Coronavirus (COVID-19) Health and Safety Guide
ASERT has put together some resources for those with autism and those who care for people with autism relating to the current Coronavirus outbreak.
Family Members
Whether it’s a sibling, grandparent, cousin, aunt, uncle or parent, it can be difficult to know how to properly support your family member on the spectrum. ASERT’s broad database of autism resources includes a variety of information helpful for family members.
Check out some of our top resources highlighted below, or search through the hundreds of resources available for family members!
The Spectrum of Communication
Communication permits us to advocate for our needs, develop relationships, and participate in our community. When supporting someone with Autism, the most important thing to keep in mind at all times is that speech does not equal communication.
View ResourcePA Family Network
The PA Family Network was created to support families and the major elements of the Community of Practice goals.
View ResourcePennsylvania Family Support Alliance (PFSA)
Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance provides education, support, and training programs to make Pennsylvania safe for children.
View ResourceSearch within Family Members resources
Be Well, Think Well: Services and Treatment for Depression
This resource, part of the Be Well, Think Well resource collection, provides information about managing depression, strategies for working with individuals who have autism and depression, common types of therapy for depression, medications for depression and anxiety, and how to find a therapist for an individual with autism.
Read moreBe Well, Think Well: Supporting Individuals with Anxiety and Autism
This resource, part of the Be Well, Think Well resource collection, provides information about supporting individuals with anxiety and autism through panic attacks and various relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, imagery, progressive muscle relaxation, and grounding techniques.
Read moreBe Well, Think Well: Supporting Individuals with Depression and Autism
This resource provides information on how to support individuals with autism who also have a diagnosis of depression.
Read moreBeing a Careful Reader of Coronavirus Information
This resource provides tips and suggestions for making sure that you're getting the best and most trustworthy information related to coronavirus.
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Booklet: A Family’s Introduction to Early Intervention in Pennsylvania
This booklet from PaTTAN explains how to request Early Intervention services, eligibility criteria, rights and responsibilities, individualized family service planning for ages birth to three, and individualized education planning for ages three to school age.
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Common Abbreviations in Autism Services and Special Education
This resource, developed by ASERT, provides a guide to common abbreviations you may come across when receiving autism services and supports.
Read moreCoping with Coronavirus
These resources provide some tips and suggestions for individuals and families to deal with some of the new situations brought about by COVID-19, like social distancing, isolation and planning for care.
Read moreCoronavirus (COVID-19) Health and Safety Guide
This resource provides a general overview of the coronavirus, as well as a wide range of resources for individuals, parents/caregivers, and professionals on how to stay healthy, how to manage disruptions in daily life and resources for learning more.
Read moreCoronavirus Social Story
This resource provides a visual guide for individuals with autism about the coronavirus and how to stay healthy. This resource is also available in Spanish, Russian, Chinese, and Arabic.
Read moreDepartment of Labor
The FMLA entitles eligible employees of covered employers to take unpaid, job-protected leave for their own health or to care for a family member, including to care for the employee’s spouse, child, or parent who has a serious health condition.
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