During these uncertain times brought about by COVID-19, Families Together, Inc. will keep safety and health a priority for our staff and community. We will continue to provide training, information, and support to those we serve. Our centers remain open; however, no in-person activities will be conducted until further notice. Contact our center near you for assistance.
- Covid-19 resources in En Espanol
- Free Educational Resources & Fun Activities
- Navigating COVID-19 When Your Child has a Disability
- Teaching Transition Skills During COVID-19
- Helping Your Child/Youth Wear Face Masks During COVID-19
Updates
- The U.S. Department of Education COVID-19 Handbook Volume 1: Strategies for Safely Reopening Elementary and Secondary Schools (2/23/2021)
- Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) COVID-19 Updates – scroll down to find KSDE’s most recent guidance. School Year 2020-21 KSDE Guidance on Compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the Kansas Special Education for Exceptional Children Act for Re-Opening Schools during the COVID-19 Pandemic (updated August 25, 2020)
- Kansas COVID-19 Updates (KDHE)
- Kansas Resource Guide for Caregivers: Caring for your family during the COVID-19 pandemic
Resources on this page
- Benefits
- Education – Kansas and Federal
- Health – Kansas and Federal
- Helping Your Child Understand COVID-19
- Social Stories and Visuals to Help Explain COVID-19
- Self-Care
- Navigating COVID-19 When Your Child has a Disability
- Military Families
Education
Kansas
- Navigating Change: Kansas’ Guide to Learning and School Safety Operations (7/15/2020)
- Supporting All Learners: Resources for Families and Caregivers of Children with Special Needs (KSDE TASN)
- Continuous Learning for our Students with the Most Significant Cognitive Disabilities (KSDE)
- Resources for Working with Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities During COVID 19 Pandemic (KSDE)
- Press Release: Task Force releases guidance document on Continuous Learning (3/19/2020)
- Continuous Learning Task Force Guidance
- Continuous Learning Educator Resources
- Kansas Family Guide to Continuous Learning
- Commissioner of Education issues guidance to school districts regarding COVID-19
- Kansas school buildings to close for remainder of school year because of COVID-19
National
- Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) – What’s New
- IDEA Part C (Birth-3) Evaluation and Assessment Timelines in the COVID-19 Environment (July 6, 2020)
- IDEA Part B (age 3-21) Procedural Safeguards in the COVID-19 environment (June 30, 2020)
- IDEA Part C Procedural Safeguards in the COVID-19 environment (June 30, 2020)
- IDEA Part B (age 3-21) Use of Funds in COVID-19 Environment Q&A Documents (June 26, 2020)
- IDEA Part C (Birth-3) Use of Funds in COVID-19 Environment Q&A Documents (June 26, 2020)
- Flexibility in Implementation of IDEA Part B Fiscal Requirements (June 26, 2020)
- Questions and Answers document in response to inquiries concerning the administration of the State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Service (The Rehabilitation Services Administration – OSERS) (5/14/2020)
- Schools During the COVID-19 Pandemic (CDC)
- Secretary DeVos Reiterates Learning Must Continue for All Students, Declines to Seek Congressional Waivers to FAPE, LRE Requirements of IDEA (4/27/2020)
- Supplemental Fact Sheet Addressing the Risk of COVID-19 in Preschool, Elementary and Secondary Schools While Serving Children with Disabilities (Office of Civil Rights, OCR) 2/21/2020
- The provision of FAPE, free appropriate public education, may include, as appropriate, special education and related services provided through distance instruction.
- Many disability-related modifications & services may be effectively provided online.
- Although federal law requires distance instruction to be accessible to students with disabilities, it does not mandate specific methodologies.
- The department encourages parents, educators, and administrators to collaborate creatively to continue to meet the needs of students with disabilities.
- Fact Sheet: Addressing the Risk of COVID-19 in Schools While Protecting the Civil Rights of Students (OCR)
- OCR Short Webinar on Online Education and Website Accessibility
- Questions and Answers on Providing Services to Children with Disabilities During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Outbreak – March 2020 (Office of Special Education Programs, OSEP)
- Is an LEA required to continue to provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to students with disabilities during a school closure caused by a COVID-19 outbreak?
- What services must an LEA provide if a public school for children with disabilities is selectively closed due to the possibility of severe complications from a COVID-19 outbreak?
- May an IEP Team consider a distance learning plan in a child’s IEP as a contingency plan in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak that requires the school’s closure?
- What activities other than special education and related services may and may not be provided with IDEA Part B funds both prior to and during a COVID-19 outbreak?
- Graphics explaining Questions and Answers on Providing Services to Children with Disabilities During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Outbreak
- COVID-19 (“Coronavirus”) Information and Resources for Schools and School Personnel (U.S. Department of Education)
- Multilingual Resources on COVID-19 (CPIR)
- FERPA and Virtual Learning (U.S. Department of Education Student Privacy Student Privacy Policy Office)
- FERPA and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (U.S. Department of Education Student Privacy Student Privacy Policy Office)
- COVID-19 and Students with Disabilities
Health
Kansas
- Governor Kelly outlines new Executive Orders to improve public safety regarding COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 Updates (KDHE)
- COVID-19 Resource Center (KDHE)
- COVID-19 Guidance and Resource Center (KDADS)
- United Health Care Expanded access to care, support and resources
- Sunflower Health Plan What You Need to Know about COVID-19
- COVID-19 Resource Guide (Disability Rights Center of Kansas)
Benefits
Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) guidance for preventing the spread of COVID-19 for participants in the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waiver programs. COVID-19 Guidance and Resource Center
- COVID-19 HCBS Person-Centered Planning
- COVID-19 HCBS Intellectual Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Waiver (updated 4/15/2020)
- COVID-19 HCBS Brain-Injury Waiver
- COVID-19 HCBS Physical Disability (PD) Waiver
- COVID-19 HCBS Level of Care Assessments
- COVID-19 HCBS Technology Assisted (TA) Waiver
- COVID 19-HCBS SED Waiver Measures (updated 4/15/2020)
- COVID-19 HCBS Background Check Measures
- COVID-19 HCBS COVID-19 All Waiver Measures (updated 4/15/2020)
Benefits & Other
- COVID-19 and Social Insurance and Benefit Programs
- Supplemental Security Income Recipients Will Receive Automatic COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments
National
- COVID-19 (Coronavirus): What You Need to Know (Children’s Mercy Hosptial)
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) (CDC)
- How to Protect Yourself (CDC)
- Caring for someone at home (CDC)
- Coronavirus Information & Resources (Family Voices)
- Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak (World Health Organization)
- Your COVID-19 Questions Answered (Johns Hopkins University & Medicine)
- Coverage and Benefits Related to COVID-19 Medicaid and CHIP (CMS)
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response (FEMA)
- OCR Issues Bulletin on Civil Rights Laws and HIPAA Flexibilities That Apply During the COVID-19 Emergency
- Health Passport to assist people served unable to enter hospitals with staff, family
Family Voices Resource eBlast: COVID-19 Series – This special Resource eBlast series focuses on a variety of topics aimed to support families of children and youth with special health care needs in the context of COVID-19.
- Part 1: Put On Your Own Oxygen Mask First
- Part 2: Telehealth Tips
- Part 3: Parenting and Ideas for Kiddos
- Part 4: Expressing, Coping, and Reframing
- Cloth Face Coverings for Children During COVID-19
- Managing Social Distancing: Resource for Young People to Make COVID-19 Social Distancing NOT SUCK
- How to Talk to Kids and Teens About the Coronavirus
- Talking to Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus): A Parent Resource (NASP)
- Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus: Kids Worry More When They are Kept in the Dark (NASP)
- COVID-19 Information By and For People with Disabilities
- Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) and Children (CDC)
- Supporting Kids During the COVID-19 Crisis: Tips for nurturing and protecting children at home (Child Mind)
- Generations United’s COVID-19 Fact Sheet for Grand families and Multigenerational Families
- Talking with children about Coronavirus Disease 2019: Messages for parents, school staff, and others working with children (CDC)
- Talking to Your Child about COVID-19 Based on Their Age (Parents Lead)
- Tips for Families: Coronavirus (Zero to Three Early Learning)
- Kids and COVID-19: What Parents Should Know (Yale School of Medicine)
- How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus (PBS)
- Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope With the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
- Talking to Children About COVID-19
- 5 Ways to Help Children with Coronavirus Anxiety
- Are You Ready? Preparing for Emergencies: Tips for Families
- Supporting Teenagers and Young Adults During the Coronavirus Crisis
- Tips for Families: Coronavirus from Zero To Three
- Discussing Coronavirus with Your Children (Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress)
- Finding the Right Words to Talk with Children and Teens about Coronavirus (Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress)
- Resources for Supporting Children’s Emotional Well-being during the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Helping Children Cope With Changes Resulting From COVID-19
- How to Explain Coronavirus to a Child with Anxiety
Social Stories and Visuals to Help Explain COVID-19
- Wearing Masks
- We Wear Masks – A Social Story about the coronavirus (video)
- Seeing Other People Wearing Masks
- Why do I need to wear a mask (social story for adults)
- I can wear a mask
- Masks and Gloves
- Wearing a Mask
- “We Wear Masks” – Coronavirus Social Story about Wearing a Mask
- Wearing a Face Mask – Adult Version (Word)
- Wearing a Face Mask – Child Version (Word)
- I Can Stay Healthy By Wearing a Face Mask
- A Parent’s Guide: Helping Your Child Feel Good About Wearing and Seeing Others Wear Face Masks
- A Parent’s Guide: Helping Your Child Wear a Face Mask
- Social Distancing
- Video Modeling: An Approach for Distance Learning for Students with Autism
- How to stay safe: Physical Distancing
- My Social Distancing Story
- My Social Distancing Story – Easterseals
- Social Distancing Poster
- What is social distancing? (video)
- How ‘Social Distancing’ Can Slow Coronavirus (video)
- Too Close For Comfort! A social story about personal space
- Why are We Social Distancing (video)
- Grover and Social Distancing (video)
- How to explain social distancing to kids (video)
- Flatten the Curve – explaining COVID-19 to teens and adults (video)
- Social Distancing: COVID-19 – Social Story
- What is Social Distancing Social Story (Word)
- Managing Social Distancing: Resource for Young People to Make COVID-19 Social Distancing NOT SUCK
- Social Distancing: A Story for Visual Learners
- COVID-19 Safety Tips from Self-Advocates
- What In the World is Going On (video)
- Social Story Expectations for Quarantine for adults in residential placements
- What is Coronavirus?
- How to stay safe: Handwashing
- Stay in, Stay well
- If you get sick
- Just for kids: A comic exploring the new coronavirus
- Social Story: My Story About Pandemics and the Coronavirus – Carol Gray
- COVID 19: I Can Help! – Carol Gray
- Coronavirus Social Story for Children
- Information in Plain Language – By people with Disabilities for People with Disabilities
- COVIBOOK – explains COVID-19 for kids under 7
- Let’s Talk About The Coronavirus (COVID-19) Whiteboard Social Narrative Video
- My Coronavirus Story
- Coronavirus Tips for Staying Healthy for People with Developmental Disabilities
- Hello I’m Coronavirus
- Coronavirus Video from BrainPop
- COVID-19 – Parenting Tips for Parents and Caregivers in Uncertain Times
- School Closure Toolkit Easterseals
- Explaining to children why schools and other community places are closed
- Download FREE coloring and activity books on COVID-19 for kids
- My Hero is You, Storybook for Children on COVID-19
- Social Narrative to Support Families During the COVID-19 Crisis (OCALI)
- Feeling Anxious and Worried
- I Miss My School Friends
- Not Being Able to See My Family
- Not Playing Outside with My Friends
- Saying Hi to Someone Without Touching Them
- School Work at Home
- Time to Turn it Off
- Washing My Hands
- What I Can Do While I’m at Home – Middle and High School
- What I can Do While I’m at Home – Elementary School
- What to Do When I Cough or Sneeze
- Hand Washing: Step-by-Step Social Story
- Feeling Sick: Coronavirus Symptoms Social Story
- “Germs” and Hand Washing: A Visual Demonstration for Students with Special Needs!
- Video messages about COVID-19 in ASL from The National Association of the Deaf
- Center on Human Development University of Oregon
- Virus Defense At Home – This is a guide for individual and family households. Use these simple cleaning tips to reduce the spread of germs at home. Each page can be printed and posted in a common area or room to remind family members to keep surfaces extra clean at this time. (Center on Human Development University of Oregon)
- Talking to Your Child About Change – This story is to read with children and youth with intellectual or developmental disabilities who may be struggling to understand why their schedule is now different, in particular why they are no longer in school.
- Talking About Change: A story about coronavirus – This story can be used to support individuals with disabilities who live in their family homes, foster homes or group homes to understand the current situation due to the new Coronavirus. Questions are provided to give readers opportunities to plan, prepare, and ask questions.
- If I Become Sick with Coronavirus
- Coronavirus; sick at home social story
- Social stories and resources for those working with individuals who have developmental disabilities
- COVID-19: What in the World is Going On? (English | Español | Vietnamese| Somali) A plain talk guide to help make sense of these confusing times. Includes the link to an audio version on YouTube.
- Information about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) for Teens and Adults with Autism
- How to Cope When Your Hero is an Essential Worker (coloring book)
- My Day Program Closed Social Story (PowerPoint)
- What Nathan and His Friends Can Do
Self-Care
- Coping With Stress During Infectious Disease Outbreaks (SAMHSA)
- Protecting Your Mental Health During the Coronavirus Outbreak (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention)
- Mental Health and COVID-19 – Information and Resources (Mental Health America)
- Tips For Social Distancing, Quarantine, And Isolation During An Infectious Disease Outbreak (SAMHSA)
- NAMI HelpLine Coronavirus Information and Resources Guide
- 19 Ways to Support Your Mental Health During COVID-19
- Care for Your Coronavirus Anxiety
Disabilities
Navigating COVID-19 When Your Child has a Disability
Military Families
- TRICARE FAQs: Protecting Your Child Against COVID-19
- What Military Families Need to Know About Covid-19
- Coronavirus Information for Our Military Community
- Support for Financial Stresses Caused by COVID-19
- Request Emergency Financial Assistance if Impacted by COVID-19
- Addressing Emotional Responses to Threat of Coronavirus (Tri-Care)
- Defense Health Agency Officials Answer Questions on COVID-19 (US Department Of Defense)
- TRICARE Covers Certain Telemedicine Services in the U.S.
- Get Answers to Questions About TRICARE and COVID-19
- Talking to children about COVID-19 helps them feel safe and secure
- Be Informed: COVID-19 Myth vs. Fact
- Coronavirus Updates for Our Military Community
Please note that Families Together, Inc. isn’t endorsing these agencies, merely collecting information in the interest of families who are seeking ideas and resources during this unprecedented time.
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