Safe respite or help at home is desperately needed to help people with disabilities through the COVID-19 pandemic, Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong has said.

Strangford MLA Ms Armstrong said she had been contacted by many families and carers, already exhausted by the lack of support given to those with disabilities throughout the crisis. She said more needed done urgently to ensure assistance measures were put in place.

“We each have a responsibility to look out for the more vulnerable in our society. But not enough has been done to provide disabled people or their carers with the support needed to get through this crisis,” she said.

“Safe respite or domiciliary care is needed, particularly for the many people with disabilities no longer able to attend special schools or day centres due to their closure. It is a desperate situation for those needing physiotherapy, speech therapy and other ongoing packages as part of their care.

“The Education and Health Ministers need to outline immediately what measures they are putting in place to ensure those with disabilities and their carers experience as close to normality as they can throughout this crisis.”