covid-19

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.

We hear so many terms like E-learning, Hybrid, Distance and Asynchronous Learning, but what actually is Virtual Learning? Use this resource for the most parent friendly definition of Virtual Learning.

Maryland State Department of Education Technical Assistance Bulletin: Tips to Support Data Collection by Parents During Virtual or Hybrid Learning

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.

Esta lista de verificación se puede utilizar para ayudarlo a decidir si se siente cómodo con que su hijo regrese a la escuela en persona. Discuta sus preocupaciones con elproveedor de atención médica de su hijo y el equipo escolar.

Este recurso es presentado por Maryland DD Council.

Su hijo puede sentirse incómodo o asustado al usar una mascarilla. Use esta hoja de consejos para aprender por qué las mascarillas faciales son importantes, cómo ayudar a su hijoa adaptarse a usar una y cómo puede hacer fácilmente una mascarilla en casa.

Se requiere que la escuela de su hijo lleve a cabola reunión del Programa de Educación Individualizado (IEP) de su hijo, lo que significa que esta reunión será virtual o por teléfono mientras la escuela esté cerrada. A continuación, se presentan algunos consejos para asistir a las reuniones virtuales del IEP.

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.

¡AYUDA! La escuela de mi hijo ha enviado una nueva política / procedimiento / práctica escolar y sí lo seguimos, el IEP de mi hijo no se puede implementar.

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.

PPMD collaborated with TIES Center to bring you a factsheet that will help you ask questions to your child’s school team to support your child’s behaviors at home during distance learning.

This checklist can be used to help you decide if you are comfortable with your child returning to school
in-person. Discuss your concerns with your child’s health care provider and school team.

The Council for Exceptional Children released an article about considerations for special educators and children as school reopens during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read this article to learn what your family and your child’s school team should consider before school begins this fall.

​​​​​​​With the start of a new school year, a lot needs to happen so that students can learn and thrive without raising the risk of spreading COVID-19. Read this article to learn what your child’s school can do to ensure children will be safe.

The American Academy of Pediatrics issued a guidance for school re-entry during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read it here to learn what school re-entry policies should consider before re-opening.

The CDC created this resource for families to use before their children go back to school. Back to school planning will look different this year than it has in previous years. Your school will have new policies in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. You may also be starting the school year with virtual learning components. Whatever the situation, these checklists are intended to help parents, guardians, and caregivers, plan and prepare for the upcoming school year.

The CDC developed this tool to help parents, caregivers, and guardians weigh the risks and benefits of available educational options to help them make decisions about sending their child back to school.

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.

View the Maryland State Department of Education’s Technical Assistance Bulletin on Home and Hospital Teaching. This document answers frequently asked questions, that you may have, about about Home and Hospital Teaching.

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.

Watch this webinar to learn how to track your child’s progress while engaging in virtual learning from home.

IEP meetings will still be held despite not being able to meet in person. Read these tips on how to prepare and take part in a virtual IEP meeting.

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.

Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council has created a resource to support families engage in virtual meetings. View this resource here in English and Spanish.

Use this resource to learn tips for distance learning if you have young children.

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.

PPMD has created three new resource pages to help parents prepare their children to participate effectively for Zoom classes and Tele-therapy. The resource pages focus on how to use Zoom, Zoom etiquette, and preparing for a virtual meeting.

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
).

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. 

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

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).