In the wake of the COVID 19 Pandemic, a nation-wide ‘lockdown’ was imposed by the Government of India, on the 25th of March 2020. Initially declared for a period of 21 days, the lockdown continued to be extended in spells thereafter, with rules and exceptions regarding public movement, opening up of businesses and trades, testing and treatment protocols for COVID 19, among others, changing almost daily. This climate of insecurity, instability and unpredictability severely impacted persons with disabilities and their care-givers. The ‘second wave’ of the Pandemic in the summer of 2021, driven by the Delta variant, saw an unprecedented collapse of health care systems and starkly brought home the precarity of the body and the structures within which it is located. This paper reflects upon the experience of living through the pandemic with a young adult with Autism. It examines the impact of the pandemic induced lockdown on individuals who experience behavioural and social challenges on account of their neurological difference and their caregivers. It focuses upon the disruptions of daily routines, the suspension of activities that brought independence and autonomy; the difficulties in processing contradictory and overwhelming amounts of information; and, most significantly, the denial of community participation and social engagement on account of ‘social distancing’. It draws attention to the stress and strain experienced by caregivers who must help their child negotiate these challenges and changes while themselves coping with the fear of illness, withdrawal of support systems and new modes of working. The gendered dimensions of caregiving and its impact on psycho-social well-being raise important questions about social support systems which are mindful of the marginalized and vulnerable sections of society.
