Stuck Inside: Impact of COVID-19 Countermeasures on Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Role of Recreation Therapy Interventions—Call to Action

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is having an immense worldwide impact on everyday activities, including social contact, especially for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Individuals with IDD are challenged because of their preexisting vulnerability to issues associated with loneliness that may increase with COVID-19 countermeasures. The purpose of this paper is to (1) briefly review COVID-19 effects on loneliness of individuals with IDD, (2) identify promising in-person and telehealth RT interventions, and (3) suggest the need for recreational therapy evidence-based research and discussion to address COVID-19 consequences experienced by individuals with IDD.