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.
How to Advocate for Special Education Students During COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic made the spring semester challenging for all families but especially for families with children with autism and other developmental disorders. Many school districts failed to implement a program comparable to what students were receiving prior to the COVID closures. To address these legal concerns and to assist parents to navigate their child’s special education program during the ongoing coronavirus crisis, SafeMinds reached out to Timothy A. Adams, a special education attorney from Southern California with 19 years of experience. Mr. Adams generously granted us a telephone interview.
Heroes Act to Provide More COVID-19 Economic Relief for the Disability Community
Unlike March’s $2 trillion CARES Act, which now needs a legislative fix to include adult dependents with stimulus payments, the HEROES Act is the only major plan created by Congress to address the needs of people with disabilities during COVID-19.
Legislative Fix to Aid Families with Adult Dependents During COVID-19
On March 31st, 2020, Representatives Lauren Underwood (D-IL) and Angie Craig (D-MN) introduced the All Dependent Children Count Act (H.R. 6420) into the House of Representatives. This bipartisan bill aims to expand eligibility for stimulus payments under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was passed on March 27th to remediate the economic fallout from the Coronavirus pandemic.
COVID-19 Shuts Down Portions of Important Autism Research
In mid-March 2020, Spectrum Autism Research News alerted the autism community to a troubling new problem with potentially long-term consequences. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists across the nation began to scramble figuring out ways to either continue or alter their research projects as colleges and universities were shutting down, sending their students home in order to transition to remote learning. These actions, intended to slow the spread of COVID-19, established situations where autism research was either halted or hindered, setting back promising projects including clinical trials.
Tools From UNC & ARI to Support Individuals with Autism During COVID-19
With more than 90% of all Americans currently under stay at home orders due to COVID-19, families are rapidly adapting to a highly unusual way of living. Almost everyone’s schedule has been disrupted. Students are now attending classes over the internet. Parents are working from home. Gym classes and social engagements take place over Zoom. Even medical appointments are occurring remotely through telehealth and telemedicine technology.
As Coronavirus Curtails School and Therapy, Parents Can Turn to Exercise Instead
Researchers in China reviewed the science literature from the U.S. and other countries to compile a meta-analysis of the effects of exercise on children and adolescents with diagnosed autism. “The results of the meta-analysis show that physical activity had a significant positive impact on social interaction ability, communication ability, motor skills, and autism degree of autistic children as well as the social skills and communication skills of autistic adolescents,” state the authors. “On the other hand, physical activity had no significant effect on the stereotyped behavior of autistic children and adolescents.”
