The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting all Americans. SafeMinds specifically recognizes the unique needs and challenges of the autism community during this unprecedented time. Our goal is to lessen the impact of COVID-19 on families by regularly monitoring and sharing resources that may help children and adults with autism cope with the uncertainty of the pandemic.
Free Webinar on Covid-19 for People with Disabilities
Presentation Will Be Given in Several Accessible Formats The Center for Inclusive Design and Innovation (CIDI) at Georgia Tech has partnered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Foundation to initiate a new project focusing on delivering accessible messages on COVID-19 to people with disabilities, their families, and caregivers! The target audiences for […]
Nonprofit Organization Invests $4M into Early Identification Initiative During COVID
To ensure that children with suspected developmental disabilities don’t fall through the cracks during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Association of University Centers on Disabilities has invested over $4M in their Act Early Network to help identify cases of autism. The Act Early Network has organized specific Act Early COVID-19 Response Teams throughout the country. The goal of these teams is to not only diagnose at-risk children but to strengthen their resilience skills, improve their behaviors, and provide resources to their families.
10 Tips to Manage Challenges of Mask Wearing
As the Coronavirus pandemic continues, there will be times when mask-wearing in public may become necessary. Mask-wearing is uncomfortable for almost everyone, but by adding autism and sensory defensiveness into the mix, this public health requirement can become downright miserable. Below are a few suggestions to make wearing face masks easier for children on the spectrum.
Telehealth Proves Helpful For Parents Learning About ASD Behavioral Therapy
Not everything associated with the coronavirus pandemic and autism has turned out to have a negative consequence. A good example of this phenomenon is a Rutgers University study recently published in The Journal of Applied Behavioral Analysis. The study showed that telehealth sessions used out of necessity during the pandemic, have successfully trained parents of children with autism to effectively manage their children’s challenging behaviors.
New Study Reveals COVID-19 Restrictions Greatly Affected Individuals with Developmental Disabilities
Researchers from UCLA, Rutgers University and the National Institute of Mental Health recently released a study showing that individuals with developmental disabilities have experienced critical losses of educational and medical therapies since the coronavirus stay-at-home orders began last March.
Register for Autism Research Institute’s Newest Webinar
So much has changed with the COVID-19 pandemic, and its been especially hard on our children, friends, and clients on the spectrum who thrive on routine and predictability. Many have learned to self-regulate through physical outlets that have been limited or may no longer be available.
