Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on IBPOC with Disabilities and their Networks: A Scoping Review

Authors

  • Ramona H. Sharma Canadian Institute for Inclusion and Citizenship, School of Social Work, University of British Columbia (Okanagan) https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5907-7035
  • Alexander Fuhrmann Okanagan School of Business, Okanagan College
  • Brettley Mason Brett Mason Counselling, Vancouver Island
  • Clayton March School of Social Work, University of British Columbia (Okanagan)
  • Rachelle Hole Canadian Institute for Inclusion and Citizenship, School of Social Work, University of British Columbia (Okanagan) https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5238-0015
  • Timothy Stainton Canadian Institute for Inclusion and Citizenship, School of Social Work, University of British Columbia (Vancouver) https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5146-2497

Keywords:

IBPOC; COVID-19; pandemic; disabilities; scoping review; intersectional disability

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted Indigenous, Black, and People of Colour (IBPOC) with disabilities, yet intersectional effects remain underexplored. As such, following guidelines from PRISMA and Arksey and O’Malley, this 2024 scoping review examined 47 publications (33 peer-reviewed articles and 14 grey literature reports) from an initial pool of 744 publications to explore the impact of COVID-19 on minority-status IBPOC populations with disabilities and their networks. Covering diverse global contexts, including the USA, Canada, the UK, Finland, the Netherlands, Nepal, among other countries, the review identified varied impacts such as occupational disruptions, barriers to healthcare and education, limited access to resources, adverse effects on families and children, and significant psychosocial challenges. Additionally, findings revealed criticalgaps in knowledge, including the predominance of US-based studies, insufficient exploration of intersectional identities beyond binary gender, and a lack of disaggregated data on race and disability. These findings underscore the urgent need for intersectional research methodologies and the development of inclusive public health policies tailored to the unique needs of IBPOC with disabilities. Addressing these gaps will enhance resilience and equity in global health responses, ensuring that marginalized populations receive the support and resources necessary during and after pandemics.

Author Biographies

Ramona H. Sharma, Canadian Institute for Inclusion and Citizenship, School of Social Work, University of British Columbia (Okanagan)

Canadian Institute for Inclusion and Citizenship, School of Social Work, University of

British Columbia (Okanagan)

Alexander Fuhrmann, Okanagan School of Business, Okanagan College

Okanagan School of Business, Okanagan College

Brettley Mason, Brett Mason Counselling, Vancouver Island

Brett Mason Counselling, Vancouver Island

Clayton March, School of Social Work, University of British Columbia (Okanagan)

School of Social Work, University of British Columbia (Okanagan)

Rachelle Hole, Canadian Institute for Inclusion and Citizenship, School of Social Work, University of British Columbia (Okanagan)

Canadian Institute for Inclusion and Citizenship, School of Social Work, University of

British Columbia (Okanagan)

Timothy Stainton, Canadian Institute for Inclusion and Citizenship, School of Social Work, University of British Columbia (Vancouver)

Canadian Institute for Inclusion and Citizenship, School of Social Work, University of

British Columbia (Vancouver)

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Published

2025-09-16

How to Cite

Sharma, R. H., Fuhrmann, A., Mason, B., March, C., Hole, R., & Stainton, T. (2025). Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on IBPOC with Disabilities and their Networks: A Scoping Review. Canadian Journal of Disability Studies, 14(2), 198–246. Retrieved from https://cjds.uwaterloo.ca/index.php/cjds/article/view/1252

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 2 (2025)

Section

Articles

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