ABSTRACT
The Covid-19 pandemic has had a ripple effect on all our lives, changing our work, leisure, sleeping patterns, food habits and everyday lives. Persons with disabilities, especially those with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), have borne the biggest brunt of the pandemic, being marginalised and side-lined in aspects of medical treatment, accessibility to public facilities and services, and support systems. This paper focuses on the impact of the pandemic on the lives of child athletes with IDD in West Bengal. The study uses primary data collected from guardians of children with IDD using interviews, along with data from other empirical research. The routines of child athletes with IDD have broken down, and have resulted in them undergoing multifarious behavioural and emotional changes. Apart from finding it difficult to cope with the changing situation, the children are also facing problems in accessing medical facilities and services, educational institutions, and open spaces. The legal frameworks for maintaining the health of PWDs are not being followed, causing deterioration and breakdown in communication, transportation, accessibility to services and schemes. Finally, the paper ends with suggestions and measures that must be taken to enable the PWD population to maintain a life of dignity and well-being. It looks at the changes in behavioral patterns, sleep patterns, and the changes in the daily routines of these athletes. It further looks into the ways these athletes have used mechanisms of sports and exercise to create new sets of routine in making sense of the pandemic life. Accessibility to healthcare facilities and services during this period has also been analysed, and the multifarious problems it holds for persons with disabilities. Legal frameworks at both international and national levels, along with new guidelines for care of PWDs, and the overall Government response in the pandemic have also been studied. Finally, the paper ends with suggestions and measures that must be taken to enable the PWD population to maintain a life of dignity and well-being.
Key words: Disability, Intellectual Disabilities, sports, Covid 19, Pandemic, Lockdown.