A cacophony of protocol: Disability services in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic

Disability services in Ireland have engaged in many transformative periods throughout the past 150 years, particularly in how services and supports are shaped, designed and provided to people who use these services. The global pandemic has dramatically changed how these services are currently run and responding to Covid-19 is now at the forefront of service design and delivery. During this pandemic disability services have had to disseminate a cacophony of protocol in regard to the numerous guidance documents, recommendations and requirements which have been issued by different public health and disability institutions. Underpinned by how this information is disseminated are the concepts of legal domination, responsibilisation and accountability which are explored in the context of how services respond to the global pandemic and also how the process of rationalisation is fundamental in shaping the nature of these services for the future.