The role of pediatric psychologists in mitigating disability-specific barriers among youth during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: The objective of this article is to provide information about the ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic may affect the physical and psychosocial well-being of youth with disabilities, including assessment and intervention considerations for pediatric psychologists and other mental health professionals. Methods: This article reviews the emerging literature on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and adolescents and connects it to the unique needs of youth with disabilities and their families. Results: The COVID-19 pandemic magnifies the inequalities and barriers faced by youth with disabilities and creates new difficulties in accessing health, education, and other intervention services. In particular, this article discusses how the pandemic has affected (a) access to special education; (b) access to health care and personal care; and (c) mental health, including exposures to traumatic events. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to greatly affect the biopsychosocial well-being of youth with disabilities. Pediatric psychologists can play an active role in mitigating these effects at both the individual and system levels. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved) <strong xmlns:lang="en">Implications for Impact Statement—This article addresses the unique and increased barriers faced by youth with disabilities and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., access to education and health care, trauma and mental health concerns) and how pediatric psychologists can help them during these difficult times with effective, culturally responsive, and evidence-based strategies.