The Impact of Power Outages on the Livesof People with Disabilities and Their Families

How do power outages affect the daily lives of people with disabilities and their families? Do they have access to basic necessities-heating, water, medical care, and communication? What safety and health risks do they face during blackouts, and how are they forced to adapt to these conditions?

“The League of the Strong” public association conducted a survey on the impact of power outages on the lives of people with disabilities and their families. A total of 462 respondents participated in the survey, including people with disabilities, their relatives, and caregivers.

The study covers the experiences of various age groups and internally displaced persons, and also specifically takes into account the responses of people who combine their own experiences of disability with caring for family members.

The findings will be useful for government and local authorities, humanitarian organizations, social services, as well as for anyone working to ensure accessibility, access to basic services, and support for people with disabilities amid energy instability.

The results of the study showed that:

  • Power outages are prolonged and systematic: a significant proportion of respondents experience outages lasting more than 6–8 hours, while some face outages lasting up to 10–24 hours. At the same time, only half of those surveyed have predictable outage schedules, while more than a third face random outages, making it impossible to plan their daily lives.
  • Electricity supply is critical to basic living conditions: for 57.7% of respondents, heating depends on electricity and stops working during power outages. This poses a direct threat to safety, as problems with heating (69.7%), lighting (51.3%), traffic lights (42.6%), and elevators (38.5%) are among the most dangerous consequences of blackouts.
  • Outages significantly disrupt daily life: most respondents report difficulties accessing the internet and communication services (81.8%), an inability to plan their day (79.2%), disruptions to work or study (61.7%), as well as problems with cooking (58.7%) and getting around (45%). In addition, some respondents experience disruptions to their medication regimens and the operation of vital equipment.
  • Mental and physical well-being is being severely affected: 92.4% of respondents reported negative effects from the power outages, including increased anxiety and stress (84.4%), feelings of helplessness (69.5%), and a decline in physical well-being (52.5%). Some of those surveyed are developing or experiencing a worsening of chronic conditions.
  • At the same time, the level of support from the government and local communities remains low: more than half of those surveyed feel they are receiving no assistance at all, and another third are unaware of the support options available to them.

The study’s findings revealed that power outages have a systemic and profound impact on the lives of people with disabilities and their families. They limit access to basic necessities-heating, water, communication, and medical care-create additional safety risks, and significantly complicate daily life. At the same time, outages negatively affect people’s mental and physical well-being, causing stress, anxiety, and exacerbating chronic conditions.

Despite efforts to adapt, a significant number of people lack the resources needed to safely weather prolonged power outages. There remains a high need for alternative power sources, accessible information, and social and medical support. At the same time, the level of support from the government and communities is insufficient or unknown to most respondents, which further exacerbates the vulnerability of this group.

The findings underscore the need for systematic solutions aimed at ensuring uninterrupted access to basic services, improving infrastructure accessibility, and strengthening support for people with disabilities in the face of energy instability.

Read the full text of the study