COVID-19 Issues

FCC ANNOUNCES EMERGENCY BROADBAND BENEFIT!The Emergency Broadband Benefit is an FCC program to help households having difficulties paying for internet service during the pandemic. This new benefit will connect eligible households to jobs, critical healthcare services, and virtual classrooms. Read more here:

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought overwhelming grief to many families. At FEMA, our mission is to help people before, during and after disasters. We are dedicated to helping ease some of the financial stress and burden caused by the virus.

Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, FEMA will provide financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020.

Learn more by clicking here.

Maryland State Department of Education Technical Assistance Bulletin: Tips to Support Behavior & Social Emotional Well-Being During Transitions Across Service Delivery Models

Maryland State Department of Education Technical Assistance Bulletin: Tips to Address Special Education Staff Shortages, Scheduling, and Logistical Challenges Across Varied Service Delivery Models

Maryland State Department of Education Technical Assistance Bulletin: Tips for Supporting Engagement of Students with Disabilities through Alternative Service Delivery Models

Maryland State Department of Education Technical Assistance Bulletin: Tips to Support Concurrent Virtual and Face to Face Instruction

Maryland State Department of Education Technical Assistance Bulletin Tips to Support Mask-Wearing for Students with Disabilities.

On January 25, 2021, AW providers and Service Coordinators (SCs) received updated guidance that given an announcement from the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) the PHE would likely be extended through 2021; the Appendix K flexibilities will remain in place at this time and likely through calendar year 2021.In response to this new and exciting news, we have received a number of questions from AW SCs and providers. The following guidance has been prepared by the MSDE and MDH to address frequently asked questions.

Recovery Efforts: Addressing the Provision of FAPE through Alternative Service Delivery Models for Students with Disabilities during the Re-Opening of Schools

This document has been developed in alignment with Technical Assistance Bulletin (TAB) #20-01,
Serving Children with Disabilities under IDEA during School Closures due to the COVID-19 Pandemic
and TAB #20-03, Providing Continuity of Learning to Students with Disabilities during COVID-19.

We cannot stress enough the importance of self-care, especially in times like these. Use this fact sheet to understand the basics of self-care.

The Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities at Kennedy Krieger Institute is part of a national collaboration to create a virtual “Center for Dignity in Healthcare for People with Disabilities.” The Center created the attached plain language social story regarding getting the vaccine.

The Maryland Department of Health came out with this resource guide for students and young adults. Use this guide to learn about coping during the 2020/21 school year.

Check out this MSDE Technical Assistance Bulletin about mask-wearing for students with disabilities.

The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), within the U.S. Department of
Education’s (Department) Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,
issues this Question and Answer (Q & A) document in response to inquiries concerning
implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B provision
of services in the current COVID-19 environment. View here.

Understanding terms is important. Use this factsheet to understand the difference between home school, home and hospital instruction, and remote learning.

School has started which means there are many policies and guidance being sent. Here is a quick one-pager to remind you of the importance of your child’s IEP.

Watch our webinar to learn how to prioritize your family’s nutrition in unprecedented times. Featuring a licensed dietician.

On July 24^th, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services renewed the federal public health emergency (PHE) as a result of the continued consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.  The Maryland Department of Health issued an official statement that all COVID-19 related flexibilities implemented by the Department remain in place, including the ability to offer telehealth services delivered using audio-only or non-HIPAA compliant technology. View the official statement below.

The Maryland Department of Health, Developmental Disabilities Administration, and the Maryland State Department of Education have continued funding for services covered by its waiver for individuals who are 22 years of age or older during COVID-19.

This means that Autism Waiver participants, who would have otherwise been disenrolled, can remain on the Autism Waiver after June 30th. Please see the attachments for more information.

Your phone carrier may allow you to set up a mobile hotspot through your smartphone at a lower cost to help with your internet needs during COVID-19. Use this guide to help set up your mobile hotspot on your android or iPhone.

The Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council, Department of Disabilities, Department of Health, and Maryland ABLE created a factsheet answering questions about the COVID-19 Stimulus Payment and provide information about ABLE accounts. Use this factsheet to help answer the questions you have had about the COVID-19 Stimulus Payment.

The National Military Family Association has created a hub of information for military families regarding COVID-19. This website is updated regularly.

The following fact sheet was adapted from the webinar, “A Rare Response: Addressing the COVID-19 Pandemic” sponsored by National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD) on March 31, 2020

PPMD has created a factsheet with helpful hints for getting your child to wear a face mask.

The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities at the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School created these resources for parents to support their children in wearing face masks.

On May 12^th, The Maryland Department of Health issued guidance on Transitioning Youth Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

On May 11^th, the Maryland Department of Disabilities and Department of Health issued joint departmental guidance on access to supports for patients with disabilities in hospital settings during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Watch this PPMD webinar to learn about telehealth during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Use these companion resources to view guides and other information about telehealth.

Watch this PPMD webinar for helpful tips about taking care of yourself during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Use these companion tip sheets and resources.

Watch this PPMD webinar for helpful resources on what you need to know about how the COVID-19 Pandemic and School Closures affect your child’s education and special education services on PPMD’s YouTube channel, linked below in the resource section. Use these companion tip sheets and resources.

The Maryland Department of Health has expanded the definition of a telehealth originating site to include a participant’s home or any other secure location as approved by the participant and the provider for purpose of delivery of Medicaid-covered services. This expansion applies to services delivered to a Medicaid participant via fee-for-service or through a HealthChoice Managed Care Organization (“MCO”).

Families on MD DDA – make sure you check out the MD DDA COVID-19 Updates.  The DDA Waivers Appendix K was submitted to the federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on Friday, and posted on the MD DDA website.  In addition, the DDA COVID-19 Questions and Answers has been updated on this website – check them out!

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that privacy restrictions on platforms for telehealth have been waived during the COVID-19 Emergency. OCR’s Notice of Enforcement Discretion allowing providers to serve patients where they are through commonly used apps like FaceTime, Skype, and Zoom to provide telehealth remote communications. (Otherwise HIPAA and FERPA rules could have gotten in the way of online delivery of therapy and other health services
).

PPMD links to many Maryland based resources, available in English and Spanish

Update Information on Coronavirus Pandemic in Maryland to include the Maryland Department of Health

The Maryland State Department of Education: closure of all public schools in Maryland for an additional four weeks through April 24, 2020

March 21, 2020 Document: reaffirms the rights of students to receive educational instruction and related services under federal special education law during the COVID-19 pandemic, and they offered additional clarification about how states can creatively serve all students including students with disabilities. 

U.S. Dept of Education-Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) has released this informal guidance a set of questions and answers about the impact of the COVID19 pandemic on federal special education policies supporting school-aged children with disabilities

Wrightslaw just put out a newly published resource to answer questions about IEPs, IEP meetings and evaluations, and additional resources for at home support.

New Coronavirus Social Story from The Autism Educator

Per 2010 Maryland Code: HEALTH OCCUPATIONS–TITLE 12 -PHARMACISTS AND PHARMACIES, Subtitle 5 -Practice of Pharmacy and Operation of Pharmacies, Section 12-506 – Guidelines for unauthorized refills:

Under normal circumstances: A pharmacist can provide one refill of a prescription (not exceeding a 14-day supply) WITHOUT authorization. In this case the pharmacist must notify the authorized prescriber of the refill within 72 hours.

Under a state of emergency: A pharmacist can provide 1 refill not exceeding a 14-day supply. Pharmacist must notify authorized prescriber of the refill within 7 days.

List of Maryland distribution sites for Free Student Meals in both English and Spanish

March 18, 2020: US Department of Education-Office of Civil Rights released a Fact Sheet Addressing the Risk of COVID-19 in Schools While Protecting the Civil Rights of Students

Graphic developed in several languages

This easy to read booklet about the Coronavirus is from SARTAC was written by and for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). It focuses on “need to know” information (not “nice to know” information).

For your children, National Public Radio (NPR) collaborated with experts in social work and mental health to provide this cartoon for kids.

You can find resources from the State of Maryland and national groups in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in our Resource Section