Someone cares if I’m not there
Sense, 2017
We’re all likely to experience loneliness at some point in our lives. But having a disability means that you are more likely to be chronically lonely.
The causes of loneliness among disabled people are complex.
Many of the barriers to making friends and meeting people are practical, such as the need for accessible transport and buildings, financial support and appropriate social care. In many cases, the barriers to making social connections are practical ones, but public attitudes can also have a profound impact on individuals’ ability to make connections and find common interests.
For these reasons, a one-size-fits-all solution is not possible to tackle the problem of loneliness among disabled people. A range of practical and policy measures are necessary, alongside a wider shift in societal awareness and understanding of disability.
This report is not intended to be exhaustive, but to demonstrate a range of different experiences, and some of the barriers to making social connections for disabled people. It is also important to note it is common for cross-overs to exist between different conditions, with many disabled people having more than one type of impairment