With all the talk of the COL crisis, and also from experience of past economic crises (e.g, the GFC in the late 2000s-very early 2010s, and the early 90s recession), where reports of disability hate crimes and general mistreatment/ 'scapegoating' of persons with LDs increased significantly, I fear the same things happening once again, as it seems that we're often easy pickings for such scapegoating and for people to vent their anger and frustrations on. It also increased significantly soon after the Brexit vote won in 2016.
I do understand there are some very worried (and even desperate) people right now, and many things within the current climate can drive even the most otherwise down-to-earth individuals to distraction and become seemingly irrational (including turning to hard-Right and other 'extremist' political views and prejudices), but it's still no excuse for perpetual nastiness towards vulnerable individuals, who often don't have a voice, and also feel the pinch.
I was never a 'hate crime' victim per se during the last GFC, but back in the early 90s I was sometimes bullied (by other kids) and on the receiving end of adults (e.g, teachers, respite staff, and even my own parents) getting unduly arsy towards me, but that may have also been due to general prevailing attitudes towards people with ASD and chronic lack of understanding back then rather than specifically owing to the discontent over the financial climate of the time, though both were probably in the mix.
Please don't judge me as selfish and insensitive, plus I know my fears are only hypothetical scenarios ATM, but like I already said earlier in this post, persons with disabilities and vulnerable individuals in general often tend to be easy pickings when the going gets tough.
Twas ever thus it seems.