COVID: Day of Remembrance - Blog by Isaac Samuels

The 9th of March 2025 marks five years since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The UK observed a Day of Reflection to remember those we lost and to acknowledge the profound and lasting impact on our lives. For many, the memories of those bleak days remain raw. For Disabled people like me, the scars—both visible and invisible—are still healing.

Fear and Uncertainty

I remember the fear of falling ill, knowing that hospital care might not be a safe option for me due to Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) policies that were unfairly applied to Disabled people. When I finally had to be admitted, I was relieved that this was not my reality, and I received some truly compassionate care. I will never forget the kindness of the ambulance staff on that Christmas Eve—their faces were a source of comfort in an otherwise terrifying time. But upon arriving at the hospital, it felt like a war zone, an image I cannot revisit without being overwhelmed by flashbacks.

Five Years Later: Still Not the Same

I am still not the same. My confidence has never fully returned. I struggle to go out as I once did, and in many ways, I feel as though I am stuck in that time. The early days of the pandemic were a blur of uncertainty, but I vividly remember deciding with Sally Percival in Manchester to stop travelling for work. At the time, people thought we were overreacting—how wrong they were.

Working Harder Than Ever

Rather than slowing down, we became busier than ever. We worked tirelessly, advising the government and the all-parliamentary group on adult social care, striving to ensure that Disabled voices were heard. We lived in fear, isolating ourselves from loved ones, leaving our post outside to let any potential virus settle, and watching as our rights were eroded under the guise of protection. It was a deeply isolating and frightening time, and the truth is, we were treated as less valuable than others.

The Impact Still Lingers

The pandemic changed the world, but for disabled people and their loved ones, it only exacerbated pre-existing inequalities. Restrictions were imposed on us—not to safeguard us, but to strip away our freedoms. We were ignored, left to navigate a society that failed to consider our needs. As we reflect, our voices must be part of this conversation.

Capturing Our Stories

A joint report by Disability Rights UK and People’s Voice Media was launched, highlighting the experiences of Deaf and Disabled people who were left vulnerable and unsupported during the pandemic. This report feeds directly into the COVID-19 inquiry, ensuring our voices are heard and lessons learned.

"We realised quickly that although people said we were all weathering the storm, we weren’t in the same boat. People were frightened. They felt frustrated. They thought that no one cared."

Why This Matters

Keymn Whervin, in the report's foreword, stresses the need to consider the experiences of Deaf and Disabled people separately from the general population:

"We need to evidence how this has worsened for those people who are most in need of help and support. It is essential to understand why this is and, if a pandemic or national crisis should happen again, what has to happen across the UK."

Kamran Mallick, CEO of Disability Rights UK, further highlights the importance of this report:

"People have shared their pain, trauma, and sense of injustice with us. This must be a turning point where governments listen and take action."

Fighting for Change

As the principal researcher on this community reporting project, I captured these stories first-hand. They are stories of resilience, struggle, and injustice—stories that must be acknowledged so that real change can happen.

We cannot bring back those we lost, but we can demand that their suffering was not in vain. We must ensure that disabled people’s rights are never again treated as an afterthought. This Day of Reflection is not just about remembering—it is about fighting for a better future.

Join the Conversation

#CovidMemorialDay #StillNotEqual #DisabledVoicesMatter #PandemicInequality #LessonsNotLearned #WeMustBeHeard

You can read the report on this website page - the full report is also attached on the right side of this blog page.

Here is a collection of lived experience narratives - please take a listen.