Exploring the Impact of COVID-19 One Year Into the Pandemic
What the American Foundation for the Blind learned in the 2021 Journey Forward study revealed major gaps in access that are still a challenge.
Every person in the world was impacted by COVID-19. But the pandemic created unique challenges for people who are blind or have low vision. After conducting the 2020 Flatten Inaccessibility survey, the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) wanted to learn how things had changed one year later. The Journey Forward survey focused on issues that had evolved or had been introduced since the previous survey, such as access to COVID-19 testing and vaccines, health care, food and supplies, and access to voting in the 2020 elections. The survey revealed challenges specific to COVID-19, but it also gave insights into systemic issues that people who are blind or low vision face on a regular basis.
About AFB’s research on this.
AFB conducted the Journey Forward survey in July and August of 2021. A total of 488 blind, low vision, and deafblind adults in the United States completed the survey online. The goal was understanding the short-term and long-term impact of the pandemic on people with vision loss. AFB released a report highlighting what participants said about issues like problems with transportation and technology access, drive-up-only protocols, and reduced access to necessities like health care, medical supplies, and food.
What did the researchers learn?
Survey participants reported challenges in a number of areas, some of which are persistent problems.
Reliable, affordable, and efficient transportation was a challenge for people who are blind or low vision. Issues they reported included:
- Public transportation routes, often the best travel option for non-drivers, were reduced or stopped.
- Rideshare services were less available and more expensive.
- Drive-up testing, vaccination, and shopping often had no alternative option for people who do not drive.
- People had to rely more on families or neighbors to drive them.
- When people took a bus or walked to get health care services, almost half of them had to wait outdoors until they were seen by a provider. Conditions were often unsafe or uncomfortable.
People generally felt unsafe in public spaces. A majority had concerns about maintaining social distancing. In general, people worried about safety because they could not see if people around them were maintaining social distancing, wearing masks, or following other safety protocols.
Participants had barriers to meeting their basic needs. These included:
- Critical information such as current data about COVID levels near them was inaccessible.
- COVID-19 vaccine information wasn’t always accessible. About 47% of participants had someone else schedule their COVID-19 vaccine appointment.
Participants had concerns about getting health care, prescriptions, and other supplies. Key issues included:
- 57% of the participants who tried to use telehealth during the pandemic said the telehealth websites or apps were not fully accessible.
- 59% of participants worried about access to food, meals, and supplies.
- Websites and prescription labels were often inaccessible.
- Lack of convenient transportation reduced access.
- Paperwork was difficult to complete and medical staff didn’t always understand the needs of people who are blind or low vision.
A total of 81% of the people surveyed participated in the November 2020 presidential election. Of those, 67% voted by mail-in ballot. But 20% said they needed help filling out their ballots. This compromised their ability to vote independently and privately.
Why is this a problem?
Study participants faced significant challenges during COVID-19, as noted above. Even though many people were resilient and used problem-solving skills to adapt at the time, many of the issues still exist today.
Who needs to take action to change this?
Federal, state, and local policymakers, health care providers, public health agencies, grocers, pharmacies, state election agencies, transportation agencies, and rideshare companies all have a role to play.
What changes does AFB recommend based on the research?
Transportation:
- State and local transportation agencies must accommodate the needs of non-drivers.
- State and local transportation agencies should evaluate adding on-demand transit options that are fully accessible to people with disabilities.
Public health and emergency preparedness:
- Websites and applications providing information about COVID-19 or other public health emergencies should be fully accessible.
- Public health agencies should incorporate lessons learned from COVID-19 to prepare for the needs of people who are blind or low vision in the event of another emergency.
Access to health care, food, and supplies:
- Health care facilities should be physically accessible. Patient forms, post-visit instructions, and other forms of communication must also be accessible.
- Health care staff should be trained to interact effectively with people with disabilities.
- Health care websites, telehealth, and electronic health records must be fully accessible.
- Grocers and pharmacies should make online ordering accessible to people who are blind or have low vision.
Voting access:
- States should make sure that voters with disabilities can get accessible ballots and ballot-marking devices that are fully functional at every polling station.
- States should provide fully accessible electronic absentee voting for people with disabilities.
- State election agencies must coordinate with local election officials to implement accessible voting policies and practices.
Download the Report Read the Entire Report Online
Glossary of Terms
Accessible: For websites and mobile apps, all elements must be designed so people who are blind, low vision, or have other disabilities can use them. The same is true for public spaces, printed materials, and other commonly used tools of daily living.
Inaccessible: When something is not accessible.
Rideshare: Services like Uber and Lyft that offer door-to-door transportation for a fee.
Telehealth: Health care provided via web conferencing or over the phone.
