‘Let’s just hope for the best’: a photovoice study exploring the impact of Covid-19 restrictions on children with intellectual disabilities in the UK

Background:
To date little research has explored children with intellectual disabilities’ own experience of the Covid-19 pandemic. The current study used photovoice to explore the impact of Covid-19 on children with intellectual disabilities.

Method:
Sessions were carried out with (n = 13) children aged 8-16 years across five sessions with five small groups (either face-to-face, or video calls) between November 2021 – March 2022.

Results:
Three main themes 1) “Nobody likes the lockdown”; 2) “You don’t want the Covid [to] get you”; 3) Everything is Different Now were connected to an overarching theme of (Im)Permanence.

Conclusions:
Children with intellectual disabilities were anxious during the Covid-19 pandemic and employed numerous coping strategies (such as distracting themselves with sensory based activities). Despite looking forward to seeing family/friends, children reported worries and hesitancy about returning to 'normal', indicating potential lasting effects of the lockdown.