People with autism are uniquely vulnerable to the disruptions caused by COVID-19. With schools closed and access to services limited, it may be difficult to re-establish routines and maintain structure within the home setting. Here are some resources to help guide you and your family during these challenging times.

For information on OAR during the COVID-19 pandemic, please read this Message from OAR’s Executive Director.

 

General Resources
Website                                       Organization Level
https://www.who.int/ World Health Organization Global
http://www.coronavirus.gov US Government Federal
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Federal
http://www.USA.gov/coronavirus US Government Federal
https://acl.gov/COVID-19 Administration for Community Living Federal
https://www.usa.gov/state-health US State Websites State

 

Featured: ASD Toolkits
Title Type Source Release Date
Supporting Individuals with Autism through Uncertain Times Comprehensive Toolkit that includes social stories, visual schedules, and resources School of Education and Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, UNC-Chapel Hill March 19, 2020
Coping during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Yale’s Guide for Families with Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Comprehensive guidebook that includes a collection of helpful, targeted resources for parents Yale Child Study Center March 31, 2020

 

Virtual Webinar Events
Title Topics Source Release Date
COVID-19 Virtual Outreach series Caregiver tips, social narratives, mindfulness, sensory activities, wearing masks, behavior management basics, collaborating with school team Cincinnati Children’s Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Dept April 4, 2020 – Ongoing
COVID-19 and Autism Sensory issues, anxiety, compliance, self-care, visuals Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai  
ARI’s Coping with the COVID-19 Pandemic Talking to kids about disrupted plans; virtual interactions; emotional support; anxiety; exercise; preparing for Back to School Autism Research Institute Ongoing
TEAACH Tips Visuals; social narratives; building and maintaining routines; resources UNC TEAACH Program April 23, 2020

 

Health
Title Type Source Release Date
Helping Kids With Autism Get Used to Wearing Face Masks Article Children’s National August 7, 2020
Safety Teaching Protocol Informational Guide Behavioral Directions, LLC June 2020
Video Demo: Handwashing Video Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) October 17, 2016
Handwashing: Keeping Your Family Healthy Fact Sheet Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) June 22, 2020
Coronavirus Social Story (Level I) Social Story Easter Seals Illinois Autism Partnership March 2020
Coronavirus Social Story (Level II) Social Story Carol Gray March 2020
Debbie Fights Coronavirus! Social Story Pathfinders for Autism and True Life Comics March 30, 2020
What Is The Coronavirus? Social Story The Autism Educator March 11, 2020

 

Wellness
Six Tips for Maintaining a Schedule and Normalcy During the COVID-19 Pandemic Blog post OAR July 15, 2020
How Children With Autism Are Affected by COVID-19 Blog post OAR June 17, 2020
Navigating Telehealth Blog post OAR May 20, 2020
Working from home: Developing a new routine Blog post Autism Speaks March 25, 2020
Talking to Kids about Coronavirus: ASL & English Resources Resource List American Society for Deaf Children March 24, 2020
Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus Article Child Mind Institute  
Talking to Children About COVID-19 Article National Association of School Psychologists  
Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope with COVID-19 Factsheet The National Child Traumatic Stress Network Updated March 1, 2020
APA’s Parenting and Caregiving Resources Hub Resource Hub American Psychological Association Ongoing

 

Education
Title Type Source Release Date
Back to School Guide In the Era of COVID-19 Comprehensive Guidebook American Occupational Therapy Association Summer 2020
Resources that Support Distance Learning: Digital Resources by Content Area Resources List California Dept of Education March 17, 2020
Parents: Supporting Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic Interactive Module The IRIS Center, Peabody College, Vanderbilt University June 2020
Online Education and Autism Blog post OAR April 14, 2020
Information and Resources for Schools and Personnel Resources List U.S. Dept of Education March 2 – Ongoing
–          Supplemental Fact Sheet Addressing the Risk of COVID-19 in Preschool, Elementary and Secondary Schools While Serving Children with Disabilities Fact Sheet U.S. Dept of Education March 21, 2020
–          Q&A on Providing Services to Children with Disabilities During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Outbreak Webpage U.S. Dept of Education March 12, 2020
–          Schools and Childcare Programs: Plan, Prepare, and Respond Webpage U.S. Dept of Education July 24, 2020
–          COVID-19 (“Coronavirus”) Information and Resources for Schools and School Personnel Webpage U.S. Dept of Education Ongoing

 

Activities at Home
Title Type Source Release Date
Learn to Cook: Accessible Chef Visual Recipes, Resources, and Recipe Creator Visual Resources Accessible Chef Ongoing
Helping autistic kids cope with the chaos and uncertainty of coronavirus Perspective Article Washington Post March 17, 2020
Sensory Scavenger Hunt Printable Resource Foundations for Divergent Minds March 17, 2020
Introduction Kids Yoga Visual Resources Cosmic Kids Yoga Ongoing
Learn to Draw Cartoons For Kids Visual Resources Cartooning Club: How to Draw Ongoing

 

Financial Support
Title Type Source Release Date
The Disabled Person’s Guide to Stimulus Checks Blog How to Get On Blog Ongoing
Financial Assistance After a Disaster Webpage USA.gov  
Protect yourself financially from the impact of the coronavirus Blog post Consumer Financial Protection Bureau March 16, 2020
Tips for Financial Caregivers During the Coronavirus Pandemic Blog post Consumer Financial Protection Bureau March 20, 2020
What to Know About Coronavirus and Your Finances Blog post Mint.com March 20, 2020

 

Research
Title Type Organization
Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) – Statistics and Research Webpage Our World in Data
Global Research on Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Publications Database World Health Organization
COVID-19 Databases and Journals List of Databases and Journals Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Life Journey Through Autism: A Parent’s Guide to Research Free Guidebook (Paperback, PDF, eBook) Organization for Autism Research

 

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