THE mother of a disabled woman has spoken of the immense challenges of the pandemic, claiming disabled people and their families were “ignored”. 

Nicola Slator, who lives near Keighley, cares for her 20-year-old daughter Rebecca, who is deaf, has autism and wears a tracheostomy. 

She has shared her story through Sense, a charity which represents people living with complex disabilities.When the country was plunged into lockdown, Rebecca could no longer attend school and her care company reduced support as they did not want to go into the house, said the charity. 

This left Nicola feeling overwhelmed with the task of caring for Rebecca on her own. 

She is now calling on the Government to ensure disabled people’s voices are heard as part of the Covid Inquiry, while the charity has said they must not be treat like “second class citizens”. 

Nicola said: “The pandemic was handled shockingly; disabled people and their families were ignored. There was no plan for what families like mine should do. 

“We need to not be an afterthought - our voices and stories must be heard in this inquiry.  

“I know that some disabled children and young adults are still not back at school 18 months later, the government are not supporting us in the way we need them to. 

“Disabled people aren’t going anywhere, we should be a big voice but we are being side-lined. My daughter Rebecca can’t advocate for herself, so I have to do it for her.”

Statistics for Yorkshire and the Humber from Sense reveal that 78 per cent of those asked think that if the public inquiry doesn’t investigate the impact of the pandemic on disabled people, then the same mistakes will happen again; 77 per cent said their needs have been overlooked and they haven’t received enough support; 71 per cent said their mental health has got worse during the pandemic and 51 per cent said they have had a deterioration in physical health during the pandemic. 

Sense also said that the experience of the pandemic meant that 66 per cent of those asked feel less optimistic about their future and nearly 56 per cent want the inquiry to happen within the next six months.

Sense Chief Executive Richard Kramer said: “The experience of disabled people must be at the heart of this inquiry. 

“We have to investigate the disproportionate impact the pandemic has had on disabled people and the decisions and policies that have led to this outcome. Never again should disabled people have to experience the lack of information, support and consideration that they have during this crisis.

"We must learn from the mistakes that have been made and ensure disabled people are no longer and will never again be treated like second class citizens.” 

The charity wants to see: A key section of the inquiry investigating the impact of Covid-19 on disabled people and their families, with them being invited to contribute evidence; a panel leading the inquiry that is representative of disabled people and the inquiry to be run in an accessible way so disabled people can participate and engage with it.

A petition has been launched by Sense www.sense.org.uk/support-us/campaigns/covid-inquiry.

A Government spokesman said: “As the Prime Minister said, we have committed to holding a full public inquiry which will start in the spring.

“Terms of reference will be set out in good time for the inquiry to begin, and we will consult with bereaved families and others before they are finalised.”