This quarantine has been difficult for all of us.  It is especially difficult for people with disabilities. My youngest son has Down Syndrome and is on the Autistic spectrum. He is nonverbal, does not read, and has an intellectual disability. He now resides in a group home. In “normal times” he has many activities, but with COVID-19, everything came to a halt.

Like the rest of us, he was under a stay home rule.  I Face-Timed him and saw him getting more and more depressed. Of course, he does not understand the confinement. I cried every time I face timed him and saw how miserable he looked. 

On Mother’s Day, we celebrated our day, and my Mom's 92nd birthday. We both went to the group home and stood on the lawn wearing our masks. They knew we were coming and helped Joel to make cards, get presents and flowers for me and my Mom. It was a thoughtful gesture by the manager of the Barber group home.  However, when we went to leave, he tried to come with us. I will go to my grave with the grief-stricken look on his face and mine. I drove home crying.

People struggling to recover from substance abuse are another population hard-hit by the quarantine. Those who are new to recovery need a strong support system. They need to hear how other people have dealt with problems, so they can relate and learn responsibility.  The stories told at AA meetings disclose in a general way what the alcoholic used to be like, what happened, and what he is like now. Alcoholics can relate and receive some hope and guidance. It is a humbling experience to take inventory, be honest, and tell someone else your story. Attending an online meeting is a pale comparison of the real thing. Addicts frequently have lost jobs, relationships, and possessions. Many do not have a computer to do an online meeting.  If they have lost their jobs due to the quarantine, they may be unable to pay court costs, family support, etc. and can be sent back to jail.

Physical health is important; economic health is important, and mental health is also important. We need to balance all these factors in our lives, especially during the quarantine.

As we move toward reopening our cities and towns, it will be especially important to consider how to help the most vulnerable members of society - people with mental and physical challenges, recovering addicts and the elderly cope with mental and physical health issues and the economic issues stemming from this pandemic.

• Patricia Petrusik retired from the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation in the Pittsburgh area. She holds a guidance certificate K-12 and an addiction certificate, C.A.A.P. She also developed an educational game, “The Slippery Slope of Substance Abuse.”