Submissions talked about how important home-based care was in the day to day lives of many disabled people and their whānau. When carers were away, for example, due to having tested positive for the virus, not all disabled people and their whānau were able to find people to cover their usual carer, or they were not able to find carers with suitable expertise, for example, where replacement carers were not able to communicate with Deaf people using basic NZSL. This caused added worry and stress: “DHB disability services: we had many reports of poor quality of services, lack of any communications from providers prior to changes in services, untrained support workers unable to carry out services safely, and long delays in services that impacted on disabled people being able to get out of bed when need to access the bathroom, get a meal or get ready on time to attend studies or work.” (Māori submission) Access to personal protective equipment (PPE) for support workers and carers was raised as an issue by numerous submissions. A number reported that some disabled people and their whānau were unable to access PPE for support workers until they or their support worker tested positive for COVID-19. Even after testing positive, there appeared to be no guarantee that PPE would be supplied to ensure disability supports could continue safely for disabled people: “The biggest challenge for our members has been delivering full PPE to COVID-19 positive disabled people to continue their support.” (Submission) In amongst frustrations about a lack of consistent and reliable disability support services, submissions highlighted the need to value carers more highly, including through remunerating the workforce on a par with Australia (where submissions stated carers are said to be paid almost $20 per hour more for similar jobs). Workforce shortages have also had impacts on other types of disability support services. One submission talked specifically about residential support being moved between facilities with little notice, and inadequate consultation: “We understand there has been statements such as ‘people will need to sleep on the floor’.” (Submission) Concerns were raised about the reduction or closure of community-based support services and programmes such as day services or Special Olympics as a result of Omicron. The reduction in these services is connected, by many submissions, to increasing feelings of isolation for disabled people: “Regular routines (all community contact) has been shut down because of Omicron.” (Māori submission) 32 Inquiry into the Support of Disabled People and Whānau During Omicron