others know how you are doing or to share your methods of coping. Be honest about your feelings. You can say, "I am lonely. I am sad. I am afraid." We will not give in to anger. Instead, let us say "I am strong. I am OK." Or we can ask, "Who needs encouragement? Who needs help?"
If I had to choose one community to depend on to show courage in the face of adversity, it would be ours.
That is how we work,
With love,
Sue Swenson,
President, Inclusion International.
Inclusion International's network is working to respond:
We are calling on Governments, healthcare providers, emergency workers, friends and neighbours to remember those who are the most vulnerable in our communities.
Our global network is mobilising to create resources and provide support in their countries and communities to help make information available in accessible formats, ensuring that people have access to the support they need.
Inclusion International is collecting and sharing the resources that our members have developed.
To share resources or find what you need to help reach people with intellectual disabilities please go to our website: inclusion-international.org/coronavirus.