LAUSR

Social participation is an important aspect of social inclusion and affects health, wellbeing, equality and citizenship. Informal participation is particularly important for the inclusion and wellbeing of disabled people who are a growing demographic across Europe and the world (GBD, 2017). Despite some disability rights progress such as the UNCPRD, increasing foodbank use may reflect rising prevalence of social exclusion and inequality for some disabled people. Analysis of data from all countries that participated in the European Social Survey Rounds 1-8, using Stata16, assessed the extent of a relationship between informal social participation and disability (defined as being hampered by disability or ill-health in daily activities), and over time. Logistic regression was used including possible confounding variables e.g. country variation. In most years, the data showed a significant negative association between disability severity and social participation, after accounting for potential confounders. For example, in 2016 people who reported 'no' disability (OR 1.678, CI 1.102948 - 2.551828) were more likely to socialise and to have higher levels of participation than people disabled 'a lot' (OR 1.253, CI 1.097011 - 1.431516). The association fluctuated slightly over time but no clear trend was yet identifiable. It is likely that the relationship observed reflects real inequality in social participation among disabled people, suggesting persisting significant barriers to inclusion for disabled people, which can negatively impact on people's wellbeing and broader health systems. Analysis accounted for some personal and socioeconomic barriers but not cultural or environmental barriers. Inclusion and accessibility issues become an even more acute concern (and opportunity) for policy and practice relating to equality and wellbeing when facing climate chaos: more barriers to inclusion and increased disability prevalence. Inequality indicated by lower levels of social participation of people with disabilities remains a significant concern considering personal and social costs of social isolation. Successful social inclusion improves lives of people and communities here and now and can assist in developing resilience to climate change.