Road to recovery:Understanding the impact of COVID and recovery phases on children and young people with Intellectual Disabilities and their families

Intellectual disabilities (ID) are characterised by social, cognitive, and adaptive skill deficits (Zayac & Johnston, 2008), which are associated with challenging behaviours (Lee, et al., 2008), and communication difficulties (Memisevic & Hadzic, 2013). Elevated levels of mental health issues have been reported in young people with ID (Young‐Southward, et al., 2017) and their parents (Eisenhower et al., 2005). The COVID-19 response strategy entailed limiting access to education, respite care, and specialist services, reduced the available support for families, with unknown consequences. The relative vulnerability of children with ID was highlighted by a recent report by the Children's Society (2020) which indicated that children with ID are more susceptible to wellbeing and mental health issues as a result of COVID and require urgent support in adapting to routine changes and understanding what is going on. These routine changes and reduction in access to services will continue for some time despite the recent implementation of the UK wide vaccination programme, further compounding mental health outcomes in children with ID and their parents. As we move into COVID transition phase, the current project will: 1) identify the family structure and social demographics of families who have a child with ID who are at greater risk of parent and child negative mental health outcomes; 2) explore the lived experiences of CYP with ID and their caregivers during COVID and transition phases 3) understand the CYP's and parent's experience of the recovery phase, including the lasting effects of COVID.