Table 1.

Impacts of restrictions.

Negative Impacts		Aspect of Life during COVID-19		Positive Impacts
Felt unsafe going outside Worried people around me may contract COVID-19 At risk of contracting COVID-19 Fear of becoming a burden on the system Fear my products might be taken away for use by others		Life During a Pandemic	Previously unmet needs addressed in response ‘People were kinder’ People living with impairments prepositioned to be resilient when faced with constraints
Services closed Denied access to AT services No information about how to recieve AT help Could not travel to places providing AT services		Lockdown	Creative service delivery Skilling of AT users via online modes Co-creation of workable online services Physical access barriers to community/cultural activities reduced as these events became virtual
Less human connection, loneliness Loss of face-to-face services and personal supports led to feeling isolated, losing abilities, and development delays in children		Physical Distancing	Opportunity to reskill, e.g., deaf persons in online environments Emergence/strengthening of online communities Emergence/strengthening of different service delivery models including online services
A need for new equipment to be safe, like masks My community stopped including me Mask-wearing prevented communication Hygiene products too expensive or not available		Personal Protective Equipment	Creative solutions to mask wearing Sense of self-efficacy in disease prevention