- Date:
- 2021-09-09
- Main contributors:
- Indiana Disability History Project
- Summary:
- “I really don't think there's an area of my life that the pandemic hasn't touched, whether it's through my home healthcare or my ability to go out and do things socially.” Teri Whitaker has muscular dystrophy, which impacts her lung function. She needs to take many more precautions than most people to stay safe. Teri also discussed the pandemic’s impact on her psychological well-being. “I know, I, myself, and many other people with disabilities that are my friends who aren't really typically people that are depressed have had to seek out professional help to deal with, you know, the emotions of all of this.” To keep herself busy, Teri was able to do remote volunteer and advocacy work. “I find that it has been a real help for me, psychologically, to not feel like a victim of this pandemic." To address the vaccination inequities of people with disabilities, Teri helped create the High-Risk Indiana Coalition. The coalition was involved in public forums, conducted interviews, and distributed information on the COVID risks to people with disabilities.