The Pandemic Cancelled It, and They Never Brought It Back: Stories of Loss, Change, and Hope

As the COVID-19 pandemic closed doors and narrowed connections, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities faced heightened isolation and vulnerability--but they also discovered new ways to be seen, heard, and connected. Through their own lenses, these photographs capture moments of strength, loss, insight, and truth. They challenge us to foster inclusion in our everyday lives and to prepare for the future so that no one is left behind in times of crisis.

The Pandemic Cancelled It, and They Never Brought It Back: Stories of Loss, Change, and Hope presents a deeply human look at how the daily lives and participation of 18 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities living in Wisconsin were impacted during the pandemic--one photograph, one story at a time.

Photovoice--a powerful research method rooted in empowerment and documentary photography--amplifies voices too often excluded from conversations that shape our world. By putting cameras and storytelling into the hands of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, this book shares their lived experiences with honesty, vulnerability, and strength. Photovoice offers a creative, accessible, and dignified way to communicate experiences that might otherwise go unseen.

Featuring original artwork by Wisconsin artists with disabilities, this book is both a research project and a work of art--a testament to resilience, perspective, and the enduring need to be heard.