Empoweringfamilies,professionals,andothersinterestedinthewell-beingandeducationofchildrenandyouth

{and more}

SPANParentAdvocacyNetwork

35HalseySt.,4thfloor

Newark,NJ07102 voice:(973)642-8100 fax:(973)642-8080

toll-free(inNJ):(800)654-7726 VISITUSONLINE@spanadvocacy.org

SPANFACTSHEET

In this fact sheet: ● What are the health risks of

COVID-19?

● How does the Coronavirus and school closure affect your child’s IEP?

● What are some of the supports and services available for parents and caretakers?

● What are some ways to reduce my child’s anxiety?

● What resources are available for adults with disabilities?

Althoughtheglobalpandemicaffectsusall,individualswithspecialneedsareseverelyimpactedbythechallengescausedbytheCoronavirus.

Coronavirus(COVID-19)andYourChildwithaDisability TheCoronavirus canaffect your child’shealth,education,andincreasestressonfamilies.

WhatarethehealthrisksofCOVID-19?ChildrenwithdisabilitiesareatahighriskforcomplicationsfromtheCoronavirus.SpecificdetailsareprovidedbyTheNJDepartmentofHealth.Thereisa24-hourhotlineat(800)222-1222or(800)962-1253ifusinganoutofstatephoneline.NJspecificinformationisregularlyupdatedathttps://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/ncov.shtmlTheCentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention(CDC)hasawebsitewithextensiveinformation.Thereisinformationregardingwhoisatrisk,whatdoifsomeoneisill,howtopreventthespreadofgerms,andevendisinfectingfoundathttps://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/summary.html.FamilyVoiceshasinformationspecifictochildrenwithspecialhealthcareneeds.Amonthlynewsletterandotherresourcescanbefoundathttps://familyvoices.org/coronavirus/.Lastly,theEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)hasinformationforfamiliesinmultiplelanguagesincludingChinese,Korean,Portuguese,Russian,Spanish,TagalogandVietnamese,foundatwww.epa.gov/lep.

HowdoestheCoronavirusandschoolclosureaffectyourchild’sIEP?Manyfamiliesareconcernedabouttheirchild’seducationandrelatedservicesduringthistime.TheNJDepartmentofEducationhasguidanceandsupplementalinformationonrequirementsforpublichealthrelatedschoolclosuresfoundathttps://www.nj.gov/education/topics/index.shtmlFormediation/dueprocessupdates,seehttps://www.state.nj.us/oal/TheCouncilofParentAttorneysandAdvocates(COPAA)hasissuedthefollowingStatementonStudentRightsunderIDEAduringCOVID-19.TheU.S.DepartmentofEducationhasawealthofinformationincluding:

Ø AfactsheetonthecivilrightsofstudentsØ Preventingdiscrimination Ø Q&Aaboutprovidingservicestostudentswithdisabilities Ø Protectingprivateeducationandhealthinformationofstudents

Thesecanbefoundathttps://www.ed.gov/coronavirus.

Whataresomewaystoreducemychild’sanxiety?Childrenmayhavedifficultyunderstandingthepandemic.Therearesocialstories,whichmaybehelpfultochildrenwithdisabilities.SomeexamplesareMyStoryAboutPandemicsandCoronavirusbyCarolGrayandWhatistheCoronavirus?byAmandaMcGuinness.

CORONAVIRUSANDYOURCHILDWITHADISABILITYSPANFACTSHEETPAGE2

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Whatsupportsandservicesareavailableforparents&caretakers?Childrenneedcalmlydelivered,factualinformationthatisageappropriate,withconcreteinstructionaboutpositivepreventivemeasures.TheNationalAssociationofSchoolPsychologistshasTalkingtoChildrenAboutCOVID-19|AParentResourceavailableinmultiplelanguages.TheSubstanceAbuseandMentalHealthServicesAdministration(SAMHSA)hasfactsheets:

• CopingwithStressDuringInfectiousDiseaseOutbreaks• TakingCareofYourBehavioralHealth• TipsforSocialDistancing,Quarantine,andIsolationDuringan

InfectiousDisease • TalkingWithChildren:TipsforCaregivers,Parents,andTeachers

DuringInfectiousDiseaseOutbreaksThesearefoundathttps://store.samhsa.gov/.TheAmericanAcademyofPediatricshasinformationonhowfamiliescanprotectthemselves,whattheyneedtoknowabouttheCoronavirus,andhowtotalkwithchildrenwithoutraisinganxietyathttps://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/chest-lungs/Pages/2019-Novel-Coronavirus.aspx.Understood.orghasfamilyfriendlylanguageregardingathomelearning,explainingtheCoronavirustochildren,disabilityissues,andfunactivitiesathomefoundathttps://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/coronavirus-latest-updates.Psychologytodayhasanarticleonexplainingthepandemictochildrenwithdevelopmentaldisabilitiesathttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/neuroscience-in-translation/202003/how-explain-global-health-crisis-children-autism.Manyschoolsareprovidinglinkstoonlinelearning.Inaddition,Scholastichasfreeonlinelearningathttps://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html. Whatresourcesareavailableforyoungadultswithdisabilities?Therearemanyresourcesforyoungadultswithintellectualanddevelopmentaldisabilities.TheNJDepartmentofDevelopmentalDisabilities(DDD)isprovidingregularupdatesonservicesaswellasFAQs(frequentlyaskedquestions)athttps://www.nj.gov/humanservices/ddd/resources/coronavirus.html.PleasenotethatDDDisexpandingflexibilityintheprovisionofservicesatthistime.Formoreinformation,familiescancontacttheirSupportCoordinator.Forthemostcurrentnews:SPANhasaCOVID-19InformationPagethatwillberegularlyupdated.Thisalsoincludesalinktoachartwithhealth,education,andotherresourcesforfamilysupport.Pleasecheckouthttps://spanadvocacy.org/home/spans-covid-19-information-page/.

SupportforWorkingFamiliesTherearemanyoptionstohelpsupportworkingfamiliesduringthepandemic.TheNJDepartmentofLabor’sEarnedSickLeaveLawcoverspublichealthemergencies–employeescanuseEarnedSickleaveiftheirworkplaceorchild’sschoolordaycareisclosedduetoanepidemic,orifapublichealthauthoritydeterminestheneedforaquarantine.Formoreinformation,seeEarnedSickLeaveBenefitsandtheCoronavirus(COVID-19):WhatYouShouldKnowForinformationonFederalSickLeave:https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/posters/FFCRA_Poster_WH1422_Non-Federal.pdfForinformationonNJEarnedSickDays:http://www.njtimetocare.com/ESL

Learnmore:

FederalregulationsgoverningtheFamilyMedicalLeaveActcanbefoundathttps://www.dol.gov/whd/fmla/index.htm

NewJerseyStateregulationsgoverningFamilyLeaveInsurancecanbefoundathttps://www.nj.gov/labor/forms_pdfs/tdi/fli_regs.pdfandtheexpansionathttps://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2018/Bills/A4000/3975_R3.HTM.NewJerseyStateregulationsgoverningPaidSickDayscanbefoundathttps://nj.gov/labor/wagehour/lawregs/nj_state_wage_and_hour_laws_and_regulations.html#11D1.