Why Not the “New Flexible”?: The Argument for Not Returning to “Normal” After COVID-19

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a disparate impact across demographic groups, resulting in BIPOC and disabled people experiencing transmission, hospitalization, and death at higher rates than White and non-disabled populations. However, responses within the pandemic created new avenues for access to people with disabilities, including telehealth, work from home opportunities, and virtual participation, which were the very solutions and accommodations they have been requesting, but denied, for years. The call for a “return to normal” is steeped in ableist thinking. Society was made aware of the inequities for disabled people throughout the pandemic, and flexible solutions must be retained and refined to continue the access provided during this time. As a start to a discourse on reflection and action, the authors suggest four areas to target for change toward health equity: (a) messaging and communication, (b) accessibility, (c) addressing attitudinal barriers, and (d) seeking and using the input of disabled people. The following presents an overview of each factor and action steps, with resources to guide them.