Questions about COVID-19?
Visit coronavirus.ohio.gov or call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH for answers.
This page provides links to information that may be helpful to people with developmental disabilities. The links are organized into the following topic areas:
Early Intervention
Guidance Docments: Ohio Early Intervention's list of guidance documents for programs, including guidance on issues pertaining to COVID-19.
Employment
Family Support
- COVID-19 Needs Assessment: The Adult Advocacy Centers (AACs) surveyed 134 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities regarding the impact that COVID-19 has had on their lives. It is the hope of the AACs that organizations who serve people with disabilities will use this information to better plan for future emergencies and disasters. Summaries of the survey responses are listed in the report, followed by a conclusion and suggested next steps.
- COVID-19 Risk/Benefit Discussion Guide for Activities Outside the Home or Facility: From the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilites.
- How to Use Charting the LifeCourse™ (CtLC) Tools in Challenging Times: Tools developed to support families during family challenges, such as issues related to supporting your family during the COVID-19 pandemic. Developed by the University of Cincinnati Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities.
- Support for Families During the COVID-19 Crisis: The OCALI Autism Center has created some social narratives to use at home during the COVID-19 crisis. Social narratives teach the individual appropriate social practices that can also help regulate behavior.
- Supporting Families During the Pandemic - Four Therapists Share Their Wisdom: This video features four Early Intervention practitioners from the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities, working with the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD), Dr. Larry Edelman, and the Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA), who share their experiences and advice about using video conferencing to deliver home visits.
- Taking Charge of Your Child’s Care Plan During COVID-19: This resource is a checklist for families to use to prepare for potential hospitalizations of their loved one with a disability. This was developed by the University of Cincinnati UCEDD.
- What COVID Means for Families: This information is provided by the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities.
Financial Assistance
- COVID-19 Financial Assistance Programs: The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities provides a list of resources and information that could be beneficial for family members, direct support professionals (DSPs), and agency providers.
- Frequently Asked Questions about COVID 19 Stimulus Payments and STABLE Accounts: Information provided by the Ohio Treasurer's Office, in collaboration with several Ohio disability-related organizations including the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council.
- Home Relief Grant: Starting November 2, 2020, the state of Ohio, working with local Community Action Agencies, will help eligible Ohioans who are behind on rent, mortgage, and water and/or sewer utility bills catch up on past payments back to April 1, 2020 and provide additional assistance through December 30, 2020. Ohioans will be able to apply for assistance through their local Community Action Agency starting November 2, 2020.
- Learning Aid Ohio: Learning Aid Ohio aims to provide supplemental learning support for students with IEPs during this unique school year. Starting on November 2, 2020, eligible families can apply for up to $1,500 in grant funding to cover costs of tutoring and other needed supports.
Legal Rights and Policy
Follow more public policy updates from the following organizations:
Mental Health Support
Times of crisis can be hard on everyone. If you are concerned about your own mental health or a family member's mental health, reach out for help. Here are some resources that can help:
Plain Language Resources
The Self-Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center (SARTAC), with guidance and support from the Vermont Developmental Disabilities Council, created a plain language booklet about the Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. This booklet is intended to provide easy-to-understand information for people with developmental disabilities so they know about the virus, including prevention tips and answers to common questions. In addition, the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities translated the booklet into Spanish.
Resource Collections
Service Animals
Special Education
- Back to School Resources During COVID-19: Information from the American Occupational Therapy Association.
- Decision Guide for Families with Special Needs: Information in English and Spanish by Standford Medicine's Safe Communities of Learning.
- Learning Aid Ohio: Learning Aid Ohio aims to provide supplemental learning support for students with IEPs during this unique school year. Starting on November 2, 2020, eligible families can apply for up to $1,500 in grant funding to cover costs of tutoring and other needed supports.
- Online vs. In-School Learning: A tip sheet from the University of Cincinnati UCEDD on what to consider for children with special education and/or healthcare needs.
- Special Education Fact Sheet related to COVID-19: A tip sheet from the University of Cincinnati UCEDD on what to consider with re-entry to school, including how your child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) should be fully implemented.
- State COVID-19 Response: Youth with Disabilties: From CAPE-Youth, a collaboration between The Council of State Governments, the K. Lisa Yang and Hock E. Tan Institute on Employment and Disability at Cornell University, and the Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.
Videos
COVID-19 Info: Plain Language video created by the Oregon Office of Developmental Disabilities Services. Click on the video below or view it on YouTube: COVID-19 Coronavirus.
What in the World is Going On? Plain Talk for Pandemic Times: Plain language video created by the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council. Click on the video below or view it on YouTube: What In the World is Going On.