Parental concerns about the long-term impacts of Covid-19 pandemic restrictions on the health, education and development of their children with Down syndrome: A qualitative analysis
Laura Nixon, Gema Milla de la Fuente, Vassilis Sideropoulos, Monica Lakhanpaul
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
The Covid-19 pandemic significantly limited access to vital services and resources required to support the health, education and development of neurodivergent children, especially children with Down syndrome (DS). We undertook qualitative analysis of responses to open-ended questions exploring caregiver (n = 194) concerns about the impact of the pandemic restrictions on their children with DS. Results showed that parents were concerned about their child's mental and physical health during lockdowns, and reported that children found the social isolation and lack of routine particularly challenging. Restrictions also raised ongoing longer-term concerns. Parents reported that limited social contact affected the development of children's communication and social skills, and fewer group activities impacted weight and motor development. School closures affected academic progress and development of the skills required to navigate a classroom environment. Restricted access to healthcare services delayed diagnosis and treatment, and cancelled therapies disrupted speech and motor development; ongoing disruptions continued to limit opportunities to mitigate concerns. The interlinking impacts of multiple restrictions compounded the challenges, highlighting the importance of accessible social resources and system-wide support for the health and development of neurodivergent children. We urge practitioners, researchers and policymakers to collaborate with families to mitigate the long-term implications of the pandemic for children with DS.
期刊介绍:
This well-established and respected journal covers the whole range of learning difficulties relating to children in mainstream and special schools. It is widely read by nasen members as well as other practitioners, administrators advisers, teacher educators and researchers in the UK and overseas. The British Journal of Special Education is concerned with a wide range of special educational needs, and covers all levels of education pre-school, school, and post-school.