53 per cent of disabled people have admitted to feeling lonely, according to research conducted by the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness.
Research by the national disability charity Sense also found that a quarter of Brits have avoided conversations with disabled people.
The charity surveyed more than 2,000 participants, 52 per cent of which believed they had much in common with people with disabilities.
“Fear of causing offence”, “feeling uncomfortable” and “not knowing what to talk about” were listed as the most frequent reasons for avoiding conversations.
Those under 24 were twice as likely than anyone to avoid having a conversation with a disabled person, and also the least likely to have encountered someone with a disability.
The Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness revealed that 53 per cent of disabled people have felt lonely, whilst a quarter admitted to being lonely on a typical day.
Over 75 per cent of young disabled young people said they suffered from loneliness.
Labour MP Rachel Reeves, co-chair of the Jo Cox Commission, commented on the findings:
“Many of the barriers to building social connections for disabled people are practical ones, such as the need for accessible transport and buildings, financial support and appropriate social care; but public attitudes also play a part in the risk of loneliness for people with disability.
“Increasing awareness of different conditions and battling misconceptions about disability are both important steps to help reduce loneliness amongst disabled people.”
Fellow co-chair, Seema Kennedy MP said that Jo Cox believed that ‘we have far more in common than that which divides us’.
“To help fight loneliness, it is vital that we all focus on our similarities rather than our differences.”
We can all create connections, find common interests and form friendships by taking the time to start a conversation”
