Pandemic has had some positive effects, too

Many people across the country have been going through hard times for almost a year now due to the pandemic, and many lives have been lost because of COVID-19. But, for myself and others with physical disabilities, there have also been a few positive things that have resulted from it.

One of these things is the increase in opportunities to work from home. Many people with disabilities are unable to work simply because they cannot easily get from home to the workplace, and before the pandemic, many employers were not willing to allow employees to work from home.

But since the pandemic started, many employers have been forced to allow their employees to work from home, and therefore many more employment opportunities have opened up for people who are unable to leave their home.

Another positive effect of the pandemic is the increase in use of Zoom and other video conference software.

Before, many people with disabilities were unable to join various groups because they did not have easy access to meetings. But the increase in use of Zoom and other software has made these meetings more accessible

After the pandemic is over, I hope people remember the positive impacts that COVID-19 has had on our country, despite the many deaths and hardships it has also caused, and I hope these positive impacts of the pandemic are long-lasting. I am a member of the Naperville Accessible Community Task Force, and this group also supports the idea of continued opportunities to work from home.

There can be many benefits to a diverse workforce and a diverse social group, so I hope many employers and group leaders continue to use these types of software in the future to better accommodate those with disabilities and therefore increase diversity.

Christopher Murphy

Naperville