YDAS is running a project to identify and work on actions to increase the voices of disabled young Victorians during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Click here to learn more about our COVID-19 Project.

This story is written by William, a member of our COVID-19 Working Group, about his experience of COVID-19.

Being disabled during COVID-19 sucks because I haven't seen my family in NSW since Christmas and New Year.

But it's okay. I'm getting there. I just need to remain positive.

Celebrating milestones in lockdown

I am in Year 12 and I graduate this year. We may not have a graduation dinner, which I've been looking forward to ever since I was in Prep. In NSW, they call it Kindergarten.

I recently turned 18. I wanted to have a big party to celebrate this milestone, but I couldn't. We were in Stage 4 lockdown. I still had a party, but it was on Zoom.

'This is real'

I wouldn't recommend Stage 4 lockdown to anyone. It is really stressful.

When we started to go into lockdown in March, I was scared. I thought "woah, this is real!”

School had to move online, which really was fun, but it also had negatives. The internet would freeze sometimes and I would miss my friends and teachers too much.

But when we went into Stage 4 lockdown, I knew what to expect because we had already been in lockdown.

Lockdown again!

Then after lockdown, we went back to school for a month then we had to go back into lockdown again. The numbers of COVID-19 cases were well in the hundreds.

I felt such anger that people weren't following the rules in this fight to normality.

Come on Victoria, we need to do this! I know it’s hard. Make sure you social distance, wear a mask, clean your hands properly, and come forward to get tested.

We need you to come forward if you have any symptoms of COVID 19. If you feel sick, do not go to work, school, shopping or exercise. Just stay at home and self-isolate.

By doing that you are slowing down the spread of COVID-19.

This will not go on forever. We can still see a light out of lockdown. We just need to work together.

Keep doing what you're doing!

My advice

Stay Connected to family, friends, colleagues

  • Stay safe
  • Come forward if you are sick
  • Stay at home
  • Only leave your house if you need to!
  • Wear a mask in public
  • Social distance yourself from others

Click here to read other stories by disabled young people about their experiences during COVID-19.