We are busy researching information and resources for you and your family. New links are added often, so please check back frequently. We wish you and your entire family the best during this unprecedented time.
This is a long list in four (4) categories:
- Education, Public Health & Policy: Announcements from Santa Clara County, Centers for Disease Control, California Department of Education, ways to advocate, medical alerts, public health, etc.
- Home-Based Learning, Activities & Recreation: Ideas for at-home learning, assistive technology, working from home, yoga, art, educational videos, resources for kids, etc.
- Podcasts
- Self-Care, Family Health & Wellness: Information on mental health, social stories, ways to connect with parents, self-care, healthy recipes, etc.
If you find links that are broken or not working properly, please email us!
*** These listings are our top picks!
Education, Public Health & Policy
Announcements from Santa Clara County, Centers for Disease Control, California Department of Education, ways to advocate, medical alerts, public health, etc.
*** Santa Clara County Public Health Department for the most up-to-date information on coronavirus in Santa Clara County, California.
*** Santa Clara County School District Meal Distribution Schedule
*** CA Department of Public Health: Coronavirus Information
*** Shelter in Place FAQ: Santa Clara County
*** Unemployment Benefits Insurance Information: Santa Clara County
*** Eviction Moratorium in San Jose: Mercury News Article
*** Education Week: Map – Coronavirus and School Closures
*** CA Employment Development Dept: The EDD provides a variety of support services to individuals affected by COVID-19 in California.
*** CA State Franchise Tax Board: More time to file, pay for California taxpayers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic
*** Social Security Offices: Online Services Remain Available
*** Senators of the 116th Congress
*** US House of Representatives
*** CDC: Clean & Disinfect – Interim Recommendations for US Households with Suspected/Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019
*** White House Coronavirus (COVID-19) Task Force
*** COVID-19 resources are now available in American Sign Language on CDC’s YouTube page
*** CDC: Coronavirus info – Cases in U.S.
*** World Health Organization: Coronavirus Overview
*** Measures to Support Renters Affected by COVID-19: FAQ
*** Immigrant information in Santa Clara County for COVID-19
*** Updates Regarding Santa Clara County Services During Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Q&A on Providing Services to Students with Disabilities during the COVID-19 Outbreak from the US Department of Education
California State Council on Developmental Disabilities easy-to-use, plain language documents of what to do during the virus outbreak. Download in English here, and Spanish here.
American Academy of Pediatrics: Critical Updates on COVID-19
Centers for Disease Control: An Overview of Coronavirus
CDC Resources in Languages Other Than English
New Zealand Ministry of Health: COVID-19 – information in other languages
Policy Innovators in Education: Rapid Response Resources to Coronavirus
US Department of Education FAQs: FERPA and COVID-19
Fact Sheet on Assessments & Accountability Under ESEA
The Chronicle of Philanthropy – Responding to the Coronavirus Outbreak: Resources to Help Nonprofits
What To Do If Your Fundraising Event is Canceled Due To Coronavirus
Emergency Rent: Setting up a program to help with emergency rent
Food Distribution in Santa Clara County: Catholic Charities working with Second Harvest and Meals on Wheels. Hotline for those in need of this service: 800-984-3663. It is answered between 8am and 5pm. After hours, people can call 211.
Santa Clara Family Health Plan Update
School Responses to COVID-19: ELL/Immigrant Considerations
California Department of Education: New COVID-19 Guidance for K-12 Schools
California Department of Education: Resources that Support Distance Learning
DREDF: COVID-19 Information, Response, and Planning
State Council on Developmental Disabilities: Top 10 Questions from the past week from Caregivers (Plain Language)
Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits (SVCN) Resource Page
County of Santa Cruz Public Health Department: Shelter in Place now effective
Santa Clara County Office of Education: Safe and Healthy Schools
Health Consumer Alliance: Coronavirus (COVID-19) information
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services: Medicare telemedicine healthcare provider fact sheet
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs in Emergencies
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Caring for Children in a Disaster – How are Children Different from Adults?
CDC Center for Preparedness and Response: Prepare Your Health – Have you planned ahead?
Centers for Disease Control: Recommended precautions for household members, intimate partners, and caregivers in a nonhealthcare setting of a patient with symptomatic laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 OR a patient under investigation
COVID-19 Prevention tips in ASL
US Dept of Education: Supplemental Fact Sheet Addressing the Risk of COVID-19 in Preschool, Elementary and Secondary Schools While Serving Children with Disabilities
CDC: Childcare and Preschool Pandemic Infuenza Planning Checklist
Disability Voices United: Need for increased respite or personal assistance from Regional Center because of school or day program closures
CA Employment Development Dept: Information you need to file an unemployment insurance claim
Landlords must provide tenants with a COVID-19 Eviction Moratorium Notice
Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office: phone number for and emails for individuals or businesses to report a non-essential business operating. Reports can be directed to publichealthreferral@dao.sccgov.org or call 408-792-2300 to leave a voicemail in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.
Unicef: COVID-19 Latest Information
Mill Neck Family Organizations: International Sign Language on Coronavirus Information
Autism Speaks: COVID-19 Information and Resources
Home-Based Learning, Activities & Recreation
Ideas for at-home learning, assistive technology, working from home, yoga, art, educational videos, resources for kids, etc.
*** VIDEO: The Coronavirus Explained and What You Should Do
*** Khan Academy: Free At-Home Online Learning
*** Comcast/Xfinity: Free wifi hotspots available for all
*** CA State Council on Developmental Disabilities: Ideas for Activities While Sheltering in Place
*** PBS Kids: Parent Resources, Tips and Advice
*** Zero to Three: Five Tips to Make the Most of Video Chats
*** Scholastic Learn at Home: Day-by-day projects to keep kids reading, thinking and growing
*** Council for Exceptional Children: Teaching Special Education Online during COVID-19
Understood has a great collection of updates and tips for families, including those of children with special needs.
Find hundreds of FREE kids activities here!
Scholastic Learn at Home resources are also FREE!
Take your kids on virtual field trips here!
ADDitude Magazine: The Creative Mom’s Guide to Learning at Home
ESPA Stay at Home Resources for Families with Children with Special Needs: Stanford University
A Guide to Remote Working for Nonprofits
ZDNet: Working in a coronavirus world: Strategies and tools for staying productive
CoughDrop (AAC): free trial extended for 4 months if a new subscriber
Letterland Early Learning apps: Variety of free apps for early learning- free as of 3/17/2020
App Sliced: Website that notes reduced or free apps
Smarty Symbols: Type in #HomeVisuals when using the monthly standard checkout, get one free month
TypeTastic: Free typing units, grouped by grade
87 Energy-Busting Indoor Games & Activities For Kids (Because Cabin Fever Is No Joke)
Resources for Families During the Coronavirus Pandemic
School Closure Resources for Special Education
SF Chronicle: How to stay active outdoors during shelter-in-place
Online community and training portal for professionals and families of students with hearing loss
College Students: U-Haul Offers 30 Days Free Self-Storage amid Coronavirus Outbreak
How Nonprofits Can Connect Virtually During Trying Times
Education Companies Offering Free Subscriptions due to School Closings NOTE: very extensive!
Wildwood School Resources List
Claro Software apps: Free for now cloud based apps for struggling readers and writers
Widgit Online: 21 day free trial available for making visuals on-line
Senict Software: One month free trial now available for on-line subscription to software learning for the more complex learners
Stages Curriculum: Free for now, curriculum for children with autism
Monterey Bay Aquarium live webcams offer wildlife diversion
A Comic Exploring the New Coronavirus
YMCA Project Cornerstone: Youth Educational Resources
UCLA Community of Practice: Activities for Kids While Schools are Closed
San Jose Public Library: Enjoy Your Library from the Comfort of Your Home
Silicon Valley Education Foundation: Printed at-home learning resources for families without devices – integrated reading, language arts, math and science activities for students in grades 3-9
CA State Council on Developmental Disabilities: 10 Tips to Support Someone During Times of Change
Common Sense Media: What to Watch, Read, and Play While Your Kids Are Stuck Indoors
DR LIM HONG HUAY, epidemiologist and developmental pediatrician in Singapore: Let’s Fight COVID-19 together with Superhero Me!
Autism Focused Intervention Resources & Modules (AFIRM): Supporting Individuals with Autism through Uncertain Times
Podcasts
*** LOMAH Special Needs Blog and Podcasts: Special Needs Students and School Closures – 5 (very) productive things to do at home
Down Syndrome Center of Western Pennsylvania Podcast: Coronavirus (with Dr. Andrew Nowalk)
Self-Care, Family Health & Wellness
Information on mental health, social stories, ways to connect with parents, self-care, healthy recipes, etc.
*** Silicon Valley Strong: a collaboration of the County and the 15 cities in the County to help ensure that all in our community have access to nutritious food.
*** Autism Society: COVID-19 Toolkit
*** World Health Organization: Healthy Parenting
*** Second Harvest Food Bank : 1-800-984-3663 Monday – Friday, 8am–5pm
What is the Coronavirus? social story, created by The Autism Educator
How to Cope with Anxiety about Coronavirus
NY Times: Parents Need Stress Relief, Too
Yoga for the Special Needs Child
NAMI – National Alliance on Mental Illness: Coronavirus and Mental Health
American Psychological Association: Podcast about Coronavirus Anxiety
National Association of School Psychologists: Talking to Children about Coronavirus
Child Mind Institute: Supporting kids during the COVID-19 crisis
Child Mind Institute: Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus
How to Cope With Loneliness During Coronavirus
How to Handle the Stress of Working From Home
Help Your Family De-Stress During Coronavirus Uncertainty
National Association of School Psychologists: Talking to Children about COVID-19: A Parent Resource
Apps to Help with Mental Health
How School Closures Can Strengthen Your Family
SPAN Parent Advocacy Network Update: Medically Fragile Children
VIDEO FROM CNN: The American Academy of Pediatrics explains how to reassure children about the virus and educating them
VIDEO FROM CBSNY: Tips on how to talk to children about the outbreak
VIDEO: COVID-19 Tips for Parents
State Council on Developmental Disabilities: COVID-19 Information By and For People with Disabilities (Plain Language)
SOMOS Mayfair: Resource Flyer for Families impacted by COVID-19 in San Jose (in English & Spanish)
Telehealth and Children with Medical Complexity
Generations United: COVID-19 Fact Sheet for Grandfamilies and Multigenerational Families
Idaho Infant Toddler Program: Virtual Early Intervention Family Flyer
Idaho Infant Toddler Program: Virtual Early Intervention Home Preparation Checklist for Families
Idaho Infant Toddler Program: Virtual Early Intervention Troubleshooting Guide for Families
Autism Society: Facebook Live – Coronavirus Information Series
Autism Society of California recorded webinar on 3/19: Resources for the New Reality- Coronavirus in the Special Needs Community
SF Autism Society: Coronavirus Crisis Mini-Grant Program