Institutions for persons with disabilities 2.4 Institutions and facilities for persons with disabilities 2.4.1 Introduction A total of 93 monitoring visits took place in institutions and facilities for persons with disabilities in 2020. The way in which the challenges posed by the pandemic were dealt with was made the focus of these monitoring visits by the commissions due to the many individual complaints received by the AOB on the topic. Persons who live in institutions and facilities and/or work in day-care centres were particularly affected by institutionally imposed COVID-19 protective measures. Not all of these persons are in risk groups due to existing chronic conditions per se, meaning that they would be expected to experience a serious case of COVID-19. That “higher safety standards” should apply to persons with disabilities and their rights to freedom have therefore to be more severely restricted than those of the general population is an expression of a paternalistic attitude that must be overcome, especially in times of crisis, according to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The fact is that for a long time information on infection and protective measures was not available in simple language as well as in barrier-free forms for those who have hearing problems, poor eyesight or both. From March 2020, rigorous curfews and visiting restrictions were imposed nationwide and many day-care centres closed as a precautionary measure, which was tolerated by the politicians. The loss of meaningful activity and occupation, the loss of all counselling, contact and leisure programmes outside of the institutions and facilities as well as the restrictions of the freedom to move resulted in massive disruptions in the routine of many persons with disabilities, which in some cases included availing of therapeutic support. Persons with disabilities particularly affected The view that social contacts as well as care and therapy programmes have to be maintained even during a serious health crisis gradually prevailed, although the vulnerability to disorders in the psychiatric area for persons with disabilities under existing environmental conditions already results in up to four times higher rates and an earlier outbreak of illness than in the general population. This poses a special risk in an emergency situation such as during a pandemic. All restrictions of freedom and measures that isolate physically and socially pose a serious risk factor for persons with disabilities. They accelerate the loss of competence in practical everyday life and can cause physical and mental disorders, in particular depression and anxiety. Even if there are no health problems, conflict with other residents and staff can escalate more easily. Furthermore, negative feelings such as sadness, irritability or anger foster problematic behaviour and can cause an intensification in stereotypes as an expression of inner distress and uncertainty. Isolation leads to mental complications 84