Navigating COVID-19 When Your Child/Youth has a Disability

updated 5/19/2020

Contact us, for more individualized assistance.

• Social Stories and Visuals to Help Explain COVID-19
• Teaching Transition Skills During COVID-19
• Helping Your Child Understand COVID-19
• Free Educational Resources & Fun Activities
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources

General Resources

• Health Passport to assist people with disabilities when being hospitalized during the COVID-19 pandemic
• A Simple Approach to Help Your child with IEP Goals While Sheltering at Home
• Special Education – Kansas and Federal
• Wheelchair and Assistive Technology Users Precautions for COVID-19
• Virtual IEP Meeting Tips
• Managing Social Distancing: Resource for Young People to Make COVID-19 Social Distancing NOT SUCK
• 5 Tips for Parents and Their children with Special Needs to Navigate the COVID-19 Crisis
• 6 Ways to Support Autism and Special Needs Families During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Resources on this page

• Anxiety
• Asthma
• Autism
• ADD/ADHD
• Angelman Syndrome
• Cerebral Palsy
• Deaf & Hard of Hearing
• Diabetes
• Disabilities (general information)
• Down Syndrome
• Dyslexia
• Epilepsy
• Executive Functioning
• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
• Food Allergies
• Fragile X Syndrome
• Haemoglobin
• Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities
• Mental Health
• Motor Skills (Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy)
• Multiple Disabilities
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Rare Disabilities
• Rett Syndrome
• Speech & Language – Communication Needs
• Special Health Care Needs & Medically Fragile
• Visual Impairment Including Blindness

Anxiety

• Helping Kids Manage Anxiety
• How To Ease Children’s Anxiety About COVID-19
• Anxiety and Coping With the Coronavirus
• How to Talk to Your Anxious Child or Teen About Coronavirus

Asthma

• Coronavirus: What People With Asthma Need to Know
• Please Don’t Stop Your Asthma Medicines – An Editorial From Dr. Mitchell Grayson on the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Attention Deficit Disorder & Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD)

• Giving Kids With ADHD Support and Structure During the Coronavirus Crisis

Autism Spectrum Disorder

• 6 Ways to Support Autism and Special Needs Families During the Coronavirus Pandemic
• Coronavirus Responses & Resources (Autism Society)
• How to cope with disrupted family routines during COVID-19 (Autism Speaks)
• Supporting Individuals with Autism through Uncertain Times
• Autism and the Coronavirus: Resources for Families
• Why Do Kids Have Problems With Transitions?
• How Can We Help Kids With Transitions?
• What should the autism community know about the coronavirus outbreak?
• Adapting for Autism
• Coping with the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Helping Your Child with ASD Learn at Home During Covid19 (video)
• Coronavirus Resources for Families
• Adding Structure to Reduce Problem Behaviors
• Resources for Supporting Your Child with ASD During Coronavirus Pandemic (K-CART)
• Able2Learn – ABA materials, social stories, adapted curriculum, health and puberty,, toileting, visual recipes, behavior management, independent living skills and more…
• Strategies to support teens and young adults with autism spectrum disorder during COVID-19
• Information about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) for Teens and Adults with Autism
• How to Shelter in Place With a Child on the Autism Spectrum
• Free COVID-19 Toolkit for Adults with ASD
• Family Resources for Students with Complex Learning Needs

Angelman Syndrome

• Angelman syndrome and Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Cerebral Palsy

• Information About COVID-19 for Cerebral Palsy Patients

Cystic Fibrosis

• Guidance on COVID-19 for the Cystic Fibrosis Community (Cystic Fibrosis Foundation)

Deaf & Hard of Hearing

• Sign Language 101: Free online video lessons
• COVID-19 Videos in ASL
• How Do I Communicate with Doctors, Nurses, and Staff at the Hospital During COVID-19?
• Virtual Activities for Teachers and Families COVID-19
• Kids Stories In ASL
• Talking to Kids about Coronavirus: ASL & English Resources
• Virtual Activities for Teachers and Families COVID-19
• How to manage at home if you suspect that you might have COVID 19 (CDC -video (signed and captioned)
• Tips for preventing the spread of COVID 19 (CDC -video (signed and captioned)
• Math Literacy for Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired
• Coronavirus (National Association of the Deaf)
• Deaf or Hard of Hearing Communication Cards – COVID-19
• Deaf and Hard of Hearing communication cards for individuals and health care providers 
• Communication cards for Deaf and hard of hearing individuals

Diabetes

• COVID-19 & Diabetes (American Diabetes Association)
• Coronavirus and Type 1 Diabetes: What You Need to Know (JDRF)

Disabilities

• COVID-19 Information By and For People with Disabilities
• How We Can Help Children With Disabilities Understand the Coronavirus
• COVID-19 – My child is home from school or work or a day program! What do I do?
• Advice for caregivers of children with disabilities in the era of COVID-19
• Children’s Mercy Parenting videos
• Resources for Families Raising Kids Who Learn and Think Differently
• Resource Center – education, social stories, fun, sensory and more…
• Family Resources for Students with Complex Learning Needs

Down Syndrome

• Down Syndrome & COVID-19 (NDSS)
• Q&A on COVID-19 and Down Syndrome
• COVID-19 and Down Syndrome Update
• National Down Syndrome Society fact sheet
• Q&A on COVID-19 and Down Syndrome (abbreviated)
• Q&A on COVID-19 and Down Syndrome (extended)

Dyslexia

• Nessy

Epilepsy

• Concerns About COVID-19 and Epilepsy (Epilepsy Foundation)

Executive Functioning

• Executive Functioning in Online Environments

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

• Stay-at-Home-Guide for Kids with FASD

Food Allergies

• Kitchen Creativity: Managing Food Allergies During the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Fragile X Syndrome

• Information About COVID-19 for Fragile X Syndrome Patients

Haemoglobin

• The COVID-19 Pandemic and Haemoglobin Disorders
• National Hemophilia Foundation’s Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee (MASAC) Issues Statement Regarding Home Delivery and Refill Under State of Emergency Declaration

Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities

• Supports for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities – An organized list of lessons and resources that can be utilized at home during normal daily routines.
• Support for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities in Virtual Learning
• Resources for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities (TASN)
• COVID-19 Information By and For People with Disabilities
• COVID-19 Resources for People With Disabilities, Families, and Service Providers
• Distance Learning for Special Education Resources for Significant Disabilities
• Coronavirus and Developmental Disabilities: Managing Challenges
• Resources for Working with Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities During COVID 19 Pandemic (TASN)
• Able2Learn – ABA materials, social stories, adapted curriculum, health and puberty,, toileting, visual recipes, behavior management, independent living skills and more…
• Information to support people with developmental disabilities and their families during this time
• People With Intellectual Disability And Mental Health/Behavioural Problems: Guidance On Covid-19 For Community Settings
• Dealing with Covid-19: Resources for Special Educators, Therapists, & Families – social stories, activities and other resources
• Business and Entrepreneurial Skills On-line Classes for Self-advocates with Developmental Disabilities
• Wearing Face Masks: Teaching Individuals with Developmental Disabilities to Tolerate a Temporary New Normal from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital (Video)
• People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities ant the Allocation of Ventilators During the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Family Resources for Students with Complex Learning Needs

Mental Health

• COVID-19 And Social Distancing A Checklist for Parents of Kids with Severe Mental Health Conditions
• How the COVID-19 Crisis May Impact Children With Severe Mental Health Conditions & What To Do
• 10 Mental Health Signs To Watch Out For In Kids In The Age Of COVID-19
• Mental Health and COVID-19
• COVID-19 Resource and Information Guide (NAMI)
• Mental Health & COVID-19 – It’s OK to not be OK
• Coping Under Covid-19: Managing Behavior and Having a Safety Plan for Children and Youth with Behavioral Health Needs When Staying at Home

Motor Skills

• Occupational Therapy Supports
• Physical Therapy Supports

Multiple Disabilities

• Physical Activity at Home for Individuals with Multiple Disabilities

Multiple Sclerosis

• What You Need To Know About Coronavirus (Multiple Sclerosis Society)

Rare Disabilities

• NORD Launches Financial Assistance Program for Rare Disease Community Members Impacted by COVID-19

Rett Syndrome

• COVID-19 Message for the Rett Community

Speech & Language – Communication Needs

• Everyone is worried about getting sick. What can I do? – A social story booklet written for children who use AAC
• Coronavirus Vocabulary for Boardmakers (AAC)
• Supporting Communication with Patients who have COVID-19 – Free resources for patients who are intubated and cannot speak
• Free Communication Tools for Patients with COVID-19
• Speech Therapy Supports

Special Health Care Needs and Medically Fragile

• COVID-19: Information for Families of Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs
• Ten COVID-19 Preparations To Do RIGHT NOW for Medically Complex Families
• COVID-19 Resources for Children with Special Health Care Needs
• How Is COVID-19 Affecting Kids Who Are Medically Complex?
• FREE COVID-19 Support Program for Chronic Disease Patients and Their Families
• Nebs, Trachs, Vents, Suctioning, and the Spread of COVID-19
• Balancing Complex Caregiving and Educating Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Protecting Children with Special Needs or Chronic Conditions During COVID-19
• Are You Ready? Preparing for Emergencies: Tips for Families
• Helpful Tips for Parents and Caregivers of Children with Disabilities and Special Health Needs
• Children with Special health Care Needs and COVID-19 Resources
• How Is COVID-19 Affecting Kids Who Are Medically Complex?
• Should I Cancel My Child’s Nurse or Aide? A Flowchart
• Preparing for Hospitalization of a Child Who is Medically Complex during the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Masks 101: A Guide for Children Who are Medically Complex
• 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

Visual Impairment including Blindness

• Virtual Classroom Activities
• Blindabilities.com
• Virtual Instruction: O&M
• Math Games & Activities for Home for Students with Visual Impairments
• National Homework Hotline for Blind/Visually Impaired Students (NHH-BVI) 
• Virtual Activities for Teachers and Families COVID-19
• National Homework Hotline for Blind/Visually Impaired Students (NHH-BVI)
• Deafverse: Online American Sign Language (ASL) Accessible Game for Teens
• COVID-19 Information (NDC)
• Educational Media Featuring High-Quality Captioning and Description
• Reading Strategies for Students Who Are Visually Impaired
• Free Accessible Resources for Students with Visual Impairment, Including Blindness
• Family Resources for Students with Complex Learning Needs

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.