Socially disabled: the fight disabled people face against loneliness and stress

Abstract

In 2018, the United Kingdom appointed its first Minister for Loneliness. This article discusses some of the barriers which may contribute to why disabled people were found to be one of the largest groups affected by loneliness. Utilizing ethnographic examples supported by facts, the article demonstrates how even when seeking to fight loneliness, and to reduce the stressors of everyday life, disabled people are often at a disadvantage, or excluded. The article raises questions concerning self-social exclusion and discusses recommended avenues for further research.