There are an increasing number of resources for individuals with autism and other disabilities in response to the coronavirus pandemic. We are consolidating them here. In addition, if you’re looking for things to do or learn at home, we’ve put together some ideas below!
COVID-19 TIPS & RESOURCES:
Autism Society of America’s COVID-19 Resources & Tips here.
Autism Society of Minnesota’s guide for self-quarantine & social distancing for children and autistic adults can be found here.
Coronavirus social story from The Autism Educator here.
Special Education Rights & coronavirus information from Disability Rights Texas here.
U.S. Department of Education Releases Webinar, Fact Sheet for Protecting Students’ Civil Rights During COVID-19 Response: Video(7 minutes) or Fact Sheet
FOOD, HEALTH & HOUSING ASSISTANCE:
TEXAS 211: Food, health, housing & more. https://www.211texas.org/ Call 2-1-1, or (877) 541-7905
FOOD PANTRIES: https://www.foodpantries.org/st/texas
THINGS TO LEARN OR DO AT HOME:
Whether you’re at home with autistic children, teens, or adults and nowhere to go, we have some ideas. Consider using this extra time to master or start working on new skills. Without the rush or stress to get to places, there’s plenty of time to work on getting dressed, putting on shoes, and other life skills around the house such as laundry, cleaning, and basic cooking skills. Try some handwriting or keyboarding practice, or for teens who only print, perhaps learn to create a signature in cursive. Don’t forget about free online resources such as Learning Ally (free for those with disabilities), Khan Academy, and check your school online portal if you have one, as they usually have many free online learning tools.
To find visuals for supporting teaching of some life skills, check Pinterest. Using “autism” in your search will usually bring up some great visuals and social stories. (Suggested searches: “How to get dressed autism,” “How to make a sandwich autism”). Start with the skills the individual already has, and add something new. Model and explain it, have them practice with you, and have a visual reminder to support the new skill.
Here are examples of visual supports from Pinterest:
We know this is a hard time for everyone. We’ll continue adding to this list and providing updates and support!