Welcome! We appreciate you taking the time to complete our survey. The results of this survey will help us at McMaster University to better understand how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the daily lives and experiences of Canadians with disabilities. In turn, we hope this evidence can be used to address gaps/inequalities in care for future pandemics. Please note that our target audience for this survey is those living with disability in Canada, or those who understand living with disability in Canada, such as caregivers or close family/friends.
Living with a disability in the COVID-19 pandemic - a story completion study
This study is conducted by Drs. Tara Packham, Evelyne Durocher, Matthew Freeman, Jocelyn Harris and Patty Solomon from the School of Rehabilitation Sciences at McMaster University in Hamilton, ON. The purpose of the survey is to gather stories of Canadians living with disabilities and understand their views and experiences of the impact of a pandemic. This information can guide the expansion of services and learning supports to focus on gaps in care, and plan for future events. When using the term persons with disabilities we do not intend to impose any criteria for disability, but invite anyone who self-identifies as disabled to participate.
This online study has three parts. Part one will ask you to complete some general questions about you, like your age and postal code. These questions will not include any information that can directly identify you, to keep your involvement anonymous. In part two, we will give you the beginning of a story, and ask you to write the ending. We'd like you to write at least 100 words, which is usually about 8-10 sentences, but you can write as much as you like. In part three, you will have the option of doing two questionnaires relating to health and well-being. While doing this online survey, you will have the chance to come back to it more than once before you submit it. This means you can take your time to think, or take a rest if you need it.
To learn more about this study, please read the letter of information at the link below. This will include any possible risks or harms, how we will maintain private and anonymous participation, process to withdraw from the study, how to receive information about the survey's results and more.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/12pgz3sjVYJqSMLKDhPUEa7T6ROZQTQ-T/view?usp=sharing
This study has been reviewed by the Hamilton Research Ethics Board (HiREB) under Project #11415. The HIREB is responsible for making sure that participants understand the risks involved and know that they are free to decide if participating is right for them. If you have any questions about your rights as a participant, please call the Office of the Chair of HIREB at 1.905.521.2100 x 42013. If you have any questions about survey content, please contact Dr. Tara Packham at packhamt@mcmaster.ca. This email will be available again at the end of the survey. You can also download a copy of this page for your records at this link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oN7WHyS4Pk7GGG-WhXiJwqLe7W8WbqAa/view?usp=sharing
By clicking the 'next' button below, you will be providing your consent to participate and will be taken to the survey questions and story stem. If you do not wish to continue to the study, please exit the web page now.
There are 17 questions in this survey.
