People with deafblindness - Health and services during the Covid 19 pandemic

The aim of this project is to provide a basis for health care and social service professionals for the development of services accessible for people with deafblindness during and after the pandemic. The objectives are to explore the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic for people with deafblindness with regards to health, need for assistance in daily life and support from habilitation services for people with deafblindness by means of qualitative individual interviews of people with deafblindness and focus groups with professionals. Data will be analysed by qualitative content analysis and IPA.

Three research questions addresses will guide the project:

1. How do people with USH, in need for physical closeness for communication, information and mobility manage in times when physical distancing is prescribed due to the Covid-19 pandemic?

2. What is the lived experiences of health in relation to Covid -19 among young people with USH attending upper secondary school or university?

3. In what way have professionals within habilitation services provided support for persons with deafblindness during Covid-19 pandemic to meet their needs?