Binong Rongphar lives in the North-east of India in the beautiful state of Assam. When everyone shifted online, the lack of accessibility in such platforms left people with disabilities, especially with deafblindness behind. Binong who is a person with deafblindness said, “As a person with deafblindness, I could not be in front of the screen all day and I could not submit my assignments.” They relied on one to one tactile interaction and suddenly everything was in front of the screen. The daily struggles to just play catch up with the rest of the people on screen was not only physically taxing but also took a toll on his mental health. “I was infected with the Virus. I had to nurse myself back to health as my parents could not afford to miss work. I felt lonely and depressed. I know I am not the only one, there are many people with disabilities who are feeling the same with no support. So, here I am raising my voice to help others.”

As a parent of a person with deafblindness Mrs. Latha Shekar said, “The education of people with deafblindness has been severely affected. They are being left behind in the online space. A sudden shift in the teaching method has left them coping up on their own. As parents all we can do is help them not feel left out.” It has been a constant struggle for many parents with children with disabilities to keep their spirits up and look at it as a temporary adjustment. Since the pandemic has already consumed a year many parents are struggling to cope.

Saraswathi Prakash lives in a city known as ‘The Gateway to South India’ – Chennai. Saraswathi has always met adversity head on. She emphasized on the importance of family support in these tough times. “I could not repair my hearing aid in the lockdown and it became very difficult to do day to day activities. My family understood the challenges I faced and supported me. I understand that many do not have the support they need, but all I can say it to hold on till things get better because they will.”

Accessing medical support has become a terrifying thought for parents with children with deafblindness. “Covid has been really hard for my child as it has been for many children with disabilities. Many medical checkups and surgeries were postponed. It is a risk that we all took knowing the conditions outside our own homes” said Mrs. Poonam Bansal a parent of a person with deafblindness. The panelists shared their experiences of the pandemic in the side event. They also made recommendations for the government as to how they can make the lives of people with deafblindness easier in the pandemic.