The State Council on Developmental Disabilities has suggestions for getting together with friends and family virtually during this holiday season: “Ideas for Activities While Sheltering in Place” (“Ideas para Actividades Mientras Se Refugia en el Lugar”) or “10 Tips to Support Someone During Times of Change” (10 Consejos para Apoyar a Alguien en Tiempos de Cambi).
Let’s Talk Learning Differences
Let’s Talk Learning Differences addresses critically important social justice and equity of educational opportunity issues faced by those in the neuro-diverse community.
Autism Speaks’ Resources for Impact of Coronavirus
COVID-19 Information and Resources. This page will be updated regularly as new content is developed. In addition, the Autism Response Team remains a resource for all families in our community. On this hub, families can find:
- Answers to common about coronavirus and how it impacts the autism community.
- Tips on how to manage disruptions to school-based services, and how to continue clinical care while social distancing.
- Teaching stories to help kids understand our current environment and adapt to changes in routine.
- Links to resources for educators and healthcare professionals.
- Links to translated resources where available.
Coming soon: We are working on a series of videos answering questions and providing tips to help families work through common challenges. These will be posted to the COVID-19 resource hub and our YouTube channel as they’re available, and shared on our social channels. We encourage you to find @autismspeaks on Facebook and Instagram for regular updates.
Travel: Airplane Guide for People with Autism
Autism Speaks has a guide with pictures that will help to prepare children for air travel from the time they arrive at the airport until they land at their destination. You can view it here.
Eating & Feeding Challenges
Autism Speaks provides helpful information at the following links:
- Exploring Feeding Behavior in Autism: A Parent’s Guide
- Helping Families with Feeding Issues
- Autism and mealtime: A therapist’s top ten tips for success
- Seven Ways to Help a Picky Eater
- What Is It about Autism and Food?
- Parent of Teen with Autism Seeks Help with Narrowing Food Choices
- Child with Autism Won’t Eat Foods that ‘Smell’
- Help! Our Adult Son Has Severe Autism and Extremely Narrow Diet
- Parent Seeks Advice: Child with Autism Eats Only Candy & Chips
- Parents Seek Help: Child with Severe Autism Eats Only Sweets
- Encouraging Picky Eaters with Autism to Try New Foods
- Parent Needs Help: 4-year-old with Autism Won’t Eat Solid Foods:
- Will eating-disorder program help with autism-related food aversions?
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS DOCUMENTS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES
The Emergency Preparedness documents in this library contain information and tips to help individuals and families prepare for an emergency. Information in these documents informs people on what to do before, during, and after an emergency. Download these PDF documents for FREE by simply clicking on the image or the document name.
Prepare for Emergencies Now – Information to Get Ready (PDF Brochure)
An excellent outline of what it takes to prepare an emergency including: being informed, making a plan, building a kit, and getting involved.
Prepare for Emergencies Now – Infomation for Older Americans (PDF Brochure)
A brochure with emergency preparedness tips specifically directed to older americans on things to consider when prepareing for an emergency.
Prepare for Emergencies Now – Information for People with Disabilities (PDF Brochure)
A unique brochure with information specific to Americans with disabilities and other access and functional needs regarding emergency preparedness.
Prepare for Emergencies Now – Information for Pet Owners (PDF Brochure)
A unique brochure containing information for pet owners and suggestions for proactive pet emergency preparedness.
Preparing for Disaster for People with Disabilities and Other Special Needs (PDF Booklet)
This booklet contains emergency preparedness information to inform those with disabilities and other special needs prepare for an emergency.
Helping Children Cope with Disaster (PDF Booklet)
This booklet provides parents with information about how to help their children cope with disaster.
Food and Water in an Emergency (PDF Booklet)
This booklet contains useful information on food and water needs before, during and after an emergency.
Family Communication Plan for Parents (PDF Form)
A two page form designed to help families document important information that will be needed in the event of an emergency.
Family Communication Plan for Kids (PDF Form)
A two page form designed to help families document important information that will be needed in the event of an emergency.
Disaster Preparedness Coloring Book for Children (PDF Booklet)
Designed to help parents and educators teach children about the basics of emergency preparedness. This booklet contains information to help parents and educators explain the different types of disasters that can occur how how best to react. It also contains coloring pages for children.
Commuter Emergency Plan (PDF Form)
A one page form to help individuals develop a plan should disaster strike when traveling between work and home, or other commonly visited locations.
Preparing for Disaster (PDF Booklet)
A document that outlines four essential steps to preparing for a disaster: Get Informed, Make a Plan, Assemble a Kit, and Maintain Your Plan and Kit.
Emergency Financial First Aid Kit – EFFAK (PDF Booklet)
The EFFAK is a flexible tool designed to help individuals and families at all income levels collect and secure the documentation they would need to get on the road to recovery without unnecessary delays, should disaster strike. The EFFAK also includes helpful tips and suggestions regarding how to safeguard important information, what to do in case of an emergency, and how to work with others to strengthen community preparedness.
Some of the documents in this library are authored by FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security. While FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security provides permission to EmergencyKits.com to publish these documents, FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security is not affiliated with and does not endore EmergencyKits.com.
Safety Guide to Attending US Music & Sporting Events with a Disability
This online resource showcases plenty of helpful information such as information for attending large events if you have a disability, information about accessibility requirements for venues and details on the Americans with Disabilities Act, examples of some of the most accessible venues in the world, useful tips and advice on how to prepare for the event, finding nearby accommodation, and other practical advice for attendees with special accessibility needs.
Disability Awareness and Planning for Accessibility
This UK guide offers practical and useful tips, advice, and information to help plan and organize a safe and disabled-friendly event – including guidelines, best practices, and checklists to help prepare and improve event accessibility. This guide helps event planners understand their responsibilities and legal obligations when organizing any kind of event.
Vaccine Myths Debunked
U.S. public health officials and physicians have been combating misconceptions about vaccine safety for over twenty years. They’ve had mixed success. Despite the fact that numerous studies have found no evidence to support the notion that vaccines cause autism and other chronic illnesses, a growing number of parents are refusing to vaccinate their children.
Researchers now link falling immunization rates to recent resurgences of vaccine-preventable diseases. In 2010, California saw 9,120 cases of whooping cough, more than any year since the whooping cough vaccine was introduced in the 1940s. Ten infants too young to be vaccinated died of whooping cough during the outbreak. The CDC warns that events like these will become more frequent and harder to control if vaccination rates continue to fall.
Learn more about vaccines here
Aiko & Egor: Animation 4 Autism
Aiko & Egor displays simplied animation, engaging underwater characters, and utilitzes research-based curriculum. The videos are intended to be watched together by children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and their family members, but can be enjoyed by many different children and adults. The app currently presents three different ways to watch the videos: 1) Play Video, 2) Learn Together, and 3) Skill Games.
